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Saturday, October 26, 2013

Spark Motivation…..Reading!

I’m linking up this morning with Joanne from Head Over Heels for Teaching for  Spark Student Motivation Saturdays. 
 
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I posted this picture on my blog and Instagram this week.
 
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My students have become hoarders.  Many of them have piles of books at their desks.  And, I can’t tell you how many times I heard at conferences last week that, “They are so motivated to read,”  and “I have never seen them go through books like this.”  What are we doing to spark motivation in our kiddos? 
 
We use Accelerated Reader at our school.  I know there are mixed reviews on this program.  I believe that if you use it the way it was designed to be used,  it can be very motivating for students.  Even my most reluctant readers have become hoarders of books!  At the beginning of the quarter I sit down with each student to make their own personal goal for how many points they will earn that quarter and we record their goal and book level on this bookmark. 
 
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I laminate the book marks first so they can be used all year.  I write their A.R. level and goal in sharpie and when it changes I erase it with dry erase and write the new one! Click on the pic to download our A.R. Rock Star bookmarks for free!
 
The stars at the bottom help each kiddo track their progress toward their goal.  When they have met their goal for the quarter they get to put a star on our grade level bulletin board in the hallway for the world to see!
 
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The different colored stars represent the different classes.  My class is red.  I’d say they are pretty motivated!  Once they put their star on the board, they are also invited to the end of the quarter goal celebration party!  First quarter’s party was a doughnut and orange juice party! 
 
The thing I love the most about this is that each goal is set individually for each child.  They are only competing against their own personal best and not everyone else in class! Love A.R. or hate it, it’s working in my room and I couldn’t be happier!
 
Happy Saturday everyone!

3 comments:

  1. This is a great idea and the fact that each student has their own goal has to make such a positive difference, rather than having them compete against each other.

    You're photo of the books on the desks is really great too and I love hearing parents say how motivated their kids are to read.

    matt
    Digital: Divide & Conquer

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  2. We have Reading Counts and I LOVE it! I agree, if you use it to motivate kids to read it's a beneficial program! I, too, like that they have their own goals-very motivating and a great self esteem booster! Thanks for sharing and linking up!
    Joanne
    Head Over Heels For Teaching

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  3. I have always used the AR program and love how, like you said, they compete against themselves and not their classmates. Love!

    Mandy
    The 4th Grade Journey

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