Post by patrick on Oct 18, 2007 12:30:57 GMT 8
This thread kinda touches on another thread but the majority of the post has to do with another completely different topic -- point systems.
In elementary school I utilize a point system to encourage motivation. With this motivation, comes a spirit of competition. Competition is not bad, but it could create an environment that fosters competition over good sportsmanship, as well as decrease the quality of participation.
For awhile now, I've been battle the whole Comp vs. Coop in elementary school. I thought I had solved for it by creating a dual point system. This dual point system goes something like this.
Each student has their own point card that they try and fill up with stickers, stamps, etc. This point system creates the individual competition aspect. I don't believe competition is bad as long as you instill a positive attitude in the students who lose. This positive attitude is created by teaching the students that nobody is a loser, but rather winners who just need to try a bit harder next time.
The second point system co-exists on top of the individual point card system. It is a classroom point system. I have yet to install this point system in my schools, but I'm going to in the near future. The perfect place for this point system is the upper part of the all the walls in elementary school classes. These wall are usually bare. Stretching all around the classroom is a huge point system. At the starting line is a spaceship sitting on the island of Japan. The finish line is 'Kodomo Land'. The goal of the students is to take off from Japan and fly to KL. Along the way are various stars that represent points. All the points earned by every student goes towards moving the spaceship towards the finish line. I believe this type of point system takes away a little bit of the negativity in losing on the individual level because the losers' points are still needed and used to push the class forward towards their goal. Cool, huh?
Well, these two point systems have created additional problems. What happens if students complete the goals? While every teacher wants to see their students succeed, a certain level of success comes at a price. What do you give the students who are successful? I started handing out cheap 100 yen presents but this quickly became too expensive. So, I switched to certificates but this was too boring. So, I switched to putting point cards on a leveling-up system, where students go to different point card system when they complete their previous point card. I found this system workable but not flashy!
Well, being the nerd I am, I constantly surf through all kinds of English forums looking for ideas. Recently, I found THE SOLUTION! A RAFFLING SYSTEM!!!!!
Instead of receiving presents or leveling-up point cards, when students complete their point card, it goes into a box and the student receives a new point card. At the end of the term or fiscal school year, each class has a drawing. The more point cards the student fills out, the more of a chance they have to win THE PRIZE (...and don't ask me what THE PRIZE is because I haven't thought that far). Anyways, this raffling system also retains the motivation for slower students who don't submit as many point cards because the option of 'CHANCE' still remains.
As for the class that reaches Kodomo Land, any suggestions?
In elementary school I utilize a point system to encourage motivation. With this motivation, comes a spirit of competition. Competition is not bad, but it could create an environment that fosters competition over good sportsmanship, as well as decrease the quality of participation.
For awhile now, I've been battle the whole Comp vs. Coop in elementary school. I thought I had solved for it by creating a dual point system. This dual point system goes something like this.
Each student has their own point card that they try and fill up with stickers, stamps, etc. This point system creates the individual competition aspect. I don't believe competition is bad as long as you instill a positive attitude in the students who lose. This positive attitude is created by teaching the students that nobody is a loser, but rather winners who just need to try a bit harder next time.
The second point system co-exists on top of the individual point card system. It is a classroom point system. I have yet to install this point system in my schools, but I'm going to in the near future. The perfect place for this point system is the upper part of the all the walls in elementary school classes. These wall are usually bare. Stretching all around the classroom is a huge point system. At the starting line is a spaceship sitting on the island of Japan. The finish line is 'Kodomo Land'. The goal of the students is to take off from Japan and fly to KL. Along the way are various stars that represent points. All the points earned by every student goes towards moving the spaceship towards the finish line. I believe this type of point system takes away a little bit of the negativity in losing on the individual level because the losers' points are still needed and used to push the class forward towards their goal. Cool, huh?
Well, these two point systems have created additional problems. What happens if students complete the goals? While every teacher wants to see their students succeed, a certain level of success comes at a price. What do you give the students who are successful? I started handing out cheap 100 yen presents but this quickly became too expensive. So, I switched to certificates but this was too boring. So, I switched to putting point cards on a leveling-up system, where students go to different point card system when they complete their previous point card. I found this system workable but not flashy!
Well, being the nerd I am, I constantly surf through all kinds of English forums looking for ideas. Recently, I found THE SOLUTION! A RAFFLING SYSTEM!!!!!
Instead of receiving presents or leveling-up point cards, when students complete their point card, it goes into a box and the student receives a new point card. At the end of the term or fiscal school year, each class has a drawing. The more point cards the student fills out, the more of a chance they have to win THE PRIZE (...and don't ask me what THE PRIZE is because I haven't thought that far). Anyways, this raffling system also retains the motivation for slower students who don't submit as many point cards because the option of 'CHANCE' still remains.
As for the class that reaches Kodomo Land, any suggestions?