I know kids should be intrinsically motivated to learn and do all the things we want them to do.
BUT, sometimes a little extrinsic motivation is justified, at least it has been in my 23 years of actual classroom practice.
Starting in early October, I start a reading raffle incentive program to get kids to read at home more often. It's a simple system:
I send a paper book home at each child's reading level with a raffle ticket. (If kids don't know all their letters or how to sound out words, I start with letter or word lists). They practice at home and when they are fluent with the book, the parent/guardian signs the ticket and the student brings the book and raffle ticket back. I listen to a page or two, and put the raffle ticket in a basket. Then, that same day I send the next book. Each day I pick five-ish tickets and those students spin a prize wheel. They LOVE the prize wheel. So do I!
Pros to this program:
- The kids love it!
- I get a chance to listen to my kids read each morning and watch their confidence soar. It gives us a chance to talk about the book and I learn what they like about books.
- Most days I have at least 10 tickets returned. That's 10 kids that read at home that day! WIN!
- The parents are given the materials they need to work with their child. Often it is hard for parents to find the right reading level for emerging readers.
- My kindergartners average a level DRA 15 by the end of the year. Many of my kids are confident, voracious, readers a year above grade level or more.
Cons to this program:
- It is time consuming on the teacher side. But, if you get a good organizational system down, it is totally doable.
- It takes a lot of time to set up your systems.
- A subscription to readinga-z.com is the best way to get books for this program, and it is pricey for a year. I only subscribed for one year and made all the materials I needed. Luckily my school paid for my subscription.
- I keep tickets on my desk. As kids come in and start unpacking, I have students come to me and read. I make their new ticket right there.
- All the word lists and letter lists are paper clipped in folders, so we just open up the folder and they are right there.
- Mini clothes pins are on the file for their current book. I just grab the clothespin and move it up, grabbing the next book.
- Since I have a para, we log when books are returned so we can keep track of anyone who hasn't been participating. Sometimes parents lose the book and it's "out of sight, out of mind." If you don't have a para, a parent volunteer could do it. If that is also not something you have available, you could have kids keep track, too. Kids can do a lot more than we think. Sometimes you just need to think outside the box.
