Raise-a-Grade Certificates = Easy Reward

In my last post I told you about the Science Super Star system that I'm using this year in my classroom to recognize students who are doing well.  One of the rewards they receive when they earn a Super Star award is a Raise-a-Grade certificate.  I promised in that post that I would elaborate in a follow-up post, so here it is! :)

Early in my teaching career I was trying to come up with a way to reward students without having to spend a lot of money.  I remembered receiving Free Homework Passes when I was in school, but I'm not a fan of those because I don't assign much homework, but the homework I do assign has a purpose and so I want it to be completed.  I don't give many extra credit opportunities in my class, either (I know, harsh...right? LOL), but extra credit as a reward seemed like a great idea.  So I came up with the idea of a Raise-a-Grade certificate.  

Basically, a student can use one of these to raise his/her grade on any assignment of his/her choosing by 10%.  Most of my students have gotten smart about it and wait to use them on tests since tests are worth more points than homework or other assignments.  I only make it valid for a nine-week grading period, that way students can't save them and use them all on a test at the end of the year and receive 30-40% extra credit!  (I just know someone would try it!)

So there it is... a great, EASY, **FREE** classroom reward!

Rachel

Science Super Stars

Update 1.21.16 - Thank you SO much for the interest in this idea!  I'm in awe at how many times this post has been pinned on Pinterest. It really reaffirms for me the idea that so many of us teachers really do want to accentuate the positive in our classrooms!

I've recently opened my Teachers Pay Teachers store, and I've decided to include the Science Super Star template as a FREE DOWNLOAD!  Just go to my TPT store and you'll see it featured on the right side of the page.


And now for the original post:  :) ...

I'm at home today with my 8yo daughter who's not feeling well, so I thought I would take the opportunity and write a new post since it's been a couple of weeks! (A couple of crazy weeks, let me tell you!)

This year I've started a new reward system in my classroom.  I found myself over the past couple of years focusing so much on the negatives (the kids who don't do their homework, the ones who don't put forth any effort even though they're very bright, you know... those negatives).  So I decided that I needed a way to help myself - and my students - see and focus on the many GREAT things that go on in my classroom each week!

Our school found ourselves in a similar situation about 9 years ago, and I was part of a small committee that helped start the Student of the Week program that we still use.  I needed to create a similar program for my classroom, and so...Science Super Stars was born!

Each Friday I choose one or two students from each class period to receive the Science Super Star award for the week.  (A couple of times I've actually had three or four students from the same period because I've rewarded an entire lab group, but typically I try to not choose more than two.)  Choosing students is simple. I just look for the student(s) who has/have done something exceptional during the week!  Some of the awards I've given this year have been for improving test or quiz scores, earning a 100% on a test or quiz, doing great left-side work in their ISN (Interactive Science Notebook), asking thoughtful questions during class, cleaning up trash in the room that wasn't theirs, etc.  I look for anything that set a student apart from the others during the week.

The reward? It's a 3-part deal...

1) They earn a star to add to the bulletin board in the room.  The star has their name as well as the reason they earned the award.  I keep the stars up all quarter, then take them down at the end of the quarter and start over.  Here's what my bulletin board looked like at the end of quarter 1:

2) They earn a Raise-a-Grade certificate.  Basically this is a certificate that I made which a student can turn in with an assignment to raise their grade on that assignment by 10%.  

3) Of course, no reward would be a good reward without candy!  So, they are allowed to choose a piece of candy from my candy bucket. :)

This system has been so great, for me and for my students.  We're all focusing on the positives a lot more.  My students can't wait for Super Star Fridays!!  That's the first thing they say when they walk in each Friday..."Hey! It's Super Star Friday!"  (And heaven help us if I'm actually not at school on a Friday!  I missed one Friday about a month ago and they practically bombarded me on Monday wondering where I was and if we would do super stars that day!! LOL)

**Update 8.10.14 - Here is a post that shows the Super Star in more detail in case you're wondering what it says!

Does anyone else have a similar program in their middle school/ high school classroom? What rewards to you use?

Rachel