Never underestimate the power of a sticker.
I teach high school sophomores. You know, 15- and 16-year-ld digital natives, many of them with a "too cool for school" attitude. We are spending a full year together on block schedule as the result of some reactionary planning after a dip in test scores, so while March is normally that month that tries a teacher's soul, this March finds all of us at new levels of despair.
So today I handed out stickers. Shiny, yellow, smiley face stickers.
Everyone who completed their homework received a sticker.
Everyone who didn't knows they'll get one next time if they finish their assignment.
I'm hoping I've found a trick that will take us through at least the next month, especially once I break out the scratch-n-sniff, googly eyes, and puffy versions.
You're never too old to want a cute sticker.
I teach high school sophomores. You know, 15- and 16-year-ld digital natives, many of them with a "too cool for school" attitude. We are spending a full year together on block schedule as the result of some reactionary planning after a dip in test scores, so while March is normally that month that tries a teacher's soul, this March finds all of us at new levels of despair.
So today I handed out stickers. Shiny, yellow, smiley face stickers.
Everyone who completed their homework received a sticker.
Everyone who didn't knows they'll get one next time if they finish their assignment.
I'm hoping I've found a trick that will take us through at least the next month, especially once I break out the scratch-n-sniff, googly eyes, and puffy versions.
You're never too old to want a cute sticker.