Star Wars Day: Class Behavior Reward
This artifact is an example of a reward I created that my students worked to earn as a class little by little when they were collectively making good choices such as being good listeners, following directions, exhibiting good hallway walking, and in general meeting or exceeding behavior expectations that my cooperating teacher and I have for them as a class. My students worked to earn a Star Wars themed day at school as a class because the majority of the class has shown an overwhelming interest and excitement for Star Wars from the games they play at recess and free choice to what they choose to share during circle time. Even some of my students who have less of an enthusiasm for Star Wars have become swept up to a certain extent in the general excitement for it that the class has developed. I printed out a coloring book sketch of a popular character from Star Wars, Master Yoda, and when the class was making good choices as a whole throughout the day I would color in a little more of this coloring page. My students were able to earn their "Star Wars Day" when the entirety of the Yoda coloring book page was colored in.
One the day that my students finally earned Star Wars day, we had a blast. I was able to find resources that helped me to integrate a Star Wars theme into different lessons and activities throughout the day. While learning was still able to take place with this Star Wars theme, I also provided some more purely "fun" activities for my students around this theme because I not only want my Kindergarteners to develop as learners but I also want to promote their sense of play and creativity. One of the lessons that I planned for Star Wars Day allowed students to choose a star wars coloring page from a variety of choices to color as their bell ringer (morning arrival activity) for the day that they then wrote a story about during Kid Writing (we were able to write with all the students in small groups that morning!).
Some "for fun" activities that I did with my students during Star Wars Day included putting them in small groups and having them create a "puppet show" to perform in front of the class using laminated paper star wars puppets that I made and doing a Star Wars mad lib together as a class.
I believe that this reward that I developed for my Kindergarten students to work to earn was effective because I was able to remind them this throughout the day and review good behaviors that the whole class could collectively engage in to earn more of the Yoda coloring page colored in. Especially at the Kindergarten level, a large part of the teacher's role is to help students to learn how to behave in a school and public setting. I believe that the "Star Wars Day" reward I created for my students encouraged them to self monitor and evaluate the choices they were making and how these choices not only affected them but also affected the group as a whole.
Another reason that I believe this artifact is a demonstration of my competency in structuring classroom environment because it is an example of how I used student interest to motivate students to engage in the process of becoming self aware of good behavior choices in school.
One the day that my students finally earned Star Wars day, we had a blast. I was able to find resources that helped me to integrate a Star Wars theme into different lessons and activities throughout the day. While learning was still able to take place with this Star Wars theme, I also provided some more purely "fun" activities for my students around this theme because I not only want my Kindergarteners to develop as learners but I also want to promote their sense of play and creativity. One of the lessons that I planned for Star Wars Day allowed students to choose a star wars coloring page from a variety of choices to color as their bell ringer (morning arrival activity) for the day that they then wrote a story about during Kid Writing (we were able to write with all the students in small groups that morning!).
Some "for fun" activities that I did with my students during Star Wars Day included putting them in small groups and having them create a "puppet show" to perform in front of the class using laminated paper star wars puppets that I made and doing a Star Wars mad lib together as a class.
I believe that this reward that I developed for my Kindergarten students to work to earn was effective because I was able to remind them this throughout the day and review good behaviors that the whole class could collectively engage in to earn more of the Yoda coloring page colored in. Especially at the Kindergarten level, a large part of the teacher's role is to help students to learn how to behave in a school and public setting. I believe that the "Star Wars Day" reward I created for my students encouraged them to self monitor and evaluate the choices they were making and how these choices not only affected them but also affected the group as a whole.
Another reason that I believe this artifact is a demonstration of my competency in structuring classroom environment because it is an example of how I used student interest to motivate students to engage in the process of becoming self aware of good behavior choices in school.