Very curious

I think it's pretty normal that most teachers feel like their kids, at some point, aren't listening to a word they're saying. However, one student's comments made me realize that perhaps they pick up on more than I think. I recently introduced another feeble attempt to motivate my kids during 4th quarter ~ a spinoff on Extreme Makeover where I'm trying to get them to improve their grades collectively & compete against each other. So, during 4th hour as I was explaining what will await the winners, and one sweet little student sighed & commented, "Dang, Miss M ~ that's your favorite word, isn't it... prize! "

At first I was a little embarrassed, as if that was an evaluation that I treat them like elementary kids instead of teenagers. It's true, I've tried numerous positive reinforcement strategies all year long, and I try to reward the smallest accomplishments. As I heard a workshop presenter say once, "Sometimes the only positive thing you can say to a student is, 'Thank you for breathing today!' but it's worth saying." I don't really care if students think I'm wacko for handing out prizes & rewards all the time ~ it's basically recognizing their achievements, and gives me a nonverbal way of saying "Good job!"

So, if some kids think it's nutty or redundant . . . I guess I shouldn't care. At this point in the year, it's partly a selfish tactic anyway ~ I feel better about myself as a teacher if I've written nice notes, handed out Bonus Bucks, and doled out prizes (no matter how juvenile they are) instead of yelling at kids all day and letting them see me get exasperated & impatient.

On a completely unrelated note, a kid told me today (after receiving his ISS assignment a week after I wrote him up), "Why didn't you just tell me, 'Greg, chill!' That's all I need to hear." Imagine that, his misbehavior was my fault all along, since I didn't correct him properly. If only I knew the magic words for all 100+ kids.