For middle schoolers to get hooked in reading, it helps tremendously if a reward is offered. These rewards are extrinsic motivators that entice reluctant readers.
Because most students come from low income families, they get excited at the idea of getting useful and fun items that increase their reading engagement.
The high interest books will be used for students to read in class, and some as prizes for highest achievers. They have requested more graphic novels and these are the ones I chose. The rest of the items will be used as rewards to be awarded at the completion of reading goals. Why these specific items?:
1) The water bottles: students attend classes all day long, and to drink water, they have to request a pass to get out of class. When they have their own water bottles, it will decrease these kind of disruptions in class requesting permission to get out of class. Thus, allowing them to not waste instructional time either.
2) The erasable gel pens: they love using different erasable pens when we are working in small instructional groups. They write and may draw in their workbooks.
3) The mechanical pencils: having a pencil that doesn't need to sharpened, allows them to be better prepared for any assignment in class without having to get up and sharpen pencils while class is in session. They will take care of it, as it is not a regular pencil, and they will always be ready to write as needed.
In my experience, as I have showcased small and fun rewards that are enticing to them, it is amazing to see how prompt and diligent they get into their reading assignments. They look forward to something they want, and I enjoy seeing them getting hooked in reading!
About my class
For middle schoolers to get hooked in reading, it helps tremendously if a reward is offered. These rewards are extrinsic motivators that entice reluctant readers.
Because most students come from low income families, they get excited at the idea of getting useful and fun items that increase their reading engagement.
The high interest books will be used for students to read in class, and some as prizes for highest achievers. They have requested more graphic novels and these are the ones I chose. The rest of the items will be used as rewards to be awarded at the completion of reading goals. Why these specific items?:
1) The water bottles: students attend classes all day long, and to drink water, they have to request a pass to get out of class. When they have their own water bottles, it will decrease these kind of disruptions in class requesting permission to get out of class. Thus, allowing them to not waste instructional time either.
2) The erasable gel pens: they love using different erasable pens when we are working in small instructional groups. They write and may draw in their workbooks.
3) The mechanical pencils: having a pencil that doesn't need to sharpened, allows them to be better prepared for any assignment in class without having to get up and sharpen pencils while class is in session. They will take care of it, as it is not a regular pencil, and they will always be ready to write as needed.
In my experience, as I have showcased small and fun rewards that are enticing to them, it is amazing to see how prompt and diligent they get into their reading assignments. They look forward to something they want, and I enjoy seeing them getting hooked in reading!
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