This is my first post here at Chalkslinger. Hello! I’m a first-year teacher. I teach theology at a Catholic high school. I’d like to use this blog to chronicle my journey and reflect on the lessons I’ve learned.
I’m starting off Q4 with a little friendly competition among my three classes. It’s adapted for high school from a classroom management game seen elsewhere on the internet. Here’s how it works:
Every day, from among the students present in class, two Secret Students will be chosen randomly. Their identities will not be revealed to anyone, even themselves.
By the end of the period, if both students have followed all school policies and my classroom expectations from the syllabus (“Be respectful. Be prepared. Be focused.”), the entire class will receive 1 extra credit point.
However, if even one of the Secret Students does not follow the basic rules, then no extra credit points will be awarded.
Each day, you could be one of the Secret Students. So be sure to conduct yourself accordingly.
If a class gets 1 extra credit point every day during Q3, they will earn what amounts to a 3.3% bump in their final grade. Nothing earth-shattering, but enough to take them from a C+ to a B-, or a B+ to an A-.
Additionally, the class that receives the most points by the beginning of Finals Week will receive a party of their choosing (within reason) during Finals Week.
It’s like the classroom management version of Hogwarts’ House Cup.
Block 6 was super into this. And, interestingly, they were the only class today that got the extra credit point. In Block 5, one of the secret students was sleeping. In Block 8, one of secret students hit the trifecta: sleeping during a video, taking way too long in the bathroom, and talking to his neighbor when I was trying to teach.
It’ll be interesting to see where this goes, and who ends up winning the trophy at the end. And who knows? My mom works at a trophy shop. Maybe there will actually be a trophy.
The Chalkslinger 