If there is one thing that seems consistent across elementary classrooms everywhere, it is the pervasive use of reward systems. How do you plan to use them? If not at all, why not? If some, how? If you plan to use them a lot, what is your evidence for why that is the best plan?
I plan on using them "every once in a while". I want to be light on using the reward systems because I believe students should learn skills on being a responsible and helpful classmates because it'll help them in the long run as a good citizens in society. I don't want to encourage students these skills because they expect a reward for doing so and I just hope they make a habit out of it in a long run (let's face it, sometime kids choose to only remember and focus on the reward, the end goal, rather than the process of it). These type of skills should be taught as a common sense type of skills, where students does it because it's just an ethically right thing to do. So when do I use the reward systems if I plan on using them "every once in a while"? I want to use the reward systems when I see that my students deserve them. For example, if they had a long week of doing standardized testing or just getting through a hard unit or even just all had a hard week but still pushed through, I want to spend one after that hard and tedious week where they can relax, have fun, and unwind. No huge focus on learning something academically, just a day where we have a fun-filled activities and some time to for free-choice, where they can choose to read a favorite book, draw, etc. Maybe have some pizza/ice cream "party" type. Now, I'm speaking this out of heart. I haven't look up on if this is an effective way to use reward system, but I think it's better than making it a regular thing.
What do you think of Gus' (Kovalik's) idea of a set of powerful vocabulary like the LifeSkills? Do you think you will use something like that in your classroom? Why or why not?
I think the idea of having set of powerful vocabulary like the Lifeskills is something I'd like to implement more of in my own future classroom. I want to set aside a time during the day where students and I can talk about our social-emotional learning. By implementing more social-emotional learning in the classroom, I thought that the students will be more likely to succeed academically. During those social-emotional time, I'll probably come up with different activities that'll help students develop/reflect their learning. Once all the activities for the day are said and done, I thought about passing out a self-assessment survey type at the end of the lesson. One of the question would ask "Which Lifeskills did you demonstrated today?" Students will be able to learn and reflect on how they demonstrated different Lifeskills and how it makes them feel.
