As a VIPKID teacher, choosing the perfect reward system for the next day can be daunting. You print and gather and soon have a messy classroom and feel no more prepared for the next day of class. It’s OK – we all started in the same place! After 3 years teaching ESL online I now have a full year of reward systems planned and ready to go. Today I’ll share my planning approach and share a free printable so that you can get organized for August.
SEASONAL BACKGROUND
To get ready for August, the first step for my classroom is a seasonal background. I use an oil drip pan like this one. I sprayed it with matte spray paint to avoid glare from my classroom lighting. I attached it to the wall using heavy duty velcro command strips. About once a year I touch up the paint but it has been a game changer.
The whiteboard, teacher name, and feedback sign stay in place all year. I add these easy seasonal letters to keep my background seasonal and I change them once a month. They can work as flashcards and props while keeping my classroom organized and seasonal.
Print your full year set today. Cut, laminate, add magnets on the back and never be scrambling for a seasonal classroom decor solution again. I would love to see a picture of these letters in your classroom – tag me on Instagram @cookfamilyresources.
SEASONAL
Next, I choose a seasonal reward for each week of the month.
WEEK 1
I will be using this Build A Scene Reward System. We begin with a background (the penguin you see on the left). In this reward system, every 5 minutes when the student earns a star or a gem in the classroom I add a piece to the right hand side to show the next step in the s’more cooking process. At the end of the class we have a picture to talk about for authentic free talk and cultural extension about s’mores. I find out if this food is new to them or if it reminds them of a similar food in their culture. I ask students if they would like to try it and if they think that they would like it. This is an outstanding resource to help with fast finishers and upper level students but I assure you seasonal rewards are appreciated by the families of our lower level students as well. When you share culture in your classroom, you begin a conversation and expose them to something special on the other side of the world. Just because they don’t have the English abilities to talk with you about it during that 25 minutes doesn’t mean they don’t talk with their parents about it after class.
WEEK 2
I will be using ice cream scoops. Now this is a staple reward system that I could use year round but I don’t want summer to go by without making a student connection over a common love of ice cream. The conversations we have about ice cream are different when I use this reward system in the summer so I keep a copy in my August prop box. If you haven’t tried ice cream scoops before or aren’t sure how to use them in your classroom, take a look at this video:
WEEK 3
I will return to talk about s’mores again but with a comedy twist. I use cards from this game and we make proper s’mores or s’mores with comical elements. This reward system is perfect for upper level regulars who have already talked about s’mores when we used the Build A Scene reward system. Interactive choice keeps them challenged and we also have a natural chance to ask questions about what will happen if the crackers get wet or how burnt marshmallows might taste.
WEEK 4
I keep things simple by spelling seasonal words and having them try to guess. I could spell B-E-A-C-H by adding one letter to my whiteboard each time I give a star/gem. I could spell S-A-N-D-Y in the same fashion and then have a natural extension topic ready for when we get to the end of the lesson. Have you been to the beach this summer? Do you like the feeling of being sandy? There are so many options for 5 or 6 letter words about summer. Other days I might use those same letters to build a student’s name on the whiteboard.
STAPLES
After I prepare a seasonal reward for each week, I choose a staple reward for each week. These are tried and true reward systems that work for all ages and genders. I can use them to expand upon our conversation about them easily for the students who need that and I can add them to my whiteboard quickly for students who need to keep moving through the content slides.
WEEK 1
I will use gems on a name sign. Although this reward was created with GoGoKid in mind, I would feel comfortable using it at VIPKID as well. Students have a wide variety of gems to choose from to decorate their own sign during the class. Take a closer look at this reward system:
WEEK 2
You will see emoji pizzas in my classroom. Food rewards can offer so many fun opportunities for teachers and students to pretend to eat items through the webcam and across the ocean. I also love to show the slice of pizza and make the facial expression along with the student before placing it on the reward system whiteboard.
WEEK 3
I use a ballerina build a scene reward system. I use this to have conversations with students about their activities outside of school, even though the new school year hasn’t yet started. I find this is an easier time of year to have those conversations when students are not as stressed about homework and their very busy schedule.
WEEK 4
I share a Pacman reward. Students always amaze me with movies and games that we share a love for. If this is an unfamiliar game, then I can at least share the name and peak their curiosity. We often can talk about video games or computer games that they play which feels like a special treat.
STRETCH
Finally, I add a type of reward system that I’ve never used before. Maybe I saw a great idea on Facebook or Instagram. I’m nervous, not knowing if it will work well in my classroom. Every month I choose one to try. Maybe I can practice it with a regular student who is ready for a twist or with an upper level student who I know has enough English language that we can work through any bumps in the road with a bit of extra incidental language. Although using a stretch reward is harder for my mind as a teacher during class, sometimes it pays off and I find a new favorite to add to my rotation.
In August, I will be revealing hidden pictures. Some days it might be a picture of my life. Other days it might be a picture related to the content (since I have a large collection from my Level 2 VIPKID Bundle and Full Year Seasonal Collection).
You may choose to keep some superheroes or characters from recent movies or popular TV shows. Try covering them with a texture like bricks or even some sticky notes.
I made some foam covers that I attached with velcro dots and those can work well too. Students love to guess what the picture throughout the lesson. This zebra is from a sticker book I already had at home and it made many fun reward systems.
I keep my August decor and rewards all in one box. Each week on my desk you will see my trial props and rewards (I never put them away), a seasonal reward, a staple reward, and a stretch reward. At the end of the weekend, I can put 3 rewards back into the box and take out the next 3.
Print out your FREE August organizer and fill in your favorite rewards. Laminate the chart and write on it with a wet-erase marker so that you can change your plan over the years as needed. If you take 10 minutes once a month to make these boxes, your future self will thank you next year when you don’t have to print anything new or think what you will use for class tomorrow.
Are you a teacher who prefers Digital rewards? Teacher Dawn has a great idea for a FREE digital reward option for your August classroom. Subscribe to her channel for great digital teaching tips for both GoGoKid and VIPKID.
