What are you doing to keep your students motivated to do well on end of year district assessments for grades K-2? I am awarding my students play money if they show growth so that they can purchase a prize from our classroom store. I am also posting their pictures outside my classroom.
I use this punch card and we write the goal on the card. When they get to ten punches they get to eat lunch with me. It’s my students favorite reward and free for me!
I am rewarding students for moving up levels as we prepare using software like Freckle. Students are so proud to show me that their scores are higher.
The reality is that in our state the test doesn’t impact their grade. However, the school as a place of safety and fun and relationships does mean a lot to them. The test impacts the state grade for the school. So I explain to the students what that grade means and ask them what grade they would give the school. Usually they grade their school high or wish their school’s current grade was higher. Then in proceed to tell them that one way to keep their school’s high grade or increase their grade is to do their best on the state test. It means more to their school than to them but they have a direct impact to how their school is graded. It is usually a motivation to keep on going when the test gets difficult.
