The VSC Math Christmas Tournaments!

I've been spending some time thinking about some additional things that I would like to add to my class (like some signs around the room), but I have mentioned to the kids that I would create a tournament for their favorite games.

I've spent some time planning it and checking for feedback on gamefaqs to see what others think. I have finally come up with a tournament format and style for the students. Introducing VSC math's very first Christmas tournament!

VSC Math Wii U Christmas Tournament by MR.E

I know that the students will really appreciate this and I'd like to see the level of motivation they have upon hearing this. The only downside is that they must have all gold tokens from now until the beginning of the tournament in order to enter, and I am gunning for 16 players.

The fewer the number of players, the easier it is to run. The more players there are, the better the class is going. I still have to come up with a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prize for both tournaments though. Maybe I should get the students their own Amiibos?

Student of the........What?....

Well, the first month of school is practically down! Going back to the end-of-the-year award ceremony last year, I remember that students were awarded for different things than they are normally awarded for throughout the year. I decided to make these types of awards monthly. At least going along with my class, I've decided to create the following monthly recognitions for students:

Staples is my new best friend. I think these recognition pieces will reinforce the types of thinking and behaviors that currently take place in my class, as well as those that we need more of. It's not that math isn't important, but we can get through more math and create a better learning environment by reinforcing this positive social structure in my class.

Master Participators - These individual students are always attentive, tracking the speaker, and always have their hand ready to share their knowledge and understanding with the rest of the class.

Best Teamwork - To the groups that excel at always being on task, working together to complete a problem, incorporate all group members and follow all group norms

Best Effort - To those that show an eagerness to try their best and learn

Helps Others - Helps others in any sort of way. This could be with a problem, with passing in papers, or even with picking up something that dropped. These students are those that always help someone in need.

Groups of the Month - The groups that exhibit all of the qualities above.

VSC Math Recognition

Here's how it works: Each day, groups can earn 1 token (gold, silver or bronze) depending on factors such as coming prepared, classroom behavior, participation, and working together with their group. The week starts on Friday and ends on Wednesday. Students can earn tokens on Friday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Thursday is the day where students redeem 4 of their tokens for a prize. I give them out at the end of class and the students coordinate which member of their group will take them home and hold onto them.

The following are the prizes:

Each tier of prizes contains a mystery prize. The students will have to figure out what these prizes are. I modeled it after RPG/MMOs. I think leaving it up to the students to figure out what the mystery prizes are contains some kind of value that I can't quite put my finger on yet. Students have a choice to pick whatever prize they want. Each member of the group will get a prize, and each member gets the same prize.

Gold mystery prizes: Playing Nintendo Wii U during lunch period on Thursday (once a week). Nintendo has tons of kid-friendly games that even adults enjoy and they are all multiplayer. I won't purchase all of the games upfront. Students can earn more games over time (I'll buy them and add to our collection). These include fun competitive multiplayer games like Mario Kart 8 and Super Mario 3d World.

I told students about this blog earlier this week. Thankfully, they are very excited about it! The other gold mystery prize is a feature on the blog! Silver mystery prize is 10 minutes of free time (thinking of 15 but I want to start small first). The bronze mystery prize is a plush toy. If students earn 4 gold tokens for 4 weeks in a row, they'll be added to a Hall of Fame section of this blog that I'll create. These are all subject to change depending on the kinks that need to be ironed out (as with any system).

So far, students have been holding up their end of things, so I hope things will run smoothly on Thursday. One of my challenges will be the actual process of students redeeming these as I can't have so many students in front of my room! I'm thinking of distributing bronze prizes in the lunch room, and take the students who will play or spend lunch with me upstairs.