Update on Real Kids, Really Blogging!

A few weeks ago I posted about something really wonderful that I was seeing in my dyad placement which was students blogging reviews for books they've read this quarter. Students post to the blog and also search through it to find books that others students have read and reviewed to help them decide what to read next. It was fabulous, and I looked forward to seeing how the blog developed and also if students were using it regularly.

Most students were posting to the blog frequently, but as the weeks went on, it seemed that some students were forgetting to post. This wasn't really surprising, just as some students will forget to turn in assignments or will turn them in late, they will forget to post to a blog.

So, this past week, our dyad teacher started up a book reading competition! Students were in groups according to their table group, and the table group to read the most pages by a specified date get a prize of their choosing. This gave plenty of buy-in for some of those students who were forgetting to blog. Groups chose a team name (they were hilarious), what their page number goal was, and what prize they wanted (also, hilarious). If the teams don't update the blog of their page numbers, they don't count for the competition. This encouraged the kids to start reading and posting to the blog like crazy.

I snapped some pictures of the posters they made for their teams. I am so impressed with these kids, their high goals, and their creativity! It's amazing how a little competition can be so motivational.

Big cupcakes with candy on top! A scrumptious prize. Paper Knights are in it to win it!

This was the only group who didn't ask for homework passes or some sort of treat- they want to be called "Sir" for a month! They crack me up. They've been reading nonstop!

Shampoo the Orca Search Party with very specific gummy worm specifications. I love the artwork on this poster! You can do it, STOSP!

The most talented of all the goldfish! Go team Rainbow Goldfish!