'Nights' help motivate

Increasingly, our elementary schools are holding multiple “Literacy Nights” or “Family Nights” during the course of the school year.

This provides an opportunity for parents to come by the school, shortly after work, and visit their children’s classrooms.

Principals and teachers plan a specific focus for the evening: for example, reading, numeracy, writing, or math skills. Parents not only learn unique tips and strategies for effectively helping their children at home, they’re also provided with tools, kits, or other resources to support the activities.

Visiting recently with Julie Howell, principal of Mesa Elementary, she described in more detail what their Family Nights would look like.

“The first of Mesa’s literacy evenings will be 'Family Math Night' on Oct. 17,” Howell said.

“We are actually using all the data we collect through various assessments to address specific, targeted needs. For example, third grade will be focusing on elapsed time, since time and measurement are often a struggle; second grade is doing base 10 activities, since place value is foundational for other math skills. We’ll focus on fractions in fifth grade, always an area kids struggle with.

“These are a few examples; the kits contain resources and manipulatives to help with practice. Also, kids can earn dog tags for each of the ‘Literacy Nights’ attended with their parents.”

“Dog tags?” was my response. Howell continued, “Oh my goodness, kids are crazy about the dog tags.

“This is a motivator we started this year, and kids collect dog tags for various things. Each student has an inexpensive ball chain, and we have tags made up, customized for Mesa, for different categories. Some are earned; like for good behavior, attendance, academic growth, and so forth. Kindergarten has an “I can tie my own shoes!” tag. Some are awarded; like the star-shaped birthday tags. The kids are absolutely crazy about these tags.”

Mesa’s dog tags are roughly the same size as military dog tags, but made of bright colored plastic with customized text. Kids collect them on their ball chains, which are kept in classrooms during the day. Kids can wear theirs all day at school, if they like; and they definitely all do. At the end of the day the ball chains with tags are hung in their classrooms, and students will get to take them home at the end of the year.

What a great way to motivate kids … better than candy, I’m thinking.

Cindy Kleyn-Kennedy is the instructional technology coordinator for the Clovis Municipal Schools. Contact her at: [email protected]