Breakin' the rules...Sparkin' Student Motivation

It's Saturday which means I'm linkin' up with my sweet buddy Joanne 

from Head Over Heels for Teaching for

Spark Student Motivation Saturdays.

Joanne,

If you are readin' this...

I want you to know I wore high heels this week.

They hurt.  I complained.

Two hours was my limit.

I was in full on giraffe-mode.

My flips flops didn't like me in heels.

I don't know how you do it.

You are my high-heeled hero.

If you are a rule-breaker like me...raise your hand.

Anyone?

Breakin' rules at school is motivatin'.

You might be thinkin' to yourself..."Um...what?

She's a teacher.  Why would she encourage breakin' rules?"

Just trust me...it works.

Tell a kid they are goin' to get to break school rules,

they will do what you want.

Tell a kid they will get to chew gum in school,

they will do what you want.

Tell a kid they will get to throw a ball indoors,

they will do what you want.

Tell a kid they will get to stand on a table or chair in school,

they will do what you want.

In my class...when I catch someone doin' somethin' "good"

and when they least expect it, 

I will yell bark really loudly, 

"Get on your chair for..."

They move faster than lightnin' to get up on that chair

with a large, goofy grin on their face.

Why?

Well, because they are breakin' school rules of course.

And that my friends, is COOL!

Yes, they "might" fall off the chair, but we don't think about

that BECAUSE...they "might" fall out 

when they are sittin' in the chair too.

What types of things might be cause for a child to climb

up in their chair?

*Gettin' a 100% on a test.

*Makin' it into the Millionaire's Club.

*Bringin' back a signed report card slip.

*Goin' above and beyond on one of our online programs...

without me askin'.

*Meetin' an A.R. goal.

*Doin' somethin' kind for others...randomly.

*Dustin' my desk.

*Organizin' my closet.

*Surprisin' the teacher with a treat.

*Just for bein' awesome.

There really is no end to the possibilities. 

You just never know when chair climbin' will occur.

Standin' on tables is reserved solely for when the crazy teacher

needs to make a super duper important announcement

and...birthdays.

That's right...turn a year older and you get to stand on the

table while your classmates and buddies

sing to you.

Don't even think about lettin' this slide by anyone

on their birthday...they will bug you about it

until you drop everything you are doin'

to sing and dance for them.

True story.

Be forewarned, if you start this tradition with your own

class, you will be known as the rule-breaker

and will be expected to always continue this tradition

even if you have offspring of Administration 

in your classroom.

It's pretty much a rule that you must break the school rules.

Or else.

Motivate them!

You can choose one at a time.

 Or all of them.

Just don't ever...I mean..EVER...

not let them enjoy bein' on the table for their birthday.

I'm serious.

Happy Saturday my friends!