This afternoon was really exciting for me because of a new motivational system that we have started using. I was going to introduce it on Monday, but Keira said, "Je ne comprends pas" to me during math, and I just got too excited at hearing a complete French sentence, so we stopped everything and I explained this new game. As soon as I was done explaining, I was overwhelmed with all the French I started hearing. It was like they were saving it up until they had a good reason to use it! SO amazing! Here are the guidelines:
1. When Mlle hears you speaking in French in class, you earn 1 jeton (playing chip). Keep your jetons in your pencil box, no replacements are given out for lost jetons.
2. When Mlle overhears you speaking in French to a friend, or in the hallway, you may earn 2 jetons instead of one.
3. Jetons are distributed at Mlle's discretion. The kids can outline some of what we discussed. Here are a few things... Jetons are generally not given for simple words such as "oui", "merci", "j'ai fini", or phrases that we have been using all year, such as "Est-ce que je peux boire?" (although all of those things are wonderful and will be encouraged). A jeton is well-deserved when French is used in a conversation we are having, in a full-sentence, or a word that we have just learned. I'm probably not going to reward students who interrupt the flow of a lesson or work period, just to say "Je t'aime Mlle Mitchell!", even though that is incredibly sweet - I don't want this game to distract us from our work.
4. Jetons can also be removed at Mlle's discretion. The kids can also outline how one might lose a jeton. For example, if they are particularly disrespectful (e.g., not listening to the speaker after several reminders), or take someone else's jetons (we would never do that!!).
5. When you have collected 5 small jetons, you can exchange them for 1 large cardboard jeton.
6. When you have collected 5 large jetons, you can exchange them for 1 school dollar.
7. When you have $2, you can buy something from the treat box. This is yours to keep!
This system is intended to encourage the kids to start speaking in French more often, which they should be doing around this time of the year. I hope that this will remain a friendly game, and not a competition. Everyone has, or will, earn their first jeton by reading their Special Moments work to the class. These projects are great, thank you for your help with them!
Please ask your student about this new system. Also, ask them how many jetons it will take, altogether, before they earn 1 large jeton, 2 large jetons, 3... How many small jetons will they have earned altogether before they get their first dollar? This is great for counting by 5s!
In other news, next week, our gym teachers are planning a special gymnastics unit. The gym will remain set-up all week, requiring children to eat in their classrooms, as we did at the start of the year.
In addition, children need to wear shorts and a t-shirt in order to participate in the gymnastics activities. They need their bare skin to show in order to get a good grip on the equipment. They have been asked to wear their shorts and t-shirt underneath their regular winter clothes. A note is going home today explaining this in greater detail.
Please make sure your gymnast is dressed for success next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, when we have our gym periods. I'll try to remind the students again Tuesday night, but mark your calendars!
Finally, I am hoping to teach all my students some simple piano songs during the time at the end of the day when we do our communication folders. We have started by numbering the fingers on our right hand, beginning with the thumb = 1. We have matching numbers on our piano keys. Middle C is number 1, so that's where our thumb goes. We talked about proper hand posture... relaxed wrist and fingers. The fingers should curl slightly so that you play with the finger tips and don't get a stiff hand while playing.
Our first job is to practise using all of our fingers to play a 5-note scale: C-D-E-F-G-F-E-D-C (or, 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1) (or, do-re-mi-fa-so-fa-mi-re-do). If you don't have access to a piano or keyboard, not to worry. Your pianist can play the air piano and sing along! You can play the air piano in the car, on the bus, at the park... it's an amazing instrument! When we've pretty much mastered using all 5 fingers, we will start learning simple songs using music that I have written out with coloured notes that match the stickers on our piano. For the students that take piano lessons, this will not be a challenge, but I know they will continue to entertain us with their own songs. I hope the musicians will tell you all about their piano lessons!
Have a great weekend,
Tamara