Oh my darling, reluctant learners, there have been so many of you. I don’t know where to begin.
I have had some systems in place that helped. (What am I going to do in 5th grade??) While the systems evolved over time, they had the same principal behind them:
There are positive consequences in life.
I expect my students to get their work done. I don’t harp on them or nag them. Quite the opposite actually. I want them to learn they are responsible for themselves. The best tool for that? Friday Free Choice! As the week goes on and I notice work that isn’t finished, I’ll ask, “How are you going to finish that by Friday?”
I watch students take their work to recess voluntarily. I watch them look ahead to see what they are expected to do the next day and get started early. AND, I watch kids that just don’t seem to care. Then, Friday comes. The students have to show me everything is complete and correct. Once it is, they can have free choice. The first week of school, one or two kids get it. The rest of the kids watch longingly as they try to finish their work. Then, I before they go home, I’d staple all their work to my weekly report and check whether they finished it all and send them on their merry way.
Some kids parents would start to be an encouragement factor asking if they earned free choice that week. But for my most reluctant learners, it took months before they got on board. Months? How can I let kids not finish their work for months?
What I love about the Friday Free Choice system is that the kids that don’t get free choice, get tutoring. As the numbers left working dwindle, I have a table full of kids that I can help and talk with. I don’t get mad at them and express disappointment. I use this time to get to know them, to help them with skills they need help with, to find out how to manipulate motivate them. I ask questions like, “If When you get free choice next week, what will you play with?”
I find some of the reluctant learners want attention. Some need confidence. Some need focus. Friday Free Choice helped me give them those. Some Fridays, I spent the time just pointing to the next problem.
Moving into 5th next year, I’ll be teaching Math to three classes. I won’t really have the option of Friday Free Choice. But, I’m sure I’ll figure out a way to incorporate the principal that there are positive consequences in life into 5th grade math.
Amy Grout says
I have used a form of Friday Choice before. However, I never, ever thought of pulling the kids not eligible for extra help/support/encouragement. It makes me laugh at myself. I'm always whining because I don't have enough time to get to individuals and now I discover that I had some time and didn't use it. Thank you so much for linking up….I've already learned something new.
Mercedes Hutchens says
You're welcome! I'm going to miss having Friday Free Choice.
Thanks for hosting the linky. I'd love it if you could join my Ta Da! linky. It's really easy. Just tell what you are proud to have accomplished this summer.
Charell Milton says
Hey Mercedes! I really like the idea of having the Free Choice Fridays. It seems to add a lot of small group time for the students who really need the extra help. I joined this Linky and I would love to hear your thoughts on my post at http://www.missmiltonsmemoirs.blogspot.com. Thanks!
Teaching Fabulous Firsties! says
Mercedes,
I do the same thing! For years I've had "Friday Surprise." Kids who did not use their time well end up with me at my table to get some help/focus/etc… I always tell the kids that if you are working hard the whole work time and you still don't finish–that is OK. I realize that I have some kids who are perfectionists or kids that just struggle and work slowly. I don't want those kids to miss out on Friday Surprise. So, just the kids who weren't trying their hardest end up with me. Often, kids choose to work with me as their Free Choice option! Go figure! 🙂
I'm your new follower. 🙂 Come by and visit.
Corinna
Teaching Fabulous Firsties!
Mercedes Hutchens says
Thanks for following!