Comments on: My “págame” system http://www.teachforjune.com/2007/10/09/my-pagame-system/ Workshops by Scott Benedict Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:54:01 +0000 hourly 1 By: Kristy http://www.teachforjune.com/2007/10/09/my-pagame-system/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Kristy Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:50:20 +0000 http://www.teachforjune.com/2007/10/09/my-pagame-system/#comment-39 Scott, I'm interested in your response to Carol's note...Also, how do you manage the constant /- of points? Do you walk around with your paper "coins" in hand, and award or take them away for the different pos/neg behavior? Does every single good question and answer get a coin? From your description, it sounds like YOU keep track of the negative points, since their intial 70 pts are given to them, and they turn in their coins to add to that. How do you prevent them from giving them away to others, or even selling them to each other? Scott, I’m interested in your response to Carol’s note…Also, how do you manage the constant /- of points? Do you walk around with your paper “coins” in hand, and award or take them away for the different pos/neg behavior? Does every single good question and answer get a coin? From your description, it sounds like YOU keep track of the negative points, since their intial 70 pts are given to them, and they turn in their coins to add to that. How do you prevent them from giving them away to others, or even selling them to each other?

]]> By: Carol http://www.teachforjune.com/2007/10/09/my-pagame-system/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Carol Fri, 15 May 2009 19:34:09 +0000 http://www.teachforjune.com/2007/10/09/my-pagame-system/#comment-37 This is a very interesting idea. My system, invented before I discovered TPRS, is ok but needs honing and I think I'll see how I can combine the two. I use points too but to earn squares on a passport. Each passport has 30 squares worth 20 points each. At the end of each row, they get one point added to whatever grade they need a boost in (we have communal block exams so I am obligated to test them "traditionally" at least once per trimester)... Anyway, this is what I do: Every time a student is a good citizen they get a point. This can be helping me carry heavy material, pushing chairs under the table at the end of class, erasing the board, helping a fellow student, picking up papers that have fallen on the floor, being polite (many of my students aren't culturally trained at home to say thank you, please, excuse me and sorry, many don't even live with their parents but distant relatives that don't nuture at all). For every 20 points (I'm thinking of doing it after 15) they earn a square. Any really big brother/sister act of kindness earns them a square right away. I check off that homework is completed and after 3 checks they earn a square. If they have participated well that day I give a big plus and for 3 plusses, they get a square. They get a square if they earn a C (10/20) or more on the block exams. I collect the passports right before the end of every term and bring them up to date so the points are added on. I take off 5 points for 'minor' offenses such as talking, for pretending to throw away chewing gum that they just instead hid in the mouth, for getting up without permission, etc. If the student has less 5 three times they earn a detention. I found that this works for 6th graders but not for 8th graders in my classes. They just don't give a hoot about anything! For those that are expelled from class I remove 15 points. The down side: -This system is a little bothersome for the teacher the first term -students can lose their passports and lose whatever extra squares they have earned -strong students and usually the really weak are very willing and the rest could care less. I think a currency system is better since the kids can tangibly see how much they are losing. Would you please explain more about how you make currency? DO you use units of 1, 5 or 10? How do you do it? Thank you! This is a very interesting idea. My system, invented before I discovered TPRS, is ok but needs honing and I think I’ll see how I can combine the two. I use points too but to earn squares on a passport. Each passport has 30 squares worth 20 points each. At the end of each row, they get one point added to whatever grade they need a boost in (we have communal block exams so I am obligated to test them “traditionally” at least once per trimester)… Anyway, this is what I do:

Every time a student is a good citizen they get a point. This can be helping me carry heavy material, pushing chairs under the table at the end of class, erasing the board, helping a fellow student, picking up papers that have fallen on the floor, being polite (many of my students aren’t culturally trained at home to say thank you, please, excuse me and sorry, many don’t even live with their parents but distant relatives that don’t nuture at all). For every 20 points (I’m thinking of doing it after 15) they earn a square. Any really big brother/sister act of kindness earns them a square right away.

I check off that homework is completed and after 3 checks they earn a square. If they have participated well that day I give a big plus and for 3 plusses, they get a square. They get a square if they earn a C (10/20) or more on the block exams. I collect the passports right before the end of every term and bring them up to date so the points are added on.

I take off 5 points for ‘minor’ offenses such as talking, for pretending to throw away chewing gum that they just instead hid in the mouth, for getting up without permission, etc. If the student has less 5 three times they earn a detention. I found that this works for 6th graders but not for 8th graders in my classes. They just don’t give a hoot about anything! For those that are expelled from class I remove 15 points.

The down side:

-This system is a little bothersome for the teacher the first term
-students can lose their passports and lose whatever extra squares they have earned
-strong students and usually the really weak are very willing and the rest could care less.

I think a currency system is better since the kids can tangibly see how much they are losing. Would you please explain more about how you make currency? DO you use units of 1, 5 or 10? How do you do it? Thank you!

]]> By: Scott http://www.teachforjune.com/2007/10/09/my-pagame-system/comment-page-1/#comment-23 Scott Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:44:32 +0000 http://www.teachforjune.com/2007/10/09/my-pagame-system/#comment-23 Hi, Naimah! I just subtract the points from the computer. I start them all with 70 pts and I use those to subtract. They get points back for writing essays (starting in quarter 2 for level 1) or participating in class. They need a minimum of 80 by the end of the quarter. For my level 1s, in first quarter, as they cannot write, they are to pick 10 vocab words and write them 3 times each to get their points back. Then in second quarter it becomes an essay. Hi, Naimah!

I just subtract the points from the computer. I start them all with 70 pts and I use those to subtract. They get points back for writing essays (starting in quarter 2 for level 1) or participating in class. They need a minimum of 80 by the end of the quarter.

For my level 1s, in first quarter, as they cannot write, they are to pick 10 vocab words and write them 3 times each to get their points back. Then in second quarter it becomes an essay.

]]> By: Naimah Simonson http://www.teachforjune.com/2007/10/09/my-pagame-system/comment-page-1/#comment-21 Naimah Simonson Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:37:21 +0000 http://www.teachforjune.com/2007/10/09/my-pagame-system/#comment-21 When you subtract points do you have them pay you the currency back or you keep a note and go in the gradebook and change it later? When you subtract points do you have them pay you the currency back or you keep a note and go in the gradebook and change it later?

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