Button Program

Button Program Overview:

This program consists of a series of benchmark activities that are marked with a classroom chart, stickers, and a series of buttons created by the teacher to showcase students who work hard and achieve on their instrument. The program was adapted for use in the Decatur Public Schools during my assignment in 2000-2001 teaching at five elementary schools. Sherie Strohman, elementary music teacher in Annville, PA, shared the roots of this program with me when I contacted her for ideas to motivate my instrumental music students who were not yet meeting my expectations.

Materials Needed:

• Large poster board
• Small stickers (stars, smiley faces, or something fun)
• Permanent marker
• Button making machine (most Elementary Schools have one)
• Button making equipment (ordered according to the specs of the machine)
• Paper to either draw the design of the button, or computer to graphically print the design

Preparation:

Poster Board

• On the poster board, draw many horizontal lines so that each student in your classroom has their own horizontal line
• Add vertical lines on the poster board, leaving enough space to write in names of kids on the left, with small boxes to add stickers to the right for each achievement level they complete.
• Look through the method book or series of activities you have established for the school year and select benchmarks (close together in the beginning, further apart as the year moves along) to mark areas where students will receive recognition.
• Write down each benchmark on the poster board above the corresponding vertical lines to represent the achievement each student accomplished.
• Write down student names on the poster board
• Add color, stickers, graphics or drawings to decorate the poster board as desired

Buttons

• Create button design, either hand-written or graphically, according to the size of the buttons you have available.
• Print and/or photocopy the buttons, preferably color-coded by level or ensemble, and cut out in round shapes either by hand, or with the cutter that comes with the button-making machine.
• Assemble button parts with paper designs into the button-making machine as directed; press & they’re done!
• Share with the kids so they are excited to earn their buttons!

Other ideas:

• Send a letter home to parents explaining the program so they can help encourage their child.
• Share the motivational program with your school principal and other teachers so they can help support student efforts and congratulate them when they succeed.
• Share the program with the schools PTO. Request their support to purchase materials, incentive prizes, or other ideas to promote student motivation.
• Create multi-level incentives for those hard-working students that can serve as prizes for big achievements.
• Ask the school principal if student achievements can be announced on the PA system to help promote the program.
• Share the program with other music teachers to generate consistency, excitement and broader competition.
• Ask the students to wear their buttons during music classes.