competency 5

Motivation is key in any classroom!

Part of this is decoration, class pets, motivational phrases around the classroom, adequate use of colors and much more. It seems simple, but it's so useful and effective. Students are drawn to it and motivated by it. They see your effort in it, they see class topics reflected in it and new activities that can be born from them.

Teachers should run the extra mile for their students. While teaching about the diverse cultures and their customs, we came upon México and read about the piñata, we learned that in actuality, the piñata as a part of many countries, such as: China, Italy and Spain. We read about it during the Sentence topic, therefore, I thought of bringing a real "Piñata" with candy and sentences inside it, because many of my students have never opened one. They really enjoyed the activity and were motivated to learn and participate, once the piñata was opened, we gathered in a circle and discussed the sentences they found inside the "Piñata" and classified them within the four types of sentences.

When students began giving me many small drawings I thought of making a gallery around the classroom. However, I didn't have enough space, so instead, I created a big frame, where all of their drawings could be presented as master pieces and they could feel appreciated as much as I feel, when they give me one.