By Diane Erickson,
Second Grade Teacher
After a very challenging end to their first-grade experience, 56 percent of the incoming second graders at Naples Elementary School were below grade level material in our Lexia reading program this year. They showed many inadequacies with reading. We also noticed that some students had a negative attitude toward doing online schoolwork.
During a team meeting, we decided we needed something to provide motivation for our 7-year-old and 8-year-old students. After a class meeting, a goal was set to earn 100 Lexia certificates for a spectacular class party. Each class had their own Lexia poster near their class door that was marked when a certificate was earned. Students could see the posters multiple times each day.
It was thrilling to watch classmates encourage each other in their hard work while earning certificates. Students regularly discussed how close they were to finishing their level or how many more certificates were needed to reach 100. They knew they needed each other to accomplish this massive goal.
As classes reached their goal, two second grade classes chose to have a pajama party and watch a movie. Another class chose to go to Naples City Park and play kickball.
Of course, treats needed to be involved to make it a real party. Students selected treats that they wanted to have at the party and after their teacher narrowed the list down to eight options, the class got to vote. This was a great opportunity for students to use their second-grade math skills to tally the results of the vote and see which the treat would be served at the party.
To add to the challenge and excitement, second-grade students have been involved in a four-week Math Fact Competition to encourage math fact fluency. Students work on their addition and subtraction facts daily in their Math RTI. Each Thursday students are timed on their addition and subtraction facts and those who reach the goal earn points for their class.
An online scoreboard was created, and is updated weekly and shared in the classrooms. This brought a lot of motivation during the week to work on this skill. It was a tough competition, but one class earned the title of March Math Fact Champions and enjoyed popcorn at their Lexia party as well.
It has been great to see our second graders understand that setting goals and working daily towards something challenging like reading and math is rewarded in the end.
(PHOTO: Mrs. Walker's second grade class at Naples Elementary celebrated earning 100 Lexia certificates with a pajama party.)