"Secret Child"

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2002 : September : 7

"Secret Child"
By Jane

Every day I choose a name from my student cards. This is my "secret child". I keep the identity secret until the end of the day. I tell my class that I will be carefully watching this child for effort and behavior. If the
child has a good day, he/she will earn a star for the entire class. When the class earns 23 stars (the number of children in my class) they receive an extra recess as a reward. This technique works beautifully as when the class begins to stray from my expectatations, I merely have to ask, "How is my 'Secret Child' doing?" All the students fall into line in case they are the Secret Child.And

of course every day is a new drawing of a name so it is possible to be Secret Child consecutively. I reveal the name at the end of the day if the student earned the star. If the child did not earn the star I simply tell the class that the star was not earned and I do not reveal the child (although sometimes it is obvious for the children to figure out). The next day I will privately speak to my "Secret Child" who did not earn the star and we discuss the reasons why. And yes, I admit that sometimes I "rig" my choice to a particular child who I feel needs the reinforcement for their good behavior and effort...Teacher's perogative!