Each month the teachers at Metro North conduct an informal, school-wide attendance awards ceremony. Learners and teachers from all four levels of English classes cram into a classroom, and one teacher presents certificates to the winners, announcing the names one by one in a dramatic fashion. To add to the anticipation, another teacher keeps track of the class each winner belongs to; the class with the most winners at the end lay claim to bragging rights for the next month. Along with a certificate, winners receive some sort of school supply as a prize. Today’s prize: a twelve-pack of pencils.
After being an audience member at a few attendance award ceremonies, I believe that this is an excellent retention activity and way to give students well deserved recognition. Honoring learners in front of their peers reinforces the fact that good attendance is crucial to learning English.
Some students shyly accept their awards but not Mandisa. Today she whooped and cheered as her name was announced and did an impromptu victory dance to the front of the room to collect her prize. The room erupted in laughter; everyone loves Mandisa.
No comments:
Post a Comment