100 Club
What?
As a way to encourage practice and provide a way for students to push themselves, I introduced the 100 Days of Practice program. This program has students track their practice days. At 25, 50, and 75 days of practice, they get their name on the corresponding poster. At 100 days of practice, they get to take a picture with their instrument and put that on the 100 Club poster. Level 50 and Level 100 have an achievement certificate that comes along with it and at level 100, they'll earn a special music keychain for their backpack. Band students started this in December, choir students are starting this week and 4th grade students will have the chance to do this starting in February when they start learning recorder. All of these students have time to make it into the 100 club by the end of the school year as long as they start no later than February 1st.
So What?
This is designed to help motivate students at all skill levels. I have some students who are extremely high achieving who practice every day already, and this is a way to reward their work. For students who are meeting expectations but not necessarily exceeding expectations, this encourages them to push themselves a little harder and reach a little higher. And finally for those students who are struggling a bit more, this encourages them to keep practicing even when it is hard. Because this is based on tracking days not on playing ability, those students who are not progressing as quickly are still able to be rewarded for their work.
Now What?
As part of this, I am also tracking my practice days. I've hung my sheet up on the instrument storage locker and students are able to see my days as well. I think this is a really great way to celebrate their achievements and keep encouraging them to practice. I think I will try to do one over the summer as well for my current fifth graders that they can turn in in the fall for a small token. I wish I had started this earlier with them and then I could even look at adding levels for achievement as well.
As a way to encourage practice and provide a way for students to push themselves, I introduced the 100 Days of Practice program. This program has students track their practice days. At 25, 50, and 75 days of practice, they get their name on the corresponding poster. At 100 days of practice, they get to take a picture with their instrument and put that on the 100 Club poster. Level 50 and Level 100 have an achievement certificate that comes along with it and at level 100, they'll earn a special music keychain for their backpack. Band students started this in December, choir students are starting this week and 4th grade students will have the chance to do this starting in February when they start learning recorder. All of these students have time to make it into the 100 club by the end of the school year as long as they start no later than February 1st.
So What?
This is designed to help motivate students at all skill levels. I have some students who are extremely high achieving who practice every day already, and this is a way to reward their work. For students who are meeting expectations but not necessarily exceeding expectations, this encourages them to push themselves a little harder and reach a little higher. And finally for those students who are struggling a bit more, this encourages them to keep practicing even when it is hard. Because this is based on tracking days not on playing ability, those students who are not progressing as quickly are still able to be rewarded for their work.
Now What?
As part of this, I am also tracking my practice days. I've hung my sheet up on the instrument storage locker and students are able to see my days as well. I think this is a really great way to celebrate their achievements and keep encouraging them to practice. I think I will try to do one over the summer as well for my current fifth graders that they can turn in in the fall for a small token. I wish I had started this earlier with them and then I could even look at adding levels for achievement as well.
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