Apparently, I’m a bit slow.
I’ve seen the links for the Slice of Life Challenge, been keeping an eye on how and when this all gets started, looked back at my old posts to see if I could find any to glean from them, but missed the classroom version?
#duhwhydontyoupayattention
So, I’ve introduced this (in the random, generally unorganized way I do things) to one group of 8th graders and my 6th graders. My 6th graders, they seem pretty jacked up about the whole thing, and I’ve got 24 out of 26 students who are thinking they can write for 30 days (I missed Day 1). For my first group of 8th graders, a LOT of questions, but good questions.
I had a couple of ideas on prizes for those who manage 30 days of writing, but someone suggested pizza. Just like with teachers, if you feed students, they will come. So, my plan (at this point) for those who hit their 30 days, I’m going to make a pizza lunch of some sort happen. That got some buy in from the “umm, I don’t think so” crowd. We’ll see how many turn in blogs after our writing time.
There are two other hours of 8th graders who I work with, and, if I were to guess, between all three, I may get somewhere between 50% – 60% who start submitting. I’m not making this a mandatory activity and will be reminding them pretty much daily of this. We’ll see how many will follow through.
Either way, I have students writing, student who often complain about not having the time to do so. If I get one student who follows through to the end of March, that will be a success to me.
And, it will be a lot less expensive buying pizza for one too! 🙂
March 2, 2016 at 7:54 pm
Yes, getting kids to participate is difficult – especially at the middle school level – and you have the right attitude: positive but realistic.
March 2, 2016 at 10:39 pm
Yup, that’s all I can ask for. A few were very excited! Some rolled their eyes. 8th graders, gotta love them! 🙂
March 2, 2016 at 8:49 pm
So, did you check out on the website how to link your kids? Or are you just going to go it alone this year? I’ve never tried to get kids to write during March. I’ve always kept it just for me…I’ll have to think about this.
March 2, 2016 at 10:40 pm
I’ve got a pretty basic idea, looking at examples from yesterday on how we can get this done. We’ll see what my group wants to do. I need to get it linked up soon, but I’m guessing we’ll start with 30+ writers, and the weekends will separate those who are truly invested from those who aren’t! 🙂
March 2, 2016 at 9:00 pm
I think this is awesome!! I wish we had blogs 15 years ago when I was teaching I love your idea of pizza – even a sundae party! Get your checkbook ready, I think the kids will get excited!! thanks – Great slice
March 2, 2016 at 10:41 pm
The pizza idea was a “geez Darin, why didn’t you think of that” kind of thing. A few of them really perked up when I said that, so we’ll see how this first weekend goes! 🙂