Organizing Free Time, Rewards, and Special Motivators in the Classroom

Sherwin Suarez Igama

Students spend the majority of their time at classroom and at education. This room should be a stress-free situation where students feel comfortable spending a lot of time. It is important to take the well-managed classroom to improve classroom efficiency and make an environment conducive to learning.

A good supply of learning games is an important addition to the classroom library for free time and rewards.

A special library reading area should be a part of each classroom. It should be carpeted with lots of pillows, beanbag chairs, a rocking chair and other assorted pieces of furniture that will help to make it a cozy nook for reading.

Students can make learning games for themselves during their free time. They can make memory game cards to learn various skills such as capital and lower case letters, number facts, contractions, place value. etc. Have materials ready for the students to use.

Make a dot-to-dot activity. Have students write numbers or letters on a paper placing them anywhere on the page. Then have them connect the dots. This can be done with spelling or vocabulary words also. They can connect these in alphabetical order. These connections make an abstract pattern that can be colored.

Honor a "Student of the Week". Decorate a box and cut a hole in the top. Put ballots beside the box. Each Friday the students vote for the best student. The one who has been polite, handed in homework, passed tests, had good behavior and attendance, etc. The winner receives a certificate. Let us encourage students to be productive in learning by offering rewards. Rewards can create a feeling of pride and achievement. It motivates them to be productive.

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The author is Teacher III at San Agustin Elementary School