Celebrate Your Students
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In the final month of school, take time to CELEBRATE YOUR STUDENTS for their effort and achievements. Read on for specific celebration ideas.
Tips
Celebrating hard work and perseverance is an important part of brain-compatible learning. A celebration provides immediate, positive feedback about a job well done and signals to your students' brains that it is time to move from a completed task to a new task. Celebrations can be big, such as an overnight field trip to celebrate a successful school year, or small, such as doing a quick cheer in unison. Either way, celebrations lift the spirits of both you and your students and create excitement about the next learning adventure.
Below are some celebrations you can do with your students. Model a celebration by doing it yourself first. Then have your students do the celebration for each other.
"GIVE ME FIVE" — Do high fives, "jump for the sky" fives, low fives, knuckle fives (clench fists and knock knuckles), and windmill fives (in pairs, students swing one arm around in opposite directions from each other, slapping hands as their windmills intersect).
THE MARK MCGWIRE FOREARM SLAM — In pairs, students lift one arm each and tap forearms together.
THE SILENT CHEER — Wave arms around excitedly and "shout" with no sound coming out of your mouth.
THE HEARTY HANDSHAKE — In pairs, students do a 30-second hearty handshake, shaking hands wildly.
THE MAGIC TOUCH — In pairs, students touch index fingers together while saying "YYYeeessss!"
"I APPRECIATE YOU BECAUSE . . ." — Write each of your students a note of appreciation, acknowledging a particular effort or achievement.
THE EXCLAMATION — Say encouraging words like "Faaaan-tas-tic!!!"
A "ROUND" OF APPLAUSE — Move your arms around in a large circular motion while clapping your hands. Next you can try a "square," "triangle," or "rectangle" of applause.
GOLF CLAP — Mimic the type of refined and subtle applause seen at golf tournaments: lightly tap the fingers of one hand on the palm of your other hand.
RAINSTORM — Clap your hands together softly a few times (for light rain), then snap your fingers a few times. Next clap your hands on your thighs, first slowly, then faster (as the storm builds). At the height of the storm, stomp your feet. Then do each step again in reverse order (until the storm has ended).
THE STANDING "O" — Give a visual "standing ovation" by standing and holding your arms in the shape of an "O" above your head.
THE MONA LISA — Make an "L" with the index finger and thumb of each hand and smile while you hold up your hands to form a "picture frame" around your face.
THUMBS UP — Give your class a thumbs up first with one hand, then with the other. Continue showing thumbs up wildly at different angles and heights in front of your body until you have given at least 12 thumbs up.
CREATE YOUR OWN — Tap into what you know about yourself and your students to create celebrations that are uniquely suited to your class.
Celebrations provide ritual as well as novelty, both of which enhance learning. They bring groups closer together, creating a feeling of intimacy and positive emotion that stimulates the brain's long-term memory.
Source: The above tips have been adapted for the classroom from the PLS online course Resource for Parents: Homework and Study Strategies.
Additional concepts are based on the PLS graduate course IDEAS: Brain-Based Ways We Think and Learn™. For more information, see "Helpful Resources" below.
Reference:
*Jensen, E (1998). Teaching with the brain in mind. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.