Candy Catch and "Bonus Point of the Day"
As a gen ed instructor, I have to find ways of keeping the topics a bit more lively and I always think that competition is a good way to do this.
I bring candy in for the students (raisins, too) and toss a piece across the room for a correct answer, a good try or even just because they haven't had a right answer yet!
I also do a surprise "Bonus Point of the Day"--for anything from being the first student in class,helping out a classmate, being prepared or even making me laugh out loud. The students respond since they never know what it will be that day OR how many bonus points will be given out.
Yes, there is really nothing quite like hurling edibles to keep a classroom--of adults and children alike--engaged!
I love these ideas. Teaching some of the intro level course it is difficult to keep them focused. These ideas are a great way of keeping the class active and engaged.
Fun! I do it too for some paragraphs that my students write. They read them all aloud, then vote on the one they think does the best job at describing a process. It works really well because MANY students' essays are voted for, and it serves as additional affirmation for them - even if they don't win the candy at the end.
I absolutely love the idea of unpredicable surprise rewards. I have turned the material into games, but I am excited to use the idea of candy for random acts of involvement. How fun and inviting.
Kristi Meyer
I do the candy thing too! Adults get just as excited as a kid when they get candy.
