Practice Ten – “Best Work” Bowl
“Best Work” Bowl
- Goal: To recognize students for defining and meeting individual specific “Best Work” goals and posting their work.
- Each students creates a “Best Work” Goal - something specific and measurable that results in quality work
- Should be written down in some form such as in a Goal Progress Log, at top of paper, on 3x5 goal card, a post-it note, etc.
- Simplified Goal Setting Worksheet - This is a form that outlines the steps and gives working space to write out the goal and plan to achieve it.
- Recommend support by an accountability partner (i.e. fellow student, teacher, relative, etc.)
- Examples of specific goals:
- Getting name on paper
- Using punctuation or capitalization of first word in sentence, etc.
- Showing work for solving problems
- Handing in work on time
- Completing work in class
- Raise my spelling grade by 10 points
- Increase my study/reading time by 10 minutes a day for 3 days each week.
- Option: Create a pledge statement for “Best Work”.
Example:
Student: ”In striving towards excellence I pledge my effort towards achieving my specific “Best Work” goal.
Teacher: “Now share today’s goal with your pair/share partner.”
Suggestion: Take 30 seconds at the beginning of class and have students review their specific goal, say pledge, and share goal. - Implementation of “Best Work” Bowl
Materials:- Small slips of paper for student’s names
- Medium size bowl/container for name slips
- Directions:
- Establish guidelines for putting student’s names slips into the bowl such as:
- Meeting individual “Best Work” goal for ________(period of time - week?)
- Posting a “Best Work” for display
- Presenting “Best Work” to audience - i.e. if class does assembly presentation, then all get name in the bowl
- Accountability Partner Recognition - Allowing students to recognize their partners by putting their name in the bowl.
- Select the frequency for drawing names from the bowl.
- Use the resources below to recognize progress and coach students on giving appropriate positive feedback.
- Use a progress check method such as the Goal Progress Log for individual accountability.
- Establish guidelines for putting student’s names slips into the bowl such as:
Resources:
- Free Ways to Recognize Effort
- 4x4 Work Check Chant task cards
- Praise/Encouragement
- Tools for Editing:
- Proofreading Marks poster
- Editing Checklist for Self and Peer Editing - may be filled in online
- Teaching with editing printout - strategies for teaching editing skills
- Peer Editing Form - Timesavers for Teachers - includes a 1 sheet form and smaller 4-to-a-sheet editing forms.
- 10 tools to Create Online Student Portfolios - Online resource giving options for creating student portfolios
- Expectation Four - We will cheer each other to success. (printable poster) Multiple Resources including printables Please select your grade level for resources pertaining to this expectation.
- Expectation Six - We will recognize every effort and applaud it. (printable poster)
- Showcasing for Success - the ‘When?’ and ideas for ‘How?’
- Ten Ways to Honor Learners - Includes checklist, poem, quote, life principles, Expectation, and callback
- Celebrations
- Self-Assessment Tools - includes rubric, choice, and other self-evaluation tools
- Tips for Motivation and Encouragement - Multiple online resource links for this characteristic