A Rock of Motivation
I have always loved teaching elementary kiddos. I’ve found, for me, a good part of it required performance art – entertaining the kids.
One education coach told me “You’ve got the art of teaching down.” I can’t verify my own qualities but it was nice to hear.
I developed a playful tone in class. Had to. Some of it just to keep me interested. But most of it to make the kids happy, content, and desirous of getting up in the morning to look at my mug day after day. Of course, there was always a tough balance. How much play can one have in class without the inmates taking over?
I’d find children with thick skins, yet kids who needed a boost. Maybe their English wasn’t perfect and that bothered them (usually no one else) or they were a loner. They needed their class status boosted. A difficult sorting task for me – which cherub do I pick? A few years back I found one such candidate.
Every now and then I’d surreptitiously bring a 10-pound rock to school. I’d ask this targeted munchkin to go to the office to get something. When she was gone I’d put the rock in her backpack. I required the class not to spill the beans. Usually with the deal of no homework that weekend. AND…I told them whoever spilled the beans would be responsible for homework that weekend and they’d be the most hated child in the land. No smirks, smiles or laughs when the targeted victim returned.
Self-interest with rewards works. It was always interesting to see how long it took the child to discover the rock. A few hours or a few days. And their responses… well.
This particular child came back a few days later, raised her hand. To be honest I’d forgotten about the rock. She raised her hand during a quiz.
“Teacher,” she said with a poker face. “You want us to teach you the Spanish words, yes?”
“I do. But you think during a quiz is a good time,” I replied.
“Yes. I am sure.”
“You are sure?”
“Yes.”
"Hmmm, Okay, three-minute quiz break.”
She continued, “I tink’ we need to teach you de’ word piedra!” She crossed her arms. You know piedra?”
“I don’t.”
“You DO! If I prove you know dis’ word we get no homework, yes?”
A couple of the kids were way ahead of me. They giggled. So I knew I was had. Didn’t know why though. They were nodding their heads in agreement with her. A potential for NO HOMEWORK loomed. It was wonderful to see this girl blossom. She’d be the most loved kid in the land if she managed to pull one over the teacher and get no homework out of it for the whole class.
“Okay,” I said. “But you guys still have to finish the essay were taking.”
She spun in her seat, opened her pack and held up my huge 10-pound stone.
“This, teacher, is a piedra. In English… stone. Can you say, piedra?”
“And you think I did that?”
She rolled her eyes, put her hand on her hips, “What did you tell us about de lying?”
Hmmm, I rubbed my chin. “Okay, I confess. I did it. Piedra Piedra Piedra. Rock Rock Rock!”
The class cheered because she’d just managed a homework free weekend.
“Okay, okay, now finish the quiz,” I said.
“Oh teacher, one more thin’.” Her eyes sparkled. “My mom says you can put de piedras in my pack all you want. But only if it helps me to learn.”
“You know the word motivation?”
“Of course.”
“You like coming to my class?”
“Yes,” she said demurely, head down, pencil to her quiz.
“You may find more piedras in your pack in the future.”
“I hope so.”
“Oh, and tell your mom she’s pretty smart.”
She smiled. “I know. She is smart like me. No piedras in our heads.”
