See how reward tokens help students develop reading confidence and pride in this inspiring classroom success story from Onsted Elementary.

An Interview with Tina Slater, a Special Education Teacher

Name: Tina Slater

How do you use tokens from Fitness Finders in your reading
classroom?

In
my reading resource classroom, students are awarded tokens after reading a
leveled chapter book. Students are reading their chapter book for 10-15 minutes
each day so it can take 8-12 days to complete a book. During reading, the
student and I talk about the text and I listen to them read. When the book is
complete, we meet to talk about the book and their reading success. During this
time I present a token to commemorate their accomplishment. 

How do you choose which tokens to use?

When
selecting the token to award, I try to match the token with the book the
student has just completed. I have a variety of animals and objects to choose
from.

When students completed a book about Knights, I awarded them a key and a
compass — which were two important objects from the Knights’ Quest. They were
thrilled! Sometimes it can be more difficult to make a match – in those cases, I
may use the question mark token and make a connection with the predictions
students made during reading or their use of expression when reading aloud.

How do you distribute tokens?

Tokens
are presented by me to students in a private ceremony. I actually make a big
deal when presenting the token and make a mini-speech calling out the
achievements the students made while reading the book and making connections
between their reading success and the token.

I am conferencing (video) with the
student, but I am aware that others (family members) are listening. I try to call out as many
positive reading behaviors as possible.

How do students display their tokens?

Students
wear their tokens on lanyards during reading class (the laces from Fitness
Finders). Each student selected their lanyard and the links (Lacelink) from the variety of
colors and patterns Fitness Finders offers.

When students aren’t wearing their necklaces
they are displayed on hooks near our bookshelves.

 Do you have a favorite token? 

I
love all of the Animals! Our school mascot is the wildcat — so all of the cats
and paws are a hit with my students.

 How has this changed your classroom
environment or impacted student motivation? 

Rewarding
tokens has brought a bit more fun and provided a visual that represents student
success.  I love it when I hear a student say,

“I can’t believe I have
read this much,” as they are putting on their necklace before class.

 

Can you share any stories or quotes
from students while using tokens in your class?   

5th
grader Emma said,

“When we get rewarded with tokens, it just makes us want to
read more and work harder. It makes everything more fun!”

 

Do you have any plans specifically for reading month?

During
Reading Month, students will be earning double tokens and we will be
celebrating Wildcats Read with drawings for extra tokens. I’ll also be taking
pictures of students reading while wearing their token necklaces to send home
with their progress reports in mid-March.