Recognizing students for their efforts can be impactful. We all remember a time when a teacher recognized us for our actions or work. It can really help those students who usually feel overlooked. Recognizing a Student of the Month or a Student of the Week is one way we can show students that they are seen. This post will outline several ideas you can use to make sure these recognitions have an optimal impact.
In many schools, student of the month is celebrated school-wide. A list of predetermined criteria or values are given. This helps both the teacher and the students know what the month’s focus will be.
There are various ways to select the student of the month. You can have the students vote on who they think best meets the month’s criteria. Another option is for you to choose one on your own by carefully selecting someone who has demonstrated that month’s value.
Once the student is selected, it is time to recognize them.
1. Student of the Month Bulletin Board
One thing you can do is to dedicate a bulletin board to recognizing the student of the month. You can use a bulletin board inside your classroom or one in the hallway.
Give students the opportunity to share some information about them. While it is great to allow students to answer some questions or fill out a questionnaire, make sure not to overwhelm them with too many questions. Think about the Teacher of the Year at school. It is such a wonderful recognition, but some teachers are hesitant to accept the nomination. This is because they know they will have to complete a very large packet of information. We want this to be a pleasant opportunity, not another chore.
2. Student of the Month Certificate
For many students, this is a wonderful moment. Recognizing them with a certificate is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate them in front of their classmates. It is also such a nice keepsake. It is something they can keep for years to come as a reminder.
3. Extra Privileges
Giving students extra privileges is not only a great way to celebrate the student, it is also a great way to motivate other students to want to be next. Some activities students really love are:
- First Choice: Choose a day where the student has first choice. The student can choose their assignment partner first. Allow them to choose their flexible seating option first. They may also enjoy being first in line.
- Lunch Bunch: Allow the student to pick a student or two to have lunch in the classroom with you. Students love getting to know their teacher. It’s also a great way for you to connect with the student further.
- Teacher’s Assistant: Give the student the option to be the teacher’s assistant for a day. Students love to send papers to the office, distribute supplies to their classmates, and more. This is the perfect opportunity to get some help while giving a student the opportunity to feel special all day.
5. Write a Note
Write a short letter to your student telling them why you choose them. Better yet, have their classmates write a short note telling him or her what makes them special. Place all the notes in an envelope as a keepsake.
6. Provide them with a Small Gift
Provide students with a small gift. Some fun gifts are:
- a book (They can choose one from Scholastics Book Club)
- Play-Doh
- Pop It toy
- a homework pass
The gift options are endless especially if you know the child very well at the point where they are honored with the title.
