Sparking Student Motivation- End of the Year Yard Sale

Today was a great day!  It has been a few weeks since I had nothing major going on and I could just run errands with my mom and relax!  We set out this morning with all intentions not to be out all day, but we were!  We started the day going to a neighborhood yard sale and we scored some great deals (I will talk more about it in a bit!).  We then ran some small errands: Target, Lowes, etc.  We had to get some things at my dads and we decided we would spend some time going through some of my stuff from when I lived in Florida.  We got carried away and ended up organizing all of it, which was wonderful because that was on my Spring Break to-do list and I never did it!  We came home and did some yard work with our neighbor.  It was amazing what we were able to get done in two hours outside and the difference it made!

Ok, now on to Sparking Student Motivation!  I am finally linking up with the ever fabulous Joanne from Head Over Heals for Teaching!

Jessica , my co-teacher, and I decided to count down the last twenty-six days of the school year with the alphabet.  The letter 'Y' is Classroom Yard Sale day!  We have been using tickets as a reward system for the students all year.  It has work well.  The students can use their tickets to buy school supplies, items from our prize boxes, homework passes and a favorite the teacher's chair.  Some students are very good at saving and others the tickets burning a hole in their pocket the minute they get them.  On Yard Sale Day, students will have the opportunity to use their tickets to enter into drawings and win prizes.  I have been collecting items like books and small toys at garage sales and through my Scholastic Book Order for this day.  We revealed this to the students this past week and they were so excited.  We told them that these prizes would not be just ordinary prizes from our prize box they would bigger and better!  I have heard some kids saying they are saving because they want to get a bunch of stuff!

When I was garage sale shopping today, I told my mom I needed one outragous item for this Yard Sale.  She pointed out an ear of corn hat and told me this would be a great idea!  When I saw it I knew it would be perfect!

I am not 100% sure on how I will use this as a prize.  I was brainstorming in the car today and I think I am going to reveal it to the kids on Hat Day (Wednesday).  I am going to have a special ticket they can earn for being good that will just be for this hat.  They can earn them from now until the Yard Sale, but these tickets will be for extra good behavior.  We will see!  I have a feeling once I reveal this hat everyone is going to want it!  

Before I go I want to share about two wonderful giveaways I am apart of!

First, Becky from Compassionate Teacher is celebrating 100 Followers and has a fantastic giveaway!

The Second Giveaway is my teaching partner in crime, Jessica, from Joy in the Journey.  She is celebrating 200 followers!!!

These are both great girls and you should enter because they have an amazing amount of items they are giving away!

Have a great night!

Rosie