Oops, I Did It Again!

I let my students earn their first class reward. You know what I do with the blanks on the board that will spell out their reward. And how I like to put up the wrong letters to keep the kiddos guessing.

The reward was "board games." But when I told the students that they had earned their reward, and then filled in the blanks, I wrote, "extra tests."

I proudly turned to them to see their excited little faces. But what was this? They didn't seem to be too thrilled. "Guys," I said. "Congratulations! You have earned you first class reward!" I turned to the board, and then turned back, announcing grandly, "Extra tests!"

"That's not a reward...that's a punishment!" one student said. They all groaned. But I just continued with the day as if nothing was unusual.

But right before second recess, I looked at the reward on the board before excusing them. "Oh, guys," I said. "I made a huge mistake. Extra Tests is supposed to be your second reward! I'm sorry to break the news to you, but this isn't your reward..." And then I wrote the letters in the blank to spell "board games."

Cheering ensued. Now I saw happy little faces. It's so much fun to play this way...