Student Motivation, Getting Acquainted, and Another Great Giveaway!

Good morning and Happy Marathon Monday! Hmmm, nevermind the student motivation, I should be having everyone post motivating ways to get me to the gym...people are running 26.2 miles today and I'm trying to force myself out of this chair to go spend 26 minutes on the elliptical.

Ok, now back to the real reason I am posting, I am linking up with Head Over Heels For Teaching's Spark Student Motivation Saturday Linky! Coming back from Easter weekend and the end of our state ELA testing, I wanted to try to motivate my kiddos to complete some chapter books (the way they abandon books just kills me)! I came up with a "Carnival Day" idea. We are in school until June 26th this year, so I figured having a little fun during the last week wouldn't hurt. For every book that the students complete from now until the middle of June, they are able to earn a "ticket" for Carnival Day. Upon completing the book, they also have to complete a short Bloom's Book Review. I have this saved on my computer at school, but I just typed up a few general questions at each level and the kiddos have to answer three questions, each from a different level...nothing too crazy! They are aware that my events are not set-in-stone yet, we are waiting to see how many participants there are, but many of my ideas are pinned on my School's Out for Summer board. 

I also use ClassDoJo in my classroom and the students can redeem their points for coupons. I have decided to add Carnival Day tickets as a coupon that points can be redeemed for. I hope that most of my kiddos will somehow get to participate in these events! I just created a poster that is being printed at Walgreens that I plan to hang up after break to remind the kiddos of the fun they can expect from Carnival Day. 

Next, I am excited to be linking up with Flying Into First Grade's Let's Get Acquainted Linky Party! 

Latoya's fun Linky this week is: 

TOPIC - Skittles Game

Here is the code:

Red- Favorite Ice Cream Flavor

Orange- Favorite Memory from College

Yellow- Favorite Sports Team

Green- Favorite Fast Food Place

Purple- Wild Card(Tell anything about yourself)

Red- Favorite Ice Cream Flavor - Currently, my favorite would have to Friendly's Rockin' Poppin' Cotton Candy! 

Orange- Favorite Memory from College - Senior Year 5 of my friends and I went on a cruise to Key West and Grand Caymen. We drove from MA to SC, cruised, and drove home! We had the best time! 

Yellow- Favorite Sports Team - I am YANKEES fan! The only one in my family...and amongst MOST of my friends. 

Green- Favorite Fast Food Place - I suppose I would have to say Dunkin Donuts. I am not a huge fan of donuts, but I'll take all the iced coffee bagels I can get! :o)

Purple- Wild Card(Tell anything about yourself) - I joined the gym for the first time since college over February break and I went about 5 times. It is now April break and I MUST go back! Hopefully if I tell all of you that I am going to the gym, I will really go, because I can't lie!

I am so sorry about this marathon post (although I guess it is appropriate on Marathon Monday)! Finally, I want to share Ideas By Jivey's great giveaway with you! Everyone's giveaways just amaze me! This one is jam-packed awesome goodies! Head over and check it out for yourself!