MOTIVATION, MANAGEMENT & GRADING PLAN

Sara Taormina

Motivation, Management & Grading Plan

by
Sara Taormina
EDU 403: Differentiated Instruction & Assessment
Washington & Jefferson College
October 3, 2013

Competencies:
Pg. 20, B.6: Establish and maintain consistent standards of classroom and individual student behavior through the use of positive techniques and resources. Define the
scientific principles influencing academic and social behavior. Implement positive behavioral interventions based on a functional analysis of behavior. Create an
optimal learning environment by utilizing, evaluating, modifying and adapting the classroom setting, curricula, teaching strategies, materials, and equipment.
Standards
Candidate Competencies/Teacher Standards for Professional Knowledge and Practice:
PDE 430 Category- Category II. Classroom Environment: Student teacher/candidate establishes and maintains a purposeful and equitable environment for learning, in
which students feel safe, valued, and respected, by instituting routines and setting clear expectations for student behavior. Alignment: 354.33. (1)(i)(E), (B)
PDE Chapter 354.33- E: Classroom Management and Motivation - The teacher uses an understanding of individual and group motivation and behavior to create a
learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning and self-motivation. (Category I-Planning and Preparation & Category
II-Classroom Environment).
Content Competencies/Content Standards:
Pennsylvania Standards Aligned System (PA-SAS):
Subject Area- 16: Student Interpersonal Skills
Standard Area- 16.3: Decision Making and Responsible Behavior
Grade Level- 16.3.5: Grades 1 5
Standard- 16.3.5.C: Actively engage in creating an environment that encourages healthy relationships.
Matching Assessment Anchor- R5.B.3: Understand concepts and organization of nonfictional text.
Anchor Descriptor- R5.B.3.3: Identify, compare, explain, interpret, describe, and analyze how text organization clarifies meaning of nonfictional text.
Matching Common Core- CC.1.2.5.G: Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly
or to solve a problem efficiently.
Matching PA-ELPS- Social and Instructional Level 6 Reaching: Grade Cluster 1 3 Speaking: Negotiate solutions to problems, interpersonal misunderstandings
and/or disputes working with a partner.
Matching Alternative Academic Standards for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities 2.7.3.D: Predict and measure the likelihood of events and
recognize that the results of an experiment may not match predicted outcomes.

MOTIVATION, MANAGEMENT & GRADING PLAN

Sara Taormina

Philosophy of Discipline:
I believe that when rules and expectations of the teachers are clearly stated and displayed,
discipline in the classroom can be productive. Students must know that theres an appropriate
and in appropriate way to behave in a classroom setting. They must also know that when they
behave inappropriately they will be punished accordingly. The classroom rules will be printed on
a poster and displayed in an area where all students can view them on a daily basis. The teacher
will restate the classroom rules every day before beginning the days lesson. By doing this, the
students will know what is expected of them. Students will also know how to behave in the
classroom setting and the consequences that will follow if they break the rules.
For minor behavioral classroom distractions, such as talking when the teacher or others
are, the student will receive a verbal warning. This verbal warning will remind the student that
they are currently disrespecting the person speaking and taking fundamental learning time away
from themselves and the whole class. Students in my classroom will not be sent to the office for
punishment, because I believe it the teachers responsibility to properly award or punish behavior
shown by his or her students. It is the teachers responsibility rather than the office
administrations responsibility to enforcing punishment, because then his or her students will
receive the same punishment depending on the crime, the punishments will be consistent. Having
the punishments or rewards be consistent allows the students to know which behavior the teacher
prefers to see continue and which behavior is discouraged from happening inside the classroom.
Classroom Motivation Plan:
Mathematics is not everyones favorite subject. Therefore, as a good teacher I have to
have multiple ways to engage and motivate my students each and every day. One way I will
motivate my students will be by using a super hero behavior board. This board contains four

MOTIVATION, MANAGEMENT & GRADING PLAN

Sara Taormina

levels: a) evil enemy, b) citizen, c) sidekick, and d) hero. On the first day of class all students
will have their photos taken. After the photos are printed I will cut out every students face and
place his or her face on the end of a clothespin. The students then will be given class time to
decorate their clothespin. I will then place everyones clothespin on the citizen portion of the
board. Depending on their classroom behavior, they have the chance to climb the board or fall. If
students achieve hero status and stay there for two days they will be given a binder that is full of
rewards that they may choose from. Rewards, such as sitting in the teachers comfy chair for the
class period, getting to be teachers helper for the day, or use of whiteboard during classroom
discussion will be available.
Another way I will motivate my students is by monitoring their daily math sheets. Daily
math sheets will be given to every student at the beginning of each lesson. This sheet contains six
addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division problems. It is the students goal to complete all
the problems and get as many correct as possible. If the student answers all the problems
correctly, they receive a homework free pass. This pass can be used whenever the student does
not feel like doing the nights homework. Many students do not like doing homework. Therefore,
this is a great motivational tool for students. This is a great motivational tool for students because
it makes them focus on the mathematic problems to achieve a score of one hundred percent.
Finally, I will motivate my students to work together. I will do this by stating at the
beginning of every class that if everyone is on task and shows good behavior throughout the
days lesson then the entire class gets to play Around the World for the last ten minute of class.
This is a great motivational tool because many students would rather play games than do math
worksheets or math equations. This is also a great motivational tool because it allows students to
engage with their peers and encourage their classmates to behave properly.

MOTIVATION, MANAGEMENT & GRADING PLAN

Sara Taormina

Grading Scale:
Students have the possibility of achieving 480 points in my classroom. The most
important aspect of my mathematics classroom is participation; therefore, students will earn a
good portion of their points in this category. To check my students understanding in mathematic
concepts they will be assessed in four different ways: homework, quizzes, test and pop bonuses.
Homework is very valuable in a mathematics classroom because practice makes perfect. If
students never practice the material taught in the classroom their understanding on the concepts
will never improve. Therefore, homework will be the bulk of the students points achieved.
Quizzes will be given half way through each chapter to refresh students memories on the
concepts previously taught and to allow them to acknowledge material that may need to be
reviewed before the chapter test. The test will be given at the end of each chapter to evaluate
students understanding and to allow the teacher to notice areas that need to be taught again or
worked through in a different manner. Pop bonuses are similar to pop quizzes. The only
difference between pop quizzes and pop bonuses is that pop bonuses can only help your grade,
whereas, pop quizzes taken away points for incorrect answers. Pop bonuses will be given
whenever the teacher feels that all his or her students may not understand mathematic concepts.
Therefore, giving students pop bonuses, the teacher can evaluate his or her students
performance and adjust the instruction based on the results.
Conclusion:
My students will be held at the highest standards in regards to participation and behavior.
They will also be challenged each and every day. They will be challenged each and every day so
that they can reach their full potential academically and personally. I will motivate my students
in many ways to engage them in the classroom concepts and discussions. I will also make sure

MOTIVATION, MANAGEMENT & GRADING PLAN

Sara Taormina

that appropriate behavior is rewarded, while inappropriate behavior is punished accordingly. By

making aware my expectations and rules visually and verbally each and every day for all my
students, I will create a safe and respectable classroom environment.

Consequences:
1. Verbal warning
2. Clothespin moved
down a spot on the
hero board.
3. Clothespin moved
to evil enemy
section, and letter
sent home.
4. Meet with parents/
guardians.

Classroom Rules:
1. Respect
2. Listen
3. Never stop trying.
4. Ask questions
when you are
confused.

Grading Scale:
Participation
Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Total:

100 points
200 points
50 points
50 points
400 points

+ Pop Bonus
80 points
*Students can earn up to 480
points!

Grading Scale:
90% - 400 - 360 points A
80% - 359 - 320 points B
70% - 319 - 280 points C
60% - 279 - 240 points D
50% - 239 - 200 points F

Rewards:
1.
2.

3.

4.

Clothespin moved to
a higher spot.
Hero status for two
days, student gets to
select a reward from
the binder.
All correct answers
on daily math,
student will receive a
free homework pass.
Great classroom
behavior throughout
the lesson, the last ten
minutes of class will
consist of playing,
Around the World.