Artists of the Week!

Yet again, for the third year in a row, I am changing my positive behavior incentives for the art room.  My first year of teaching I did a star chart based on whole class behavior, which started out great.  Eventually though, I started to forget putting stars on the chart!  

This last school year I did a Touchdown Challenge board (I'm from Buffalo, so of course I'm a Buffalo Bills fan!).  This also worked well in the beginning, but towards the half-way point in the school year, I started to forget to move footballs and students didn't really pay attention to it either!  Plus, I ended up taking away valuable art class time for parties/free periods/movies for the winners.

Finally, this year I think I have it!  At first I wanted to do an Art Bucks theme.  I found some cool artist renditions of American currency done in the style of Vincent Van Gogh and Frida Kahlo to go with the Mona Bucks, however when I tried to print them off, I was directed to a website to inform me of the illegal act of printing counterfeit money!!!  Oops!!  So instead, I decided to use this idea I found on Pinterest of course, on the blog For the Love of Art.  (She uses a bookmark as the prize for winning artist of the week, but I'm going to change it up a bit.) 

Artist of the Week glitter palette with glitter paint cans!

One paint can for each classroom teacher whose kids come to art!  I still need to add handles to them though...thinking of either using aluminum wire or silver paper...

A little closer up...Artists of the Week...Work hard! Have a positive attitude!  Work quietly!  Help others! Respect materials!  ARE CREATIVE!!!

I am positive that this will work this year for my students because they prefer that instant gratification, and this is closer to instant than a party every 10 weeks!  Every Friday when we have a full week of school, I will choose an Artist of the Week from each class.  They will get their name written up on their paint can and they will receive a "Sit by a Friend Pass."  (Of course, I will write their name on the back so they can't switch with others!)  I saw this pass idea somewhere on Pinterest, but can't remember where...apparently it was one of those rare things I didn't pin!  :(

Students are always asking me to switch seats or have an entire class change assigned seats, which I rarely do, so this will hopefully encourage them to be on their best behavior!  Plus...I'll save money from having to bake 100's of cupcakes every 10 weeks! ;) 

Of course, students will be responsible for keeping track of their card...if they loose it they won't get another!  I also plan on sending home a monthly art newsletter this year, so each Artist of the Week will have their name in the newsletter as well!!!