Golden Tickets

Gold Tickets

Classroom Management

 

Submitted by Deb Ezell

 

There is apparently an epidemic of shrinking kidney and bladder size that hits students when they enter my English 11 classroom.  The facial contortions and body gyrations that students employ when asking to go to the restroom would make a circus acrobat proud.

 

At the start of this semester, I instituted the GOLD TICKET PLAN.  I issued two gold bathroom passes per student.  I instructed them to write their names in ink on them.  When a students needs to go to the facilities, he or she is to raise his or her hand with a gold ticket.  I will take the ticket upon return from the restroom.

 

If a student uses the tickets and needs to go a third time,  he or she is to hold up the cell phone.  I will hold the phone until the student returns to class.

 

At the end of the nine weeks, the gold tickets are worth five points each on a low test grade.  I handed these out on Monday, January 7.  As of today (Tuesday, January 15 ), not a single person has gone to the restroom.  I have had two students ask before the tardy bell rang to go.  Very sweetly, I replied,  "Sure.  Be sure that you have your gold ticket."  Both times the young person looked at me and turned back into the classroom.

 

We'll see how long the streak continues.