Kristin Ackerman
November 4, 2011
I have an interesting group of students this year. A lot of them are reluctant readers and writers. My usual tricks to pull them in are not working. The mysteries and adventures that usually fly out of my book bins are still sitting in my classroom library. I am pouring lots of time into selling books in an effort to make sure that my students actually read during reading workshop. However, I have a group of kids that turn their nose up at EVERY book I suggest. I also have writers that tell me they just don't feel like trying out what I am teaching. Again, my usual push and motivation is not working as well as usual.
One morning, I was feeling rather sorry for myself as I opened my classroom door to greet my students. I didn't know what I was going to do to turn the tide in my classroom and I was feeling a sense of urgency because I didn't want other kids to start to join ranks with my reluctant group. That is when Garison solved my problem. As he walked into my classroom he looked up at me and asked, "Do you eat cupcakes for breakfast?" Puzzled I asked him what he meant and he said, "Well, you are always happy so you must eat something happy for breakfast."
The next morning I brought mini cupcakes to school and informed my class that we would be eating them for breakfast. However, there was one stipulation. I told my students that in life we have choices, we can choose to be positive and do our best or we can choose to be negative and not do our best. I reminded them that we had a long year ahead of us and each student would have to choose what kind of attitude they would have towards learning. Then, I ate a cupcake right in front of them and said that I was going to choose to be positive and do my very best to teach them how to read and write faster, stronger and longer. I invited kids to join me for breakfast and told them that by doing so they were committing to have a positive attitude and to really try.
One cupcake can't change everything, but it has proved to be a small step in the right direction. A few days after I brought in cupcakes I noticed Johnny was actually reading during reading workshop. When I complimented him he said, "I am trying to follow directions because I ate the cupcake."