What's Working Wednesday (and a couple other things)

{Make sure you read to the bottom of this post for a chance to win my newest winter "There's an Elf in Our Classroom" pack, a soon to be giveaway, and a soon to be weekly linky party.}

It's that time again... time for me to share something that is working in my classroom. This year I implemented homeworkopoly. Up until this year I had a sticker chart (which inevitably turned into a signature chart because it was faster) where I would give a sticker if they did their homework that night and after 10 stickers (at the end of each row) there was a prize... the prizes started small (a starburst) and got larger (the largest being lunch in the class for a few days to watch a fun movie). I got sick of having to stop at every desk and do stickers/signatures. So this summer I hunted for a homeworkopoly board. And low and behold I found the cutest one for free (if you know who's this is please let me know so I can give them proper credit because I absolutely adore it). So, I laminated it and hung it on the door. And the first couple weeks it was easy because I was doing weekly homework packets. And if you entire packet wasn't done, you didn't get to play.

I soon gave up the packets. It wasn't working for me, the kids, or some parents. So we went to nightly homework. And my first thought was OMG my memory is terrible...how am I ever going to remember who gets to play.

Insert that handy dandy number chart right there (don't mind the dirty door... I let my kids erase the x's at the end of the week and they smudged onto the door). Each day while I am walking around doing a quick look and see who did their homework, I have one of my kids go to the door with the dry erase marker and cross off any number that I call out (I call out numbers who didn't do their homework). I do this each day. If their number is already crossed off, their number gets written on the bottom of the chart and they owe me time at recess (this just started because the same handful of kids were NEVER doing homework). At the end of the week, anyone who doesn't have their number crossed off gets to play homeworkopoly. Now I will admit, some of the squares say math/spelling questions... well I am a slacker and haven't prepared those yet so for now those are no prize spots. Students love the chance of getting a prize (which they only get on community chest, chance, or mystery prize squares) or the elusive FREE HOMEWORK space... a big fat homework pass! I use a dry erase marker and just write their number in the space they land on until next week. And my prizes are simple prizes- pencils, erasers, sit with a friend, teacher's desk, comfy chair, etc.

My kids love it and as you can see for the most part, they are all doing their homework!

Do you have something that is working in your class that you think might help some other teachers? Get ready then, because on November 28, Brandi from Success in Second Grade  and I are joining forces to make this a weekly linky party! Link up once, link up every week, do what you can.. read the posts from others and get some inspiration for yourself then share! Just be ready for this fun time link up!

Next news--- I am at 95 followers. I seriously have an AMAZING giveaway planned from over 20 other teacher bloggers. You do not want to miss out on this. But we can't get that party started until I have 100 followers. So please- invite some friends! There are some prizes for every grade K-8 and some cute Thanksgiving stuff... we HAVE to get to 100 followers!

And last but not least, the other day I posted about my new Elf in Our Classroom packet... and I said that the first person that guessed my favorite Christmas movie would win it. So far only one person guessed (Really?! none of you want a chance at something free?)! Come on... guess!

Ok...I am off to organize these FABULOUS prizes...