Go ahead and throw that snowball! (32:365)

source: www.ranaldofamily.com

source: www.ranaldofamily.com

Have I mentioned on this blog before how much I love my school? Well I do and it is because of the wonderful, creative minds on the staff that inspire me daily. Each month we have a Bear Bucks store for our PBIS program. Students who earn Bear Bucks for being safe, responsible, and respectful are given choices where they want to spend their bucks. We always have Bacon Bear gear in the store, or little trinkets for the kids. In addition, we have started to provide another choice…. the Bear Buck Challenge. Since we instituted the challenge, kids have been able to throw pies in my face, pick up rigatoni with spaghetti, and even blow bubbles across the gymnasium. We try to make the challenge something that kids will talk about, and look forward to participating in the following month. Part of the catch with this challenge, is that the kids have no idea what it will be. There is risk involved.

 

source: brettberk.com

source: brettberk.com

This month, our team came up with the “Winter Wonderland Challenge.” With all the snow that is still lying around our school, and rising temperatures (finally out of freezing) we set up 4 targets and allowed the kids to throw snowballs! How many schools actually let their kids throw snowballs? I know for a fact that no one ever encouraged them to throw a snowball on school property. I am sure in 85 years my school has been in session, many a kid got suspended for throwing snowballs. Well, when it is done in a structured manner, what is the harm? The kids (and the staff who participated) loved it! They were so excited. It wasn’t as easy as they thought because on 11 of the 80 who participated actually won. Once again, as a school we won! The challenge cost no money, and it just took a little outside the box thinking to institute.

 

For me the true test of the challenge was at dismissal. I stood at my normal post, and I saw kids running to their parents to talk about the challenge. “We actually were allowed to throw snowballs,” one kid said to their parent.

 

And not one student threw a snowball during dismissal.
Video of the Challenge:

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