Rewarding 10 of my 12 participants in the "Resource Reading Rewards" program:
Since I began working with students aged 12-15 these past 4 years, I have since learned that they will do anything - anything - anything for food. Carrots & ranch, Potato chips, Cheezits, Granola bars, teacher-pot-luck-leftover Corn Pudding, Tootsie rolls, Grapes, Clementine oranges (my recent FAVORITE).... You name it. They'll eat it.
It has been such a good motivator for the tasks that challenge my special education students the most. Tasks such as IGNORING the (roar outside the window) construction confusion despite severe having ADHD- such as TRIPLING their assigned reading goal(s)- such as PERSEVERING in each & every task thrown at her despite having documented Mild Mental Retardation- such as attending a class knowing he will be socially isolated but also knows that he desperately needs to arrive for academic support- and namely just for their beautiful smiles that greet me each and every morning... So we created a Reading Rewards "plan" that those that succeeded in effort & attitude would be able to vote on a Made-by-the-Teacher dessert at the end of the month. We targeted February for our first monthly Reading Rewards program.
This afternoon, I photographed a girls' softball game for yearbook, went to the grocery store, scarfed a quick bagel for dinner, and I have been baking for the past 3 hours. Then I cleaned up and began a little laundry.
These kids work hard, and have shown me this month that they are willing to work hard at their tasks. (You will notice that 2 of my "program" students have not chosen to work hard; demonstrating poor attitude, laziness, and manipulation. Thus, they are not included. They will receive verbal praise on their good moments but I need consistency and maturity before dispensing sugar to them.) I also am rewarding my 5th & 6th graders who also have worked hard in their own respective academic, social, and emotional challenges. My students work hard- every day. It is worth it to me to spend my only hours at home baking for them, 1 night a month. If they're willing to work really, really hard for an entire month- and SUCCEED at it, then I can certainly donate an evening baking them COOKIE DOUGH CUPCAKES.
They really are the easiest things in the world to make!
What you need:
1 Box cake mix (I used white cake mix)
+ ingredients found on label of cake box
1 package of pre-made cookie dough that is already pre-sized (I used Pillsbury Ready to Bake Chocolate Chip)
Paper Cupcake holders
What you do:
Fill cupcake tray with paper liners. Fill each liner 2/3 full with your favorite cake batter. Drop your favorite cookie dough (~1 T., or 1 section of pre-made-cookie-dough) into the cupcake batter. Bake 15-17 minutes in a 350° oven. Top with buttercream frosting, chocolate shavings and a chocolate chip.
For the buttercream frosting, this is what I made:
Buttercream Frosting
2 - (1-lb.) pkg. Powdered Confectioners Sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1/4 - 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream or half and half
1 T. vanilla
In large bowl using a hand mixer or a stand mixer, cream butter. Slowly add powdered sugar and blend well after each addition. Slowly add cream and beat faster until you get a light and fluffy frosting. Add vanilla and beat until blended.
*I definitely wait until both the cupcake is room-temperature and much cooled down before frosting it. I also differ from the recipe (above) in that I used a mini food processor to blend a bar of solid Dark chocolate (broken first into chunks) and some powdered sugar (abt. 6 T.) into a semi-fine powder. I then whipped this into my frosting batter with the hand-mixer. I loved the way it looked all blended together, and it tasted SO GOOD.
Also worth noting- this recipe makes a LOT of frosting quantities! (Recipe from weblog BigRedKitchen)
So... I baked an additional cake, a standard traditional classic plain basic American yellow cake, so that I could use up the remaining frosting. I will put it in the teachers' lounge tomorrow, with "TGIF" lettering spelled out in chocolate chips. I enjoy baking & cooking, and spring is a very difficult season for teachers to function in. Kids have allergies, hormones are RAGING, and kids are tired of being cooped up all winter. Plus, we're exhausted and counting the seconds left until spring break. Everyone wants to be outdoors and free from walls & windows. So a special thank-you is nice to receive. And sadly, so rare in the lives of teachers.....
Two great desserts in one & several happy teenagers*!!
*As I firmly do NOT believe in children receiving sugar at school**- these guys truly did earn a special treat. I've been really proud of their accomplishments despite the several disabilities that they face in their daily lives.
**Readers, please note that they WON'T be getting this much sugar (from me) until just before the last bell rings at 3:10 m!! I'm not going to create, then have to take care of, their hyperactive teenagerness! :)
TGIF!
Have super weekend(s)!
PS-
After a life-long detest-ation of all things Jim Carrey, I was sent a video that actually might meet the bare requirements of my being able to tolerate the man.
I think I like it because a) I know the words to the song already ("Across the Universe"/Beatles fame), b) He can't make obnoxious facial distortions while singing to retain some decency, and c) the conductor dude is the actor who plays Billy Something-Other in movie "Love Actually"-one of my faves, d) the people around him are reacting positively to Jim's behavior, and e) I don't know- it's just funny!?! He fills me with irritation, annoyance, and my skin wants to crawl when I see his picture or hear his voice, typically. His movies are not ones that my money fund, whether they be in theaters, video stores, or in printed publications. Anyway- I was sent the link & I clicked it with slight trepidation, expecting the usual shudder. I did find myself enjoying this- not for voice quality or anything, though. It's a real 'thing' for me to be able to use the words 'Jim Carey' and 'funny' in the same sentence! So that's why I added a "PS" tonight. Ok. Who'd ever think I'd blog about Jim Carey!? I'm done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX-D2dfGdhE
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