Using Band challenges in math?

If any of you were ever in band, you understand the concept of challenges.  You challenge someone to move up in chair order.  I LOVED challenges!  One thing I hated to do, was practice.  But, challenges motivated me to practice.  A few years ago, I started Math Facts challenges.  They signed up to challenge each other on one set of facts (7's, 8's, etc...).  They could also challenge ME!  They loved to challenge me more than each other.  They were very motivated to beat me.  I did not slow down for them.

The 2 students would get 20 problems and have 1 minute to finish them ALL.  If I'm being challenged, I do the same sheet as the students with the same expectations.  To win, they have to have them ALL answered correctly!  If both students have them all correct, then the one who finished first wins.  I tell the students to stand up as soon as they are finished.  It can be time consuming, but it's very motivating for the students.

I added these trophy sheets to my Challenge wall.  You can get these for free here.  In the trophy, where the line is, I always put in the fact that they won on (like x7).  

I am looking forward to giving this a try again this year.  I would LOVE to hear of any suggestions that you have for making this work.  

To help students be held accountable for their multiplication facts, I have created a weekly math fact program.  I did this with my students last year and it was very successful.  Here's a copy of the math facts class chart that I had hanging on my data wall. 

Here's the link to my multiplication product.

Math Facts Mastery

Have a great evening!

Andrea

Encouraging students to read.

I started a reading incentive program with my students a few years ago.  I noticed that they were not completing many of the books that they were reading.  They were reading.  They were reading everyday in fact.  But, once library day came, they returned their books, half finished.  So I started using goal setting and bookmarks for reading.  
1.  Students set a monthly goal for the number of books they are planning on finishing.

A copy of  our goal setting sheets.  We keep them in our data notebooks.

2.  Students fill out bookmarks.  On these bookmarks, they write a summary of the book that they have written.  Next year, they will also be writing a recommendation for the book.

A copy of this years bookmark.

What I'm going to use next year, front and back.

3.  Students get to add a sticker to our data wall chart.  To hold all students accountable, students who read over their goal, get to add a colored sticker to the top of the chart.  All other students add silver stickers to the chart.   When everyone reaches their goal, they receive a classroom award.

Our reading data wall.

4.  I have students keep their bookmarks on a ring in our classroom library.  They are very proud of their bookmarks and always count their bookmarks.  I challenged the students to try to read 40 books this year.  The picture above shows the bookmarks that 1 student has done so far this year.

5.  Next year, I'm going to have my students also keep a yearly chart on the number of books they read.

Here's a link to this product at my store.
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Independent-ReadingData-folder

Have a great night!