Preferred Activity Time
Are you experiencing difficulty motivating your students? Is the incentive system you have in place too costly (preparation time, material-wise, etc.)? Let me introduce you to Preferred Activity Time.
What is it?
Let's first explain the concept of a "preferred activity." Fred Jones, author of Tools for Teaching, defines it as "anything that the students eagerly look forward to" (2007). This definition should excite you, for the possibilities are endless. Preferred Activity Time (PAT), therefore, is time that is set aside (usually at the end of the day) for students to work on activities that they prefer. In other words, you are providing incentives for students, after completing their day's worth of work, to do more work! What's the difference? The students enjoy PAT because they feel like they have control over what they are doing because they get to choose the activity.
How to Implement PAT
Preferred activities need to be cheap. In other words, they need to be easy and accessible, as well as:
It is also a good idea to have a Preferred Activity Time Bank, which is "refilled" at the start of every week. This can prove to be a very effective incentive for good behavior, as students do not want to compromise their PAT.
How It Works:
- Prepared in Advance: so you don't have to take time away from guided practice to set up and explain a preferred activity;
- Varied: they need to pique the various interests and preferences of your students;
- Self-Explanatory: you don't have the time to direct multiple students as they begin their preferred activity D
- Routine: the most common scheduling routine for PAT is lesson-by-lesson (students are able to begin working on preferred activities their lesson activities). Other teachers allow PAT after students have completed a series of tasks (a friend of mine has a list of "Must Dos" and "May Dos" and students know that once they have completed all the "Must Dos" for the day, they can begin PAT). Another idea is to have "Fun Fridays" every week, during which students can choose any combination of preferred activities after completing a list of 5-7 "Must Dos."
- Fun: preferred activities need to be enjoyable for students (it's the whole idea!)
It is also a good idea to have a Preferred Activity Time Bank, which is "refilled" at the start of every week. This can prove to be a very effective incentive for good behavior, as students do not want to compromise their PAT.
How It Works:
- Every Monday the class PAT Bank is awarded 60 minutes, to be used during designated times (e.g., Fun Friday).
- Any instances of misbehavior/off-task behavior result in 2-5 minutes being deducted from the Bank.
- Displays of kindness, consideration of others, thoughtfulness, and other excellent behavior is awarded with extra PAT time.
Types of Preferred Activities
4th Grade Examples
Other types of Preferred Activities
- Art Projects: using a bulletin board to create a wall mural reflecting history unit (Mission System in CA)
- Learning Projects: students can research their special interests in relation to the subject (Native American weapons, the clothing of the era, etc.)
- Computer Games: (Math Munchers, Science, etc.)
- Learning Games: puzzles, mind benders, math problems, history board games (50 states and capitals)
- Reading and Writing: reading library books of their choice, or ones relating to the content area (Island of the Blue Dolphins, Patty Reed's Doll, etc.); journal writing (students could journal about what they are learning, or they could "journal" as if they are historical figures or pioneers of the era)
- Helping the Teacher: peer tutoring, making homework packets, organizing materials, creating VIPs (if the student shows creative and artistic ability), coming up with new preferred activities and games, etc.
- Extra Work: completing extra assignments/projects for extra credit
Other types of Preferred Activities
- Music Projects: learning songs for talent shows, music appreciation, etc.
- Interest Centers: ready-made learning activities based on students' interest
Spiritual Support
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
Preferred Activity Time has a lot to do with choosing the best thing. The whole concept of PAT is to present students with a wide range of activities that are "commendable," "excellen[t]," and "worthy of praise" in order to encourage knowledge acquisition--knowledge that is true, honorable, and excellent. The goal is to repeatedly present students with what is initially the same material so that they might "think about such things" and come to a more complete understanding.
Preferred Activity Time has a lot to do with choosing the best thing. The whole concept of PAT is to present students with a wide range of activities that are "commendable," "excellen[t]," and "worthy of praise" in order to encourage knowledge acquisition--knowledge that is true, honorable, and excellent. The goal is to repeatedly present students with what is initially the same material so that they might "think about such things" and come to a more complete understanding.