Transcript from an interview conversation about one of my class favorites… the Sticker Wall.

Question:
”So what’s up with your Sticker Wall? What exactly is that, and how does it work?”

Answer:
“One of my favorite activities, actually. It’s, um… The short answer? [laughs] The short answer is basically it’s a lesson on motivation and individuality. That's it, in short.

The long answer is, it’s a bit abstract and I end up playing the ‘long-game’ with it here, but it’s…

Well, so in my Health classes, at each grade level I do something every week as a ‘Fun Friday’ activity at the start of class. The Sticker Wall was an idea I came up with for 8th grade that begins in week one and it lasts all quarter— my classes are 9 weeks long— culminating on the, on my last day with the 8th graders.

I end the course with recommendations that link their experience, the students’ experience with me week to week, and actually from previous years too, since I have every middle school student by the end of their 3 years at my school. At least in our current set-up. And as I do that, they see that I… they see that I purposefully hid some connections in the lessons, the readings, the video clips we watch, etc. etc. I use a bit of, um, pop culture— or whatever you want to call it— to link the, what I always call the abstract to the concrete.

I'm big on analogies. And the Sticker Wall is an analogy for life.

I always joke that the activity wraps up and finally makes sense on the last day, like the end of a good movie. I start out by giving stickers out— for little assignments and in-class work. And then, they… then they can use those or any and all stickers from home or wherever, really, to place on the wall. For every sticker the students put on, they put a name in a hat I have for a drawing. This is each week, but on Fridays only. A small piece of paper with their name or initials on it. I offer prizes each Friday and they relate to a… to a culminating activity I do. The prizes link it all perfectly.

This might sound weird but I don’t want to actually say too much out loud because I like that it’s a surprise for students. Just in case anyone happens to hear. Guess that’s a bit over protective. [laughs] That probably sounds ridiculous. But I just like the ‘aha moment,’ I guess. It’s really the gift of teaching, right? That ‘aha moment’ is, is everything. If I wasn’t a Health teacher, I’d say [laughs] I’d say getting that ‘aha moment’ is like a drug. [laughs] Oh, man. I shouldn’t say that but you get the idea. It’s so great.

So, yeah. I have… I have a bunch of ‘rules,’ but that's kind of it. For instance, I allow any amount up to 10 each week. It seems fair. Could probably limit to more like 5, actually. Most students don't get that many on their own, so 10 works for me.

Oh, I will add that in the end, what we created is part of it. Like, we created a unique Sticker Wall that has never been seen or done before and will never be reproduced in all the years to come. You see the connection to people and to life. Anyway, there are more details but it's definitely better in person. I like the idea and it works for me, but it's something that makes sense for my lessons. Like, for instance, for other teachers, I'd recommend seeing if something else fits, something unique that can be a fun and surprising long-term lesson that plays out for, like, over months or years. Doesn't have to be a Sticker Wall. That’s my thing and… you know, it works for me. The kids really do— well some I guess [laughs]— the kids love the fact that I was able to pull it off and connect so much. It takes a long term vision, but it's pretty cool when it pays off.

And I— oh, another thing I guess [laughs]— It’s kind of a, a nice experiment on social and mental well-being, plus motivational factors and anything else I want to tie in. There's no wrong way, like… there’s no wrong way to make fun connections. It allows me to make several last analogy connections as life recommendations to the students on our last day together. So, yeah. It’s cool.

It’s something I’m proud of for sure.”