May 24, 2007

News Release

Middle School Students Earn Bikes

This year in Tom Rhodes’ 6^th grade math classes at Hogg Middle School, a competition was created as an incentive for his students to score well on their 9 weeks tests in mathematics. After running the competition for several weeks, Rhodes decided to extend the competition to include reading, writing, social studies and science results, as well.  Student received “Bike Bucks” for their efforts on these tests.  Each student received 4 bucks for a test score of 100; 3 bucks for a 90-99; 2 bucks for and 80-89; and 1 buck for a 70-79. They received no bucks if they could not pass the test.  The two bicycles, a boy’s model and girl’s model were generous donated by Wal-Mart as gifts for this incentive program.

After about six weeks, the competition was further extended into one other area after the 6^th grade teachers  expressed a concern that their students were not reading their library books. Rhodes then also started paying Bike Bucks for accelerated reader test scores. If a student completed their library book and took the test for comprehension, they were paid the same number of “Bike Bucks” as were paid for the district curriculum tests. The  competition involved over 75 sixth grade students in Rhodes’ 6^th grade math classes.

“Even though this all began as a math competition and evolved into a math and reading competition, I feel it was a huge success,” said math teacher Tom Rhodes.

After 34 weeks, the wining students were determined to be C.J. Mosley for the boys and Oceana Newman for the girls.  C.J.’s combined total points were 223 which included 68 library books as well as his scores on the district tests. That was an average of more than 2 books read per week.  Oceana’s combined total points were 168 which included 81 library books read.  In all, there were over 1258 library books read by Mr. Rhodes’ classes. 

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