PTO Today

Hi,
To motivate our students in grades 2 through 6th to read a certain number of hours during a reading challenge, our Principal has agreed to do something fun and crazy, within reason of course.
Various ideas have come up but nothing is really standing out. Have any other schools issued challenges where the principal has done something? She thinks kissing a pig is old and wants something different.
I'm especially interested in what might motivate the 4th, 5th and 6th graders.
Thanks!

Our principal had to have her office on the roof of the school for the day. The kids loved it, the media came out, and it was good publicity for our school. The kids still talk about it and the principal was happy because it didn't rain and she didn't have to deal with the phones all day!

That's a great idea! Thanks!

Our principal did something one year about sitting in a baby pool full of jello. He wore crazy swim shorts and a Hawaiian shirt and I think he sat in the pool and read a story, although I believe it was done as the end of some sort of reading challenge.

I didn't get to be at school that day but I heard about it afterwards. The kids were pretty excited. Sounds like a lot of trouble and mess to me...

What about eating something gross- like worms or chocolate covered grasshoppers.... the kids would get a kick out of it...
and hopefully the principal remembers these are specialties in some countries

Those are both good ideas. Thanks.

She has to choose what she will do after school vacation.

Have a great day!

Jello? Chocolate covered bugs? Wow, interesting ideas!

In the March issue of the magazine Emily Graham wrote an article about this very topic called "Principals Do the Darndest Things". It has a bunch of ideas for crazy principal antics. The online story is here - http://www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-ar...principals-do-
the-darndest-things.

Thanks. That is a great link!

Our pre-k through 4th grade celebrates Michigan's Reading Month each March. Our third graders use their newly acquired persuasive writing skills to convince our principal that she should do their zany and crazy stunt WHEN the students reach their Reading Minute Challenge.

Last year, the kids included our beloved school counselor and challenged him and the principal to a relay race of sorts. It involved alot of water, sand, and baby powder.
Two years ago, she had to dress like a clown and ride a tricycle through the halls. I think there's been the standard pig kissing also.
I'm printing off this article and sharing with the third grade teachers.

__________________
Debbie
"If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got. Change begins with you."

Our students receive each month a calendar for that month in which they would log the minutes that they have read each day. At the end of the month, the minutes are added and for every 250,000 minutes that the students read as a whole school, the principal does a challenge/stunt. Here are some of the things: ate live crickets, dye hair hot pink, dressed and danced as a ballerina, leprechaun, Elvis, Cupid, had water balloons thrown at him by students and teachers, dressed as a baby in a carriage. He also did races where students can participate against him (scooter, little tractors, pie eating with no hands). He also performs in the annual talent show if they reach close 1 million min. One year he sang the popular kids' song "I Love Mud" and splish splash in a pool of mud on stage (chocolate pudding). Last year he performed the live version of Mario (from the video game). This year he will be Sebastian and perform "Under the Sea".