Mastery Club: New Monster Edition

Many years ago, I began using the "Mastery Club" in my classroom as an enrichment activity.  Since I'm changing classroom themes this year, I needed to update this from an O.S.C.A.R.S. (Outstanding, Studious, Clever, and Remarkable Students) Club to something monster related.  I finally decided on The M.O.N.S.T.E.R.S. (Magnificent, Outstanding, Noteworthy Students Taking Enrichment Really Seriously) Club.

How It Works
In my classroom, the Mastery Club is an optional activity for those students (or parents) who want extra homework or an additional "challenge."  I introduce this club during the first or second week of school.  I explain it to students and then it is solely up to them to participate.  I put the summary page in a clear sleeve in all students' MONSTER folders so that they have access to the categories at all times.  I also have the large categories (above) posted on the wall outside of my classroom, along with the sign and a "Hall of Fame" section.  If a student chooses to participate, he/she just completes the activity at home (example, writes down the name of 15 mammals that he/she knows along with the category number 52 at the top of the page with his/her name).  Then the activity is turned in (students turn in all items to the teacher in a "teacher mailbox" in my classroom).  Whenever I have a chance (usually during dismissal time at the end of the day), I call students up and "quiz" them on their category.  If they accomplish the task, they earn a star (I put their name on a large star cut-out and give them a tiny star sticker with the category number written on it).  Any students who earn 15 stars by the end of the year get their name listed on my Mastery Club Hall of Fame and it stays there FOREVER!!  

Do you use the mastery club in your class?  Have new ideas on how to implement it?  Have questions about using it?  If so, leave a comment. :)

24 comments

  1. Love this idea to encourage students to go above and beyond rather than typical extra credit! I might try something similar but make it ocean themed. Thanks for sharing the documents, will be helpful if I implement it!

    Ps. I'm so glad you started this blog, your full of so many great ideas :)

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  2. I love this! You always have the debate as to whether or not a teacher gives too much or not enough homework. This enrichment challenge is the way to stop that debate. I love it.

    Elizabeth

    Fun in Room 4B

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  3. This is an awesome idea! I am in my last semester of college before student teaching and we are learning about differentiation strategies. This is a great way to push those advanced learners just a little bit, but you make it very fun. Thanks for the tips! Hope to see you over at my blog.

    www.mrshtheteachingblog.blogspot.com

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  4. I love this idea! Thank you for sharing it

    I am going to try something similar with my kinders

    pocketofkinders@gmail.com

    Pocket Full of Kinders

    Shuna P

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  5. A fellow teacher of mine found your OSCAR idea a while ago & shared it with our team. It was a fun way for extra enrichment. The kids loved it! I like the monster acronym. I will have to think of a catchy acronym to go along with my pirate theme! Thanks for sharing these with us!!
    Lisa
    Learning Is Something to Treasure

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  6. Glad you all like this idea! I can't claim the original idea, as there are tons of teachers who use mastery clubs, but it has worked well for me for many years! Once it's implemented, there's really very little to manage. ;)

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  7. I have tried this a few different times and just cannot get the hang of it! Where do they jot their notes down? do they turn these in or just have an oral quiz. I love the idea for early finishers and it never fails I have a class with a great divide! Maybe I'll give it another go this year
    RAchel

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  8. Thanks for sharing, this is such a great idea. I'm going to try and come up with something similar for my kiddos.

    ✪ Miss W

    Miss W Teaches

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  9. This is an AMAZING idea! I am definitely going to try it out next year, MONSTER theme and all! Thanks for sharing. I'm your newest follower! :)

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  10. Rachel,
    They just jot the answers down on notebook paper and turn it in. Most of my kids complete this at home (although those high achievers do them as early finishers, as well). Once they turn it in, I put it in my mastery club folder at my desk and when I have a few spare minutes I pull one from there to call up and "quiz."

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  11. I've never heard of this before. What a great idea!
    _Chrissy
    First Grade Found Me

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  12. Just discovered your blog and love it! Hop on over to mine when you get a chance!
    :D Angie
    http://timeoutsandtootsierolls.blogspot.com

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  13. Oh I will so be buying the MOTOWN cd!!! LOVE all of those songs:)

    Kristen
    www.blessyourheartsc.blogspot.com

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  14. I just discoverd your blog and I absolutely LOVE it. Thanks for sharing so much with us. You really have some AWESOME ideas.

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  15. I have always wanted to try the mastery club. I have a hollywood theme classroom. Would you be willing to share your hollywood themed mastery club??

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  16. BP,
    I would be happy to send you the Hollywood edition of my Mastery Club, but when I go to reply to your comment it's a "no reply blogger" address. :( You can email me directly at amandamadden@me.com and then I'll be able to reply - thanks!

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  17. I absolutely love this idea! It is so cute!!

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  18. I actually stumbled across this idea of a mastery club a few months ago on pinterest, and got really excited about it! I'm posting an entry on my blog right now about how I am going to use it in my classroom this year, and I love seeing how you incorporated your monster theme into your club! Way cute! :)

    Stephanie
    Maestra Bilingue

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  19. I love this idea! This will be my first year teaching third grade and I really want to incorporate this. I really like the monster theme it's too cute and perfect for the younger students. I'm having trouble editing it in google docs is there anyway you can email it to me MaryLee85@gmail.com. Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful ideas!

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  20. I LOVE this!! I have been wanting to start this, but I am doing a "Hollywood Theme". Do you have it in that theme? I would love to purchase it from you!! I LOVE your stuff!!!!!! :) THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
    :)
    Patty
    Teacherking55@gmail.com

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  21. Hi Amanda. My name is Heather Renz. I created Mastery Club and see that you have adapted it and are giving my work it on this site. Please remove it immediately. I did not give permission to sell my work. As a matter of fact, I am selling my original creation on Teachers pay Teachers http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Mastery-Club-Great-for-Challenging-Differentiating-for-All-Learners-All-Year-300027 Please email me at mrsrenzteaches@gmail.com to let me know when it has been removed. Thank you.

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    1. Hi Heather,
      I have removed my MONSTERS Club files from my blog. These items were not being sold, but the freebies have been removed. There are a ton of these "clubs" online which is where I found the idea and have used it with various themes for many years. I am so sorry that I didn't realize the original idea belonged to you, or that you were selling the idea/concept.

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  22. Thanks, Amanda. I had my Mastery Club posted on my website for 12 years and over 3,000 teachers wrote to me and asked to used it in their classrooms, which I allowed. Since then, I have posted all of the materials on my TpT site so I appreciate you removing it from your site. Please feel free to use it in your classroom. :) Heather

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Thanks for visiting my blog and sharing ideas! I love to read your comments. I like to reply back by email, so make sure you have that option enabled so we can chat! :)

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