Spark Student Motivation

How do you spark motivation in your classroom?  I've enjoyed reading all of the ideas on this cute linky:

You can find it at Joanne's Blog over at Head Over Heels for Teaching:
I realize it's not Saturday....please forgive me.  It has been a crazy few weeks and I really don't even know what day it is.  Do you?

I've used so many different strategies over the years to try to motivate my students.  For years and years and years, I gave out tickets to students.  Who hasn't used tickets before?

Funny side story....I had a student, oh probably 8 years ago or so, whose mother was also a teacher (but not at my school).  The little stinker tried to pawn off some of his mother's tickets as mine.  Too bad she had bought her tickets from another store.  Busted!

Last year, I ran across a post (and sadly, I can't remember who wrote about it originally ...so if you read this and it is YOU, please comment or email me so that I can give you credit) from Mel D {Seusstastic Classroom Inspirations} about using pom-pom balls as "warm fuzzies".  I thought that "warm fuzzies" would be a cuter way of using "tickets".  Who doesn't love cuter? When you are "caught doing something fantastic", or answer a question, or are complimented by an adult, etc., I throw a "warm fuzzy" at you.  Literally.

Pom poms fly would across my room like crazy.  Students would earn them throughout the week and trade them in for a big fuzzy (worth 5 points) to save for later, or they could spend their fuzzies on prizes.  Two fuzzies= a trip to the treat box.  Five fuzzies (or a large one worth five) = passes (homework, 5 extra credit points on a test, sit with a friend for lunch, etc.).  It worked beautifully. 

Then, as my teaching assignment changed to departmentalization, I thought that it would be too difficult to keep track of this with three classes.   How could I manage with more than one class? 

I didn't do it this year.  {Sad face}

But, you know what?  I missed it.  I missed the beaming faces of students who had a pom pom pelt them in the face.  Seriously.  Sheer joy, people. 

So, back in January, right after Christmas break, I brought the pom pom back.  Oh the joy!  Oh the fun!  It was like Christmas never ended.

The only issue is that instead of keeping the pom poms in desks (in a safe and clean environment), I have my students keep them in their pencil pouches since I have three classes who travel to me.  They get a little dingy. (The pom poms, not the kids.)

But, you know what?  Even a dingy pom pom ball can make a kid smile.

And it makes me smile, too.

What makes you smile?  I'd love to hear about your ideas.  Consider linking up with Joanne :)