Mystery Student

Last year I recognized students as "Stars of the Week" by giving them posters to decorate and present their posters to the class along with a show and tell item from their home.  However, I frequently forgot the send the posters home (and the students even more frequently forgot to bring the posters back to school).

This year I decided to try a new idea I adapted from what one of my co-teachers did in her class last year  to recognize students in my classroom - having a weekly "Mystery Student."  Each week a student is secretly designated to be a mystery student.  The teacher emails the student's parents advance to  inform them that their child will be the Mystery Student and for help in generating 5 clues that will help the class learn about their child (look below for a sample questionnaire). Only the teacher and the parents know the identity of the Mystery Student.  I love this idea because it is a surprise to the student who is being recognized so it makes it that much more exciting!

Each day I will give a clue about the mystery student to the class.  The students are left to ponder the clue and who the mystery student might be for the rest of the day.  I start with the most generic clues (i.e. their favorite color is blue) so the clue applies to the most number of students.

After I read the third clue on Wednesday, I will allow 3 students to guess who the mystery student might be. If the students guess correctly, the mystery student is revealed.  If the class does not guess the correct mystery student, they must wait to guess again after the clue is read the next day.  If the class has still been unable to guess the mystery student by Friday, I reveal the Mystery Student to the class. The Mystery Student is offered the chance to bring an item for Show and Tell the following Monday.

Below is a sample of the questions I plan to send home to parents to help develop the clues about each week's Mystery Student.  I ask more than 5 questions so  I have some flexibility in the clues I use each week.

1. What is your child's favorite color?
2. What is your child's favorite food?
3. What is one of your child's special talents?
4. What does you child want to be when they grow up?
5. What is your child's favorite book?
6. What is your child like about school?
7. Is there anything else you want to share about your child?

Graphics in the post from: www.mycutegraphics.com