The fifth-grade team at Bennett Elementary has implemented a new and creative way for students to strengthen their social and academic skills. The Great House Sort was started this fall with students being sectioned into four different houses: The Givers, The Dreamers, Friendship and Courage. 

 

Students were divided by a random drawing so that they could socialize with other peers outside of their homeroom class. The students can earn points for their houses by having good character, showing growth both behaviorally and academically, being on-task, going above and beyond what is expected of them, and being an MVP (winning classroom academic competitions or other school-wide accomplishments). 

 

Friday Mornings the houses congregate in the hallway to reveal house points for the week and celebrate points earned. They then have individual house meetings and celebrate points earned in each individual house and big point contributors for the week.

 

"The students are embracing the idea of the house system," said Kristi Britt, fifth-grade teacher at Bennett Elementary. "It has given them a sense of community, encouragement, and excitement to be a part of a particular house. They are proud to represent their house with their chants, hand signals, house bracelets, and soon to be house shirts!"