Five years ago, I stopped grading participation and started giving students silly award badges instead. I award them via our LMS and tie them to specific things I've observed during class. I'm using new ones this coming year. Here they are: 🧵
Bumblebee: Like a bumblebee, you work extremely hard in ways that aren't always appreciated.
You axolotl questions during class! (Sorry, I had to.)
Salmon: Like the salmon, who swim upstream to lay their eggs, you work very hard to succeed in school, and you aren't afraid to go against the flow if you need to.
Opossum: Like the opossum, America's only marsupial, you have a unique perspective on a lot of things.
Fennec fox: Like a fennec fox, you are a VERY good listener.
Meerkat: like a meerkat, who keeps watch so that other meerkats can go about their lives, you help create a safe and inclusive environment in our class.
Crow: Crows are highly intelligent and they use their loud voices to stay connected to each other. Like a crow, you share your intellect and insight freely in ways that help others stay connected to the conversation.
Mantis shrimp: The mantis shrimp has the strongest punch and the widest visual color spectrum in the animal kingdom. Like the mantis shrimp, you see things from a lot of different angles and you aren't afraid to say so.
Chameleon: Like the chameleon, you have the ability to change, adapt, and grow as things change around you. This is a *good* thing.
Elephant: Like an elephant, you are unphazed by challenges and willing to stand up for what you think is right, even if other people don't agree.
Have you heard of imposter syndrome? That's where you worry that you're not as smart as people think you are, and they're going to find out any minute. You are NOT an imposter. If anybody else has ever left you floating academically, I am happy to have you on our crew!