You may have heard about "The Crazy Challenge" I offered to all 8th graders in reading class. It was a challenge that was a little unique, and an idea to promote some fun with books. Students had to read novels in ten of twelve unusual categories like a novel where a tree, the woods or forest was a key element in the story, or a book whose title had something to do with the seasons. All books chosen had to be read during the first semester. Students had to take the corresponding AR tests and earn passing grades on them, fill out the information needed on their "challenge papers", and turn in their TOPS reports in order to meet all the requirements. Anyone who would successfully complete the challenge would receive a prize, a prize that would remain a mystery until the very end. The 8th graders only knew that it would be worth their time and effort, and to trust me that they would like it.
The following students successfully met the challenge: Sarah Bier, Katie Bruegge, Madison Culbertson, Heather Handrich, Sam Koch, Maria Linkugel, Sarah Massman, Olivia Scheper, Karah Spencer, Sandra Steiber, and Tina Whitley.
All the students listed above earned a place at "The Crazy Challenge Finale" to celebrate their success. A special invitation named the day, time and place where their mysterious prize was revealed. Even the prize provided a bit of a challenge for the winners--and they thought the challenge was over when they turned in their paperwork! All the contents of their prize linked to their categories somehow, and students had to "think outside the box" to solve the last of their challenges.
"The Crazy Challenge" was educational and fun, with a prize that sweetened the deal. If you want to know just what the prize was, just ask any of the students listed above. They liked things so much that they wanted another challenge!
