But, how do I get them to watch the video?!

So you spend some time making videos. Great. Getting your kids to watch them is the next step or they are completely useless to you and to them!

Once I started the flipped out process (and I am not referring to my new obsession with making videos or getting angry with technology when it does not do what I want it to…) I was pumped! See previous posts. I flipping love this!

Were my students as pumped as me? Not really. That’s how it goes I suppose…like any middle school teacher, I resorted to trickery…at least I hope that other teachers trick their students into learning…

Here’s how the conversation went in class:
This weekend, I will post a video on our new website that I am totally stoked about! In it will be instruction for a new skill. On Monday, if you have watched the video, you will be allowed to demonstrate that skill to me. I will know if you watched the video because I will put a secret word in it. *I made this sound very foreboding and mysterious…they love that stuff and ironically, so do I*
You will write down the secret word for me on Monday and then will be allowed to demonstrate your new skill. Don’t tell anyone else the secret word! If you do, you will not be allowed to demonstrated your new skill. I will find out if you share the secret word because you all are middle schoolers and one of you will snitch. It will happen.

It worked like a beautiful sterling silver charm. Monday morning I have kids coming up to me left and right wanting to show me their secret word that they have folded up on their paper 15 times so no one else will see.

Teacher amusement tip:
Pick secret words in a theme and make them rather obscure and not at all related to the material in the video.
Example: The Percussion Class theme is tropical fruit. Apples are boring, but papayas are interesting. Bonus: they learn how to spell a new word (or you can laugh at their terrible spelling skills…it is a win/win)

Tell me about your flipping successes! What are your secret tactics? I do love secrets 🙂

Related Posts

  • How To: Using Explain Everything! With a video tutorialHow To: Using Explain Everything! With a video tutorial Explain Everything is a great app that is in the category of "digital (or virtual) whiteboard" This means that whatever you say and/or draw or point to on the screen is recorded! […]
  • Extending Teach Time With Online LessonsExtending Teach Time With Online Lessons Yesterday I had a percussion sectional where we were working on All Region music. You may or may not know that I teach Middle School and my little percussion peeps are wonderful humans […]
  • Explain Everything PreviewExplain Everything Preview   Coming Soon: Using the App “Explain Everything” in conjunction with iMovie and GarageBand to easily create a video like this one!
  • Why Become a Google Certified  Music Educator?Why Become a Google Certified Music Educator? If you know me personally, follow me on social media, or have spent any amount of time on this website, you probably know that I LOVE Google! We were still on USB Flash drives when I […]
  • Feeling the Burn Friends, it is that time of year when we are all feeling a little of the burn out...at least I certainly hope it isn't just me!! Stay motivated, actively monitor those tests, let loose […]
  • Four Reasons Why Explain Everything is Still My Fave Interactive Whiteboard Listen, I tried really hard to open my mind to other interactive whiteboard options this week, but I just kept coming back to my old tried and true. I even paid for a new interactive […]