Motivating Students through The R.A.P. Club

Debbie Willingham
Sep 22, 2008

It is difficult for students to be motivated to make good grades when it seems such an uphill, sometimes impossible battle. Even the best teachers struggle to motivate some students to want to learn, often because those students have rarely found success or been rewarded for academic achievement. The R.A.P. (Realistic Achievement Proven) Club is a motivational way of encouraging students to improve their grade point average in small steps that reward improvement as well as achievement-something the traditional Honor Roll does not do.

The steps in setting up and maintaining this "club" that rewards students at all academic levels for improvement are simple for teachers to implement. At the midpoint of the first grading period, teachers explain to students that they will have an opportunity to join a unique club at the end of the grading period. Teachers give students their average in the course at that point (i.e. when progress reports for the grading period are generated) and tell them that if they can bring up their average by just four points (or more) by the end of the grading period, they will become members of the R.A.P. Club. Privileges of being a member of the club may include special treats, breaks to the front of the line, homework passes, pencils with the R.A.P. Club logo, coupons from local restaurants, etc.

At the end of the first grading period, students who have increased their averages by at least four points and those who have an A average are now members of the R.A.P. Club. Their names go on a bulletin board arranged by period, which means that there may be "A" students on the same list with students who have a 58 average because they have all experienced success in the past several weeks. During the first half of the next grading period those students receive treats at different times (cookies, cupcakes, and ice cream passes at lunch are big winners), pencils imprinted with "Official Member of the R.A.P. Club," certificates, special passes, and coupons. Everyone is encouraged during this time to continue to try and improve their averages in the class.

At the mid-point in the second grading period, the teacher averages grades, and once again those students who have improved their average since the first report card by at least four points and all students with an A average are now members of the RAP Club. The list on the bulletin board changes now at the midpoint and end of each grading period, with rewards for improvement  given to students who are currently members. Students may move in or out of the club based on continued improvement or a decrease in their averages.

The impact on all students can be seen immediately. "A" students get a specific reward in an individual class rather than just being on the school honor roll. All students are motivated to try just a little harder. After all, it is just four points and not an impossible dream to improve a little at a time. Students who are traditionally unmotivated and make poor grades can see a realistic way to find success.  Over the course of a school year, a student on a quarterly grading system could raise his average by 28 points by improving just four points each 4 ½ week period (i.e. from 50 to 78 or 60 to 88) - realistic achievement proven!