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All extra Credit assignments for this month will be due on FRIDAY, september 28th . no exceptions!

1. comic strips (point of view) instructions/ rubric:  ​, 2. plot diagram review project instructions/ rubric: ​, 3.short story project assignments: .

Extra Credit for the months of October and November will be combined.

1. movie trailer/ short film  assignment: .

• We will be reading a number of suspense stories  within these two months.
• For this extra credit assignment, student can recreate any of the stories/ teleplays/ radio plays that we read in class. 
• Using movie maker  software, students will choose one of the stories we have read in the months of October and November to recreate. 
• Once students have created their short films or trailers, they will premier them for the class to watch and enjoy. 
• Students can use this assignment to replace any low classwork/ homework grade. 

2. SHORT STORY PROJECT ASSIGNMENTS:  ​

• The document below includes  three assignments  you can  choose  from, meaning you don't have to do all three to get credit.
• You can do one of them, two, or if you want/ need it, you can complete them all.  
• ​You  MUST  only use the short stories that we have read in class during the months of October and November. 

3. PLOT DIAGRAM REVIEW PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS/ RUBRIC:

Submit your work to me by emailing it to me if you are doing extra credit during the time that we are doing virtual learning., 1. idiom challenge:  below you will find a list of idioms. your challenge is to create a poster to represent an idiom of your choice ​, 2. sensory details writing assignment: .

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Extra Credit Assignment Ideas that Support Student Learning

Close to the end of the semester, you likely get requests from students to complete extra credit assignments. You might be looking for extra credit assignment ideas , or maybe you’re wondering if extra credit should be allowed in the first place. Maybe you find last-minute requests annoying – grading extra credit projects can be frustrating and confusing! In this blog post, I’ll share some reasons to consider extra credit in your classroom. It can be an enriching learning opportunity for your students. You’ll also receive some examples of extra credit assignments , along with some strategies to stay organized with extra credit assignments.

Is Extra Credit a Good Thing?

Not everyone agrees that students deserve extra credit. Many teachers believe in only assigning “regular” credit. Sometimes the top performers in our class request the opportunity to boost their grades. Oftentimes, students who have unfinished assignments or lower grades request extra credit too. Teachers who do not assign extra credit often decline these requests to emphasize the importance of turning in regular assignments on time .

Meanwhile, some teachers do not assign extra credit because their schools do not allow it. School-wide policies may not permit extra credit in order to promote equitable grading practices. Before you decide whether or not you will offer extra credit, be sure to check your school’s policy.

Equitable Extra Credit Policies

Another place to consult before assigning extra credit is with any staff that teaches the same course as you. If either one of you approaches extra credit differently, your students may interpret this as inequitable . One of the main reasons that teachers believe students do not deserve extra credit is that it is unethical. There are ways to ensure that extra credit is equitable, but you will need to ensure that your colleagues are in agreement .

Students deserve extra credit when it is an opportunity offered to everyone . To ensure that your policies are ethical and equitable, do not assign extra credit on a case-by-case basis. This does not mean that everyone needs to complete an extra credit assignment. This also does not mean that every extra credit assignment needs to be the same. Equity is about access . Case-by-case simply implies that you should not approve extra credit for one student and deny it for another – unless there is a valid reason to do so.

Whether you believe students deserve extra credit or not, be sure to include your policy in your syllabus . If you allow extra credit, you may also wish to note your requirements. These can include when and how to request extra credit opportunities. Mondays Made Easy includes an Extra Credit Application with our Editable Full Course Syllabus Template .

Why Should Teachers Give Extra Credit?

Teachers should give extra credit if they support differentiation for students. When implemented properly, extra credit assignments can be a fantastic way to differentiate for different learner profiles. Many teachers hold the belief that a student’s grade in a course should reflect their understanding of the curriculum. In an equitable setting, there should be several opportunities to demonstrate that understanding.

There are multiple reasons why a student may perform poorly on an assessment. There are also multiple factors that may prevent students from being present in class or turning in work on time. Extra credit assignments, when assigned to correlate with your curriculum requirements and course expectations, provide students with another opportunity to meet course standards .

This is especially true if the extra credit is able to assess learning goals while catering to different learning styles . I saw a great example the other day of a student who baked a literal cake of symbolic elements from The Great Gatsby. Their write-up described the literary elements in the novel in relation to the cake: from rum-flavored icing to pearl necklace piping, this culinary creation fused course requirements with the student’s passion!

Tips for Assigning Extra Credit

One reason why teachers hate extra credit is that it can be a real headache! Keeping track of extra credit assignments and due dates requires additional effort on our part. On top of that, grading additional assignments around report card time is stressful. Thankfully, these hardships are minimized with a simple system in place.

Mondays Made Easy’s FREE Extra Credit Application is a great tool to help you keep track of extra credit assignments and requests. Students typically ask for extra credit in person; an application provides a paper trail for these conversations. Additionally, an application provides space to note assignment instructions and due dates – if your students are anything like mine, they might need a reminder about these details.

Extra credit applications can also double as a metacognitive reflection tool . I often have students explain why they need the extra credit in the first place. This provides them the opportunity to reflect on their performance and participation in the course. If the same student repeatedly asks for extra credit in your class, it can also be useful to have a record of each request . This can provide you both with documentation to discuss the student’s habits and performance.

A final reason why I love using extra credit applications is that they encourage students to be proactive . I introduce my extra credit application with my syllabus at the start of the course. I notify students that I require extra credit applications to be submitted three weeks before report cards. This sets the expectation that extra credit requests should not be made last minute. I also schedule assignments to be turned in before grades are finalized. This eliminates any last-minute grading .

Extra Credit Assignment Ideas for English Class

To simplify extra credit assignment ideas, you can adopt the popular approach of offering an assignment re-do to students. This is the easiest way to avoid additional grading while accommodating extra credit requests.

Another approach to extra credit that requires very little assessment is to implement a pass system . At the start of the semester, you can provide each student with a number of passes. For example, each student might receive three hallway passes and one late pass. In order to receive extra credit, students must have all of their passes remaining at the end of the semester. If your school policy allows, you can give students bonus points for simply showing up to class on time and avoiding hallway distractions.

For novel studies , you can offer students the opportunity to create a movie trailer. This example for an extra credit assignment idea requires a bit of effort, but it is a great alternative assessment for older students . A movie trailer will prompt students to avoid simple plot summaries and establish characterization and theme. To facilitate this assignment, Mondays Made Easy offers a Movie Trailer Project Outline and Rubric .

If your students have written research essays , you can offer them the opportunity to turn their work into a “ real-world resource .” A “real-world resource” is any type of media or document that delivers students’ research to the general public. This example of an extra credit assignment is a great opportunity for differentiation because it allows students to be creative and select any medium they like. Mondays Made Easy also offers a Real-World Resource Assignment Outline and Rubric .

Aligning Extra Credit Assignment Ideas with Your Curriculum

When it comes to selecting an extra credit assignment idea, the most important consideration should be how the assignment aligns with your curriculum. If you’re not sure what to assign for extra credit, one option could be to review the student’s performance . If they scored low on a particular assessment, it would make sense to opt for an assignment that covers similar curriculum strands .

For example, the Common Core State Standards require students to “write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence” ( English Language Arts Standards – Writing – Grade 9-10 ). If your student requesting extra credit scored lowest on an assessment for this strand, it would not be best practice to assess an argumentative writing assignment.

Mondays Made Easy’s Extra Credit Application prompts students to reflect on their performance in your course. It also offers them the opportunity to suggest extra credit assignment ideas . Oftentimes, students are able to recommend an assignment idea that evaluates similar skills to those that were evaluated poorly on a previous assessment. If their recommendation doesn’t align, you can facilitate a conversation to guide them in the right direction. This is a great way to implement differentiation and student choice . It also enables you to incorporate your students’ examples of extra credit assignments into your curriculum. Students have great ideas, and I’ve benefitted from reusing their suggestions with future classes!

Extra Credit Assignment Ideas: Important Takeaways

Assigning extra credit remains a matter of personal preference. You know what works best for your students, and your professional discretion will best determine whether or not extra credit is an opportunity that they need. As mentioned, it is best to check if your approach aligns with your school policy and your colleagues’ practices. If you do decide to offer your students extra credit assignments , I hope that the suggestions and ideas in this blog post support you in your efforts!

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The Big List of Funny Extra Credit Questions

When you want to make your students smile.

Looking for a few of the best extra credit questions ever? Want to make your students laugh—and love you? Our list of printable extra credit questions to the rescue!

You may or may not decide to give students points on assignments for clever answers to these questions; that’s up to you. All we know is that you’re building up some serious street cred by including a silly extra credit question on your next assessment.

Promise. Bookmark this post, and you’ll thank us for it. 

Of course, use your discretion and adapt these ideas to best fit your students’ level and ability. 

Get the printable big list of extra credit questions here.

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Use these extra credit questions and get a serious laugh from your students.

• What do people learn at school?
• Why was six afraid of seven? [Because seven eight nine = seven ‘ate’ nine]
• Explain the relationship between Mario and Luigi. [They are brothers.]
• Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?
• What does the fox say?
• How many colors are there in a rainbow? Name the colors. [There are seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green blue, indigo, violet.]
• Name two songs that have the same tune as the “Alphabet Song”. [“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and “Baa Baa Black Sheep”]
• What’s black and white and red all over? [A newspaper, an embarrassed zebra, a penguin with a rash, a chocolate sundae with ketchup on top. . . ]
• How do you “floss”? [Either a description of the dance or what you do with your teeth!]
• What is the official motto of the United States of America? [E Pluribus Unum]
• Why is the sky blue? [Blue light is scattered in all directions by the tiny molecules of air in Earth’s atmosphere. Blue is scattered more than other colors because it travels as shorter, smaller waves. This is why we see a blue sky most of the time.
• What is the silliest question you’ve ever asked?
• Draw a picture of your teacher on vacation. 
• Would you rather have a pet dinosaur or a pet dragon? Explain.
• How do you make a hot dog?
• What is the first product to ever have a barcode? [A pack of Rigley gum]
• Finish this sentence: Here’s the story, of a lovely lady who was bringing up three very lovely girls. . . [. . . all of them had hair of gold, like their mother. The youngest one in curls.]
• Name 5 of the greatest all-boy bands. [The Backstreet Boys, Jackson 5, Beatles, One Direction, NSYNC, New Edition, The Monkees, New Kids on the Block]
• What was the first video ever uploaded to YouTube? [Me at the Zoo, by Jawed Karem]
• When was the first video uploaded to YouTube? [April 23, 2005]
• Who is the highest-paid NFL quarterback of all time? [Peyton Manning, $248 million]
• Write the first stanza of the song sung in the 7th inning at baseball games. [Take Take me out to the ball game, Take me out with the crowd; Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack, I don’t care if I never get back. Let me root, root, root for the home team, If they don’t win, it’s a shame. For it’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out, At the old ball game.]
• What do we wear on Wednesdays? [pink]
• What is the full name of Mike Wazowski’s best friend in Monsters, Inc.”? [James P. Sullivan]
• In Star Wars, where does Luke find Yoda? [Degobah]
• How many stitches does a Major League baseball have? [108]
• Name the movie this line is from: “I’m king of the world!!” [ Titanic ]
• Who’s never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you? [Rick Astley]
• Name all of Snow White’s 7 dwarfs. [Sleepy, Dopey, Grumpy, Sneezy, Doc, Happy, and Bashful]
• What are the four types of human blood? [A, B, AB, & O]
• Name the type of footwear invented in 1815 that allowed people to move quickly over hard, smooth ground. [Roller skates]
• Which former president had a toy named after him? What was the toy? [Theodore Roosevelt, teddy bear]
• How many sides does a dodecagon have? [12]
• What was Mozart’s full baptismal name? [Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart]
• What are three things you know about the Dewey Decimal System? [It’s a system for categorizing books. It was created by Melville Dewey in 1876. It has a number for all subjects, and each number has two parts: a class number (from the Dewey system) and a book number.]

What extra credit questions do you use? We’d love to hear! Come and share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.  

Plus, sample report card comments. 

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5 Extra Credit Activities That Promote Engaged Learning

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The end of the semester is approaching quickly. Only two more weeks of coursework before finals week arrives. At this point of the semester, it’s not uncommon to receive requests for extra credit opportunities. I’ve never received an extra credit request from a student, though, because I build in multiple opportunities into the semester. There’s a lot of debate over whether extra credit should be an option in the classroom. Personally, I believe that if students are willing to put in extra effort to complete additional work, then they should have that opportunity. I’m more than willing to allow students to increase their project grades by a few points by completing additional activities that require students to deepen their understanding and abilities to apply what they’ve learned. Here are five forms of extra credit activities I offer in my various courses. [ A video version of this information is included at the end of this post, too!]

Responses to Classmates’ Work

In my literature courses , my students are required to complete 3-5 literary analysis discussion posts throughout the semester. They post them using our LMS forums tool. The forums are set to not allow students to read earlier posts in a specific forum until they themselves have submitted a post. At that point, the rest of the posts are revealed and they are free to reply to them. Once the deadline for a post passes, I change the setting so that all students can see the posts even if they did not complete one. Students have at least double the number of possible forums to post to than required of them, so they can pick which required texts they are most interested in analyzing before they are discussed in class.

As this is a digital assignment that all students easily have access to via our course website, I always include an extra credit opportunity at the end of the assignment sheet. Students were required to complete 3 posts in this semester’s ENG170 . The assignment equates to 15% of the student’s course grade. With this grade dynamic in mind, my students could receive up to 10 points extra credit on individual posts by completing the activity below. The language that follows is copied directly from my assignment sheet:

Extra Credit: Up to 10 points total

• Additional quote(s) and analysis that support their points
• Additional analysis of the quote(s) they used that further support their points
• Quote(s) and analysis that can counter their points
• Additional analysis of the quote(s) they used that counter their points
• A discussion of why their points/arguments are significant
• There is no word requirement for these comments. The detail you put into them and/or the points you make in them will equate to the amount of points you receive for each comment. Once you receive 10 points total, you will not be able to receive more of this extra credit, though additional comments can help with your participation grade in a manner similar to the Discussion Addition forums.

Very few students tend to take advantage of this extra credit opportunity, but I offer it every time I use this assignment. The students aren’t required to reply to classmates who submitted a post to the same forums they did. So, while a student might not have written a post about El Deafo , this extra credit activity gives them the chance to earn points by thinking further on a text that they originally passed on analyzing in written form. If they do respond to a post from a forum they chose earlier in the semester, then they’ve chosen to approach a text they’ve analyzed from an angle they might not have thought about on their own. In either case, students gain more literary analysis writing skills and work on rhetorically responding to someone else’s analysis rather than just always writing their own without any concern to the complications of collaborative writing.

Creative Project

This extra credit activity is posted during Week 1, but it’s not due until the last day of class. In contrast to the activity above, this project is not attached to any one assignment. For my children’s literature courses, this activity takes on the form of creating a picture book or first chapter of a graphic novel. In my YA literature course , they have the option of writing a piece of fanfiction based on one of our required texts. Here’s the assignment from my ENG170 course:

Step 1: Create a picture book or graphic novel chapter

You can work with one partner or by yourself. The picture book should be at least 14 pages long; the graphic novel at least 8 pages in length. The picture book can be a narrative or concept book. Your intended audience should be children, though you can pick any age group. It should be designed to look like a picture book or graphic novel (front cover to back cover, not just the story). 

Step 2: Write a Reflection

Write a short reflection (400 words or more). In it, discuss topics like how you came up with the idea for your book, why you decided to create this idea, why you designed the book the way you did (colors, shape, materials, etc.), what message(s) you want (or don’t want) your reader to get from the book, etc. Submit this reflection into the “Extra Credit Project” assignment link. If you work with a partner, each of you must write a reflection.

This project is much more popular with my students. Most complete the project without a partner, but I’ve seen some amazing writer and illustrator pairs. Most tend to create a narrative picture book. Graphic novel chapters are very rare. Students can earn up to 5 points extra credit on an exam by completing this activity, depending on the detail of their reflection and effort in creating their children’s text. We spend so much time analyzing the content and design of visual texts. This activity allows students to learn first hand just how hard creating these texts can be. Putting in the effort to experience this creative process and reflect on it is worth adding a few points to an exam that they might have struggled with because of how much information is included in this prerequisite course.

Digital Project

A new extra credit activity I offered this semester is the “class blog” project. Our LMS has a blog tool that allows students to construct a collaborative blog on our class website (so there is no need to grapple with creating their own blog or posting to the online public). So far, no student has posted to the blog. But, they have three more weeks to post. Here’s the assignment description I created for my students:

You can blog about anything related to children’s literature/media and culture. There is no word requirement for these blog posts. You can post as many as you want and include as much detail as you want. The more detail/depth you include in the posts, the more points you will earn. Just make sure it’s your own writing, and if you cite someone else in your posts, make sure to credit them. Once you receive the 5 points available for this extra credit, additional posts can function similarly to the discussion addition forum posts in regard to improving your participation grade. Here are some ideas for what you can blog about, though you might come up with other ideas:

• Children’s literature book reviews
• Children’s movie reviews
• Children’s app reviews
• Your thoughts/opinions about something going on in the media that connects to children’s texts or children in general
• Your experiences reading to children at a library or at home
• Your childhood memories of reading/watching one of the texts we’re reading for class
• Your ideas for how you’d teach a children’s text in your future classrooms

You can also reply to others’ blog posts. It’ll likely be harder to earn the same amount of points in comparison to creating your own, but replying is an option for anyone who doesn’t feel comfortable creating their own posts. If your post inspires a lot of comments, this community response can also increase the amount of points you earn for that post.

Like the creative project, students can earn up to five points extra credit on an exam by completing this activity. In adding this activity, my hope was to inspire students to connect our class to the world outside the classroom. I consider what I teach to be incredibly relevant to my students’ lives outside the classroom. Getting students to have that same belief can be difficult, so I created this extra credit opportunity so that students would have reason to put in extra effort to make these connections. I’m curious to see if any student will do so in the coming weeks.

Event Attendance and “Takeaways” Response

ISU’s English department hosts the Lois Lenski Lecture every spring semester. We invite a children’s and/or young adult literature scholar to speak at our campus and host a Q&A session after their talk. I’ve learned so much from these presentations, and always mention them to my children’s and ya literature students. I also offer extra credit if they attend the event and write up a “takeaways response” to it that night. They submit them digitally by midnight, or just turn it in physically at the lecture.

This semester, my students have the option of exploring a children’s literature display at our university library. A special collections display was created by students in a graduate course. If my students explore it and write up a response to it, they can receive a few extra credit points were they most need it (up to 3, depending on the detail in their response). They had two weeks to complete this activity. Fewer than a handful did so. This activity and other events are great for helping students see how others outside the classroom study and use children’s and YA literature. Note: The takeaways can’t just be regurgitated facts. Students have to reflect and metacognitively respond to what they’ve heard/seen during the event.

Aesthetic Additions

I include this option when students complete a highly visual project. For the picture book festival activity I’ve used in past ENG170 sections, students could increase their poster grade by up to five points depending on the effort they put into designing their posters. All students were automatically eligible for earning these points. Students could earn a high grade as long as they included all the required material on their poster. But, if their posters’ design aesthetic was well thought out, extra credit points could be earned. Some students focused on emphasizing the content of their text (crafting a tree on a The Giving Tree poster), while others focused on the medium (designing their poster as a TV screen when analyzing Gilmore Girls ). Most students tend to receive only a point or two for this extra credit opportunity, but I’ve been amazed by the thought and effort put into a few poster designs over the years. It livens up my grading experience at the end of the semester too, which is always welcome.

Final Thoughts

Of the five activities listed above, four were options in this semester’s ENG 170 course. Giving my students the chance to earn up to 23 extra credit points likely seems excessive to some of you reading this post. Here are a few points I’d like for you to keep in mind, especially if you’re considering what extra credit activities you might want to offer next semester: 1. In a 30 student course, usually less than half the students will attempt even one of the extra credit options. 2. Less than a third will attempt more than one option, and they are often the ones that don’t even need extra credit. 3. It’s rare for a student to earn the max number of points for any of the activities because of how much extra effort and work I expect from them in order to gain these points. 4. The only activity that creates the opportunity to gain 10 points is the forum posts extra credit. These points are added to individual posts rather than to the activity grade as a whole. In this specific case, one post equates to just 5% of their overall course grade. 5. If students are willing to put in the extra time and effort, and the activities actually require them to learn something, why not offer them the opportunity for engaging in additional ways with the course material?

I’ve never regretted including extra credit options in my courses. Few students take me up on my offers, and a bump up in their overall grade definitely isn’t guaranteed. But, by having these activities in my course design, I’m making clear to my students that hard work will be rewarded and that doing poorly on one assignment doesn’t mean they’ve done irrevocable damage to their course grade > GPA > financial aid/grad applications. Even one offer of extra credit can demonstrate to students that we as instructors understand that sometimes they need an extra chance to show their willingness to put in the effort to learn and grow. Why not give them that chance?

>>If you’d like to download a PDF that lists the various extra credit activities described above (and a few other activity ideas!), just subscribe to my blog. You’ll receive access to all my blog-related PDFs and will receive an email every time a new blog post goes up!<<

Do you include extra credit opportunities in your courses? If so, share what activities you offer in the comments section below!

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College Courses Course Design extra credit Pedagogy Teach

February 18, 2020 at 4:15 PM

Awesome suggestions!

February 20, 2020 at 2:20 PM

I’m glad you like them!

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Using Extra Credit Effectively

Should instructors offer extra credit? Some believe it makes students lazy and more likely to want to make up material only after they have missed it. While extra credit can certainly have this effect on students, well-designed extra credit assignments can have a range of benefits instead. I always use extra credit in my courses rather than scaling grades, dropping the lowest grade, or assigning ad hoc assignments at the end of the semester to boost students’ grades. I apply several strategies when creating extra credit to make it a meaningful and enriching part of students’ experience in my courses.

Well-designed extra credit assignments have the following benefits for students and the instructor.

• Students engage with the material beyond the assigned coursework, which helps reinforce their understanding of concepts taught in class.
• Students have more agency in working toward the final grade they want to achieve. Rather than taking action myself to boost student grades, I give students the opportunity to improve their course performance if they wish.
• Assigning extra credit enables me to avoid the dreaded question, "Can I do anything to improve my final grade?" The few times I am asked for more lenience, I have a fair answer: "All students had the same opportunities for extra credit during the course. There is no 'extra' extra credit." The ball is in the students' court; I am just the recordkeeper.

I use the following strategies to create effective extra credit assignments.

• All students are given the same opportunities for extra credit so that everyone has an equal chance to improve their grade. This is stressed on the syllabus and throughout the course.
• Extra credit point values can be flexible. Mine are based on the nature of the assignment and the amount of extra credit the class needs as a whole.
• I assign extra credit regularly during the semester rather than waiting until the end of the semester. Students have an opportunity to submit extra credit at predictable intervals, which helps them keep their interest in the course and avoid anxiety about their final grade.

Types of Extra Credit

A wide range of work can be assigned as extra credit – it's really up to the instructor's imagination! My extra credit assignments fall into two categories:

• additional problems – I assign these in my linguistics courses to give students more practice with difficult concepts and methods of analysis.
• engaging applications – I create fun assignments that apply ideas covered in class. Basically anything goes as long as it’s relevant for the course! I have assigned Moodle surveys , interviews of individuals in the student’s social circle, discussion forums with thought-provoking questions, reflections about online videos or articles, and educational activities on websites that tie into course themes. (Consider using H5P in Moodle to create some of your extra credit activities. e-LIS has H5P help documents to assist you, or contact the e-LIS ID team for a one-on-one consultation .)

Viewing extra credit as a positive component to include in your course opens up a useful additional avenue to increase student learning. Methodically and creatively designing extra credit that fits with course themes is an excellent way to give students supplementary practice with course material and further opportunities to see applications of course material in the real world. Extra credit assignments might even take more effort than regular homework, but if they are well-designed, students will be happy to do them!

Save and adapt a Google Doc version of this teaching tip.

About the Author

Helena Riha teaches Linguistics and International Studies. She has taught over 3,300 students at OU in 16 different courses and is currently developing a new online General Education course. Helena is the 2016 winner of the OU Excellence in Teaching Award. This is her thirteenth teaching tip. Outside of the classroom, Helena enjoys watching her sixth grader design his own Lego creations.

Edited and designed by Christina Moore, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Oakland University. Others may share and adapt under Creative Commons License CC BY-NC .  View all CETL Weekly Teaching Tips . 

Extra Credit Assignment Ideas: Engaging Activities for Student Learning

Looking to go beyond the usual and mundane for your next extra credit assignment? It’s time to embark on a journey of creativity and innovation. We understand that traditional school assignments can be dull and uninspiring, which is why we’re here to shake things up.

From creating an interactive multimedia presentation to designing a virtual museum exhibit, these unique assignment ideas in the course will challenge you to think outside the box and showcase your skills in unconventional ways.

So buckle up and get ready for an exhilarating ride filled with unexpected twists and turns. Say goodbye to monotonous semester assignments and hello to exciting opportunities for self-expression in your course. Get ready to unleash your creativity like never before!

Key Takeaways

• Extra credit assignments can be a valuable tool for promoting engaged learning and motivating students to go above and beyond.
• Incorporating unique assignment ideas not only adds variety to the classroom but also encourages creativity and critical thinking.
• Engaging science ideas for extra credit assignments can include conducting experiments, creating models, or researching current scientific topics.
• Creative English assignments, such as writing short stories or analyzing literature, can help students develop their writing and analytical skills.
• Innovative Spanish class ideas for extra credit assignments can involve practicing conversational skills, creating videos, or exploring cultural aspects of the language.
• Assigning an artistic sketchbook as an extra credit project allows students to express themselves visually and develop their artistic abilities.
• Social studies worksheets can be used as extra credit assignments to reinforce concepts, encourage research, and promote a deeper understanding of historical events.
• Establishing clear policies for extra credit, such as deadlines and grading criteria, ensures fairness and consistency in offering these opportunities.
• By promoting engaged learning activities through extra credit assignments, teachers can foster a love for learning and encourage students to take ownership of their education.

Importance of Extra Credit

Extra credit assignments can play a crucial role in student learning. They offer valuable opportunities for students to deepen their understanding of the subject matter. By completing extra credit assignments and reading blog posts, students are able to explore topics in greater depth and gain a more comprehensive grasp of the material.

When given the chance to earn extra credit, students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning. The additional assignments and posts provide them with a sense of responsibility and motivate them to go above and beyond what is required. This not only benefits their academic performance but also instills important life skills such as self-motivation and perseverance.

Engaged learning is another significant aspect that extra credit assignments promote. These assignments foster active participation and engagement in the classroom by allowing students to delve into topics that interest them personally through posts. When given the freedom to choose an area they are passionate about, students become more invested in their studies, leading to increased retention of knowledge and skills.

Moreover, incorporating extra credit assignments and posts into the curriculum enhances student understanding and application of course material. These assignments can supplement existing lessons by providing additional learning opportunities that reinforce key concepts or introduce new perspectives related to the curriculum. For example, if a history class is studying World War II, an extra credit assignment could involve researching lesser-known aspects or analyzing primary sources from that time period.

Unique Assignment Ideas

There are a variety of unique ideas that can engage and challenge students. These assignments not only provide an opportunity for students to earn additional points but also encourage them to think creatively and explore their interests in different ways.

One type of extra credit assignment that can inspire creativity is creative projects . These projects allow students to express themselves through various mediums such as art, music, writing, or even multimedia presentations. By offering creative projects as extra credit assignments, teachers can tap into the diverse talents and abilities of their students. For example, a student who excels in visual arts may choose to create a painting or sculpture related to the subject matter being studied in class. On the other hand, a student with strong writing skills might opt for composing a short story or poem on a relevant topic.

Creative projects not only showcase individual talents but also foster innovation and critical thinking skills. When given the freedom to explore their own ideas and present them in unique ways, students are encouraged to think outside the box and develop new perspectives on the material they have learned. This type of assignment allows for greater engagement with the subject matter while providing an avenue for self-expression.

Another category of extra credit assignments that promote independent learning is independent work . These assignments require students to take charge of their own learning by conducting research or completing tasks independently outside of regular classwork. Independent work provides an opportunity for students to delve deeper into topics they find interesting or challenging.

By assigning independent work as extra credit, teachers are able to assess not only knowledge acquisition but also skills such as time management and self-directed learning. Students who excel at working independently demonstrate initiative and autonomy in pursuing their academic goals.

For instance, an English teacher might offer an optional book review assignment where students choose a novel from a list provided by the teacher and write a thoughtful analysis highlighting key themes and literary devices used by the author. This assignment allows students to explore their personal interests within the broader context of the subject matter.

Engaging Science Ideas

Experiment projects.

Experiment projects are a great way to make science assignments more engaging and exciting. By offering experiment projects as extra credit assignments, teachers provide students with the opportunity to apply scientific principles in a hands-on manner. This allows them to develop essential research and analytical skills that will benefit them both inside and outside of the classroom.

Extra credit experiment projects also enable students to explore scientific concepts beyond what they learn in their textbooks. These projects encourage curiosity and creativity by giving students the freedom to design their own experiments or explore topics of interest. For example, a student interested in chemistry could conduct an experiment on chemical reactions or investigate the effects of different variables on plant growth.

By completing these experiment projects as extra credit assignments, students gain practical experience in conducting scientific investigations. They learn how to formulate hypotheses, collect data, analyze results, and draw conclusions based on evidence. These skills are crucial for success not only in science but also in other academic disciplines and future careers.

Research Papers

Research papers offer another avenue for engaging science extra credit assignments. By assigning research papers as extra credit tasks, teachers give students the opportunity to delve into a specific topic of interest within the realm of science. This allows them to develop strong research skills while exploring an area that captivates their attention.

Completing research papers as extra credit assignments promotes academic rigor and scholarly inquiry among students. It encourages critical analysis and synthesis of information from various sources such as books, articles, or online databases. Students must evaluate the credibility of sources before incorporating them into their papers—a skill that is valuable for distinguishing reliable information from misinformation.

Research papers also foster independent thinking as students form their arguments based on evidence gathered through extensive research. They learn how to organize ideas coherently and present findings clearly—an important skill set applicable across many disciplines beyond science itself.

Creative English Assignments

Ela projects.

Extra credit assignments in English Language Arts (ELA) can be a great way to enhance students’ reading, writing, and communication skills. These projects provide students with the opportunity to explore different literary genres and analyze texts in a creative and engaging manner. By offering ELA projects as extra credit assignments, teachers encourage students to express their creativity while also developing their language proficiency.

For example, one ELA project could involve creating a book review or analysis of a novel that goes beyond just summarizing the plot. Students could delve into themes, character development, and symbolism within the story. This type of assignment allows them to demonstrate their understanding of the text while honing their critical thinking skills.

Another idea for an ELA project is organizing a poetry slam event where students write and perform original poems. This activity not only encourages creativity but also requires students to think critically about word choice, rhythm, and delivery when crafting their poems. It provides them with an opportunity to showcase their individuality and develop public speaking skills.

Literary Analysis

Extra credit assignments focused on literary analysis are another valuable option for English classes. These assignments enable students to deepen their understanding of literary works by critically analyzing them. Through this process, they develop important skills such as critical thinking and interpretation.

One possible extra credit assignment could be asking students to choose a specific theme or motif from a novel or play they have studied in class and write an essay exploring its significance throughout the work. This task challenges them to closely examine the text’s nuances while formulating well-supported arguments based on evidence from the literature.

Teachers can assign extra credit activities that require students to engage with complex texts independently outside of class hours. For instance, assigning short stories by renowned authors like Edgar Allan Poe or William Shakespeare can prompt deep analysis through written responses or classroom discussions.

Innovative Spanish Class Ideas

Cultural studies.

Extra credit assignments in cultural studies provide students with the opportunity to explore diverse cultures and broaden their perspectives. By delving into different aspects of culture, such as traditions, customs, and history, students can develop intercultural competence and gain a deeper appreciation for diversity.

For example, students could be tasked with researching a specific country or region and creating a presentation that highlights its unique cultural elements. They might delve into topics like traditional celebrations, cuisine, music, art forms, or famous historical figures. This not only allows them to learn about other cultures but also encourages them to present their findings to the class—fostering public speaking skills.

Offering cultural studies as an extra credit assignment is beneficial because it promotes global awareness and understanding among students. It exposes them to new ideas and perspectives outside of their own experiences while encouraging empathy towards others. These assignments can help create a classroom environment that celebrates diversity and fosters inclusivity.

Language Practice

Extra credit assignments focused on language practice offer valuable opportunities for students to improve their Spanish language skills. By engaging in activities that require active use of the language beyond regular coursework, they can enhance vocabulary acquisition and fluency.

One effective approach is assigning tasks that encourage real-life application of Spanish in various contexts. For instance, students could be asked to write short dialogues or skits using vocabulary related to everyday situations like ordering food at a restaurant or asking for directions. Alternatively, they might be challenged to record themselves giving presentations entirely in Spanish on topics they are passionate about.

These types of assignments not only reinforce what has been learned in class but also motivate students by allowing them creative freedom within the boundaries of practicing the language. It helps make learning more enjoyable while reinforcing key concepts through practical application.

Furthermore, offering these language practice extra credit assignments incentivizes consistent effort from students throughout the course since they know there are additional opportunities to earn points and improve their grades. It encourages them to actively engage with the language outside of class, helping to solidify their understanding and mastery of Spanish.

Artistic Sketchbook Assignments

Extra credit assignments in the visual arts offer students a unique opportunity to unleash their creativity and express themselves visually. These projects allow students to go beyond the boundaries of traditional classroom assignments and explore their artistic potential. By engaging in extra credit visual arts projects, students can develop their artistic techniques and aesthetic sensibilities.

Visual arts as extra credit assignments provide a platform for students to experiment with different mediums, such as painting, drawing, sculpture, or photography. They can create artwork that reflects their personal experiences, emotions, or ideas. For example, they may choose to paint a landscape that holds special meaning for them or create a sculpture inspired by an important social issue.

In addition to fostering creativity and self-expression, offering visual arts projects as extra credit promotes artistic exploration. Students have the freedom to explore different styles and themes within the realm of visual arts. They can research famous artists and art movements for inspiration or incorporate elements from various cultures into their work.

Design concepts serve as another engaging option for extra credit assignments. These assignments enable students to apply principles of design in various contexts while developing problem-solving skills and nurturing their creativity. By engaging in design projects as extra credit opportunities, students learn how form follows function and how aesthetics play a role in everyday objects.

For instance, one design concept assignment could involve creating an innovative product prototype that solves a specific problem faced by people today. This project would require critical thinking skills as well as an understanding of user experience and functionality.

Another example could be designing an eye-catching poster using graphic design principles like color theory and typography layout techniques. Through this assignment, students would learn about effective communication through visuals while honing their design skills.

Social Studies Worksheets

In the field of social studies, extra credit assignments can provide valuable opportunities for students to deepen their understanding and engagement with the subject matter. Two areas where extra credit assignments can be particularly effective are historical analysis and current events.

Historical Analysis

Extra credit assignments in historical analysis allow students to delve into past events and explore their significance. By engaging in this type of assignment, students have the opportunity to develop important research skills and hone their critical thinking abilities. They are encouraged to analyze primary and secondary sources, evaluate different perspectives, and draw conclusions based on evidence.

For example, a historical analysis extra credit assignment could involve researching a specific event or time period in history and writing an essay that examines its causes, consequences, and broader implications. Students might be asked to consider how the event shaped society at the time or how it continues to impact our world today.

By offering historical analysis as an extra credit option, teachers promote a deeper understanding of the complexities of history. Students gain a more nuanced perspective on past events by actively engaging with them through research and analysis. This type of assignment also encourages students to think critically about historical narratives they encounter elsewhere – whether in textbooks or popular media – helping them develop a healthy skepticism towards simplistic interpretations.

Current Events

Extra credit assignments focused on current events provide an opportunity for students to stay informed about what is happening in the world around them. Engaging with current events as part of their coursework helps students develop media literacy skills by encouraging them to critically analyze news sources for bias or misinformation.

For instance, a current events extra credit assignment might involve choosing a news article related to one of the topics covered in class (such as immigration policy or climate change) and writing a short summary along with an evaluation of its reliability using criteria discussed in class (e.g., source credibility). This exercise not only reinforces classroom learning but also empowers students to make connections between academic concepts and real-world issues.

Policies for Extra Credit

Extra credit assignments can be a valuable tool for both teachers and students. They provide an opportunity for students to earn additional points towards their grade, while also allowing teachers to assess student understanding in different ways. However, it is important to establish clear policies surrounding extra credit assignments to ensure fairness and alignment with the curriculum.

Equitable Policies

When designing extra credit assignments, it is crucial to consider equity and inclusivity. All students should have equal opportunities to participate and benefit from these assignments. To achieve this, teachers should establish clear guidelines and criteria for earning extra credit. By doing so, they create a level playing field where all students understand what is expected of them.

For example, instead of offering extra credit based on arbitrary factors such as attendance or participation alone, teachers can tie the assignment directly to course content or learning objectives. This ensures that all students have an equal chance of earning the additional points by demonstrating their knowledge and skills.

Implementing equitable policies for extra credit assignments not only promotes fairness among students but also supports student success. It encourages active engagement with the material and provides an opportunity for struggling students to improve their grades through additional effort.

Alignment with Curriculum

Another important aspect of extra credit policies is aligning these assignments with the overall curriculum goals and learning objectives. Extra credit should serve as a supplement to classroom instruction rather than a separate entity.

Teachers should carefully design these assignments so that they complement and enhance the content covered in class. For example, if a social studies class has been studying ancient civilizations, an appropriate extra credit assignment could involve researching another civilization not covered in depth during regular class time.

Promoting Engaged Learning Activities

Group discussions.

Extra credit assignments involving group discussions can be a great way to promote engaged learning activities. When students participate in group discussions as part of their extra credit work, they have the opportunity to collaborate with their peers and develop important communication skills.

Through these group discussions, students can engage in meaningful dialogue and exchange diverse perspectives. This not only enhances their understanding of the subject matter but also encourages them to think critically and consider different viewpoints. For example, in a literature class, students could discuss various interpretations of a novel or analyze different themes present in a play.

Offering group discussions as extra credit assignments also fosters active participation among students. Rather than passively listening to lectures or reading textbooks, they actively contribute to the conversation by sharing their thoughts and ideas. This shared learning experience creates an inclusive classroom environment where everyone’s voice is valued.

Interactive Sessions

Another effective method for promoting engaged learning activities through extra credit assignments is by incorporating interactive sessions into the curriculum. These sessions provide opportunities for hands-on learning experiences that go beyond traditional classroom instruction.

By offering interactive sessions as extra credit assignments, students are encouraged to actively participate in simulations, debates, or role-playing activities related to the subject matter at hand. For instance, in a history class studying World War II, students could engage in a mock trial where they take on roles such as lawyers or witnesses representing different countries involved in the conflict.

The benefit of interactive sessions lies in their ability to promote experiential learning. Instead of simply memorizing facts and figures from textbooks, students are able to apply what they have learned in real-world scenarios. This deepens their understanding of the material and helps them make connections between theory and practice.

Final Remarks

In conclusion, extra credit assignments can be a valuable tool in promoting engaged learning and providing students with opportunities to explore their interests and talents. From creative English assignments to innovative science ideas, there are countless ways to design meaningful tasks that go beyond the traditional curriculum. By implementing these unique assignments, educators can foster a sense of curiosity and passion in their students, encouraging them to take ownership of their learning journey.

So, don’t be afraid to think outside the boxAnd create assignments that allow them to showcase their abilities while deepening their understanding of the subject matter. By providing these opportunities for growth and exploration, you’ll not only enhance student engagement but also cultivate a love for learning that extends far beyond the classroom. So go ahead, get creative, and watch as your students thrive!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can extra credit assignments benefit students.

Extra credit assignments provide an opportunity for students to improve their grades, demonstrate mastery of the material, and explore topics beyond the regular curriculum. They encourage motivation, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

What are some unique assignment ideas for extra credit?

Consider options like creating a podcast on a historical event, organizing a science fair project, writing and performing an original play in English class, or designing an interactive online quiz for Spanish vocabulary. The possibilities are endless – let your imagination soar!

Can you suggest engaging science ideas for extra credit assignments?

Absolutely! Students could conduct experiments at home or create educational videos explaining scientific concepts. They might also research recent breakthroughs in their field of interest and present their findings to the class. Encourage hands-on learning experiences that ignite curiosity.

Are there any creative English assignments suitable for extra credit?

Definitely! Students could write short stories with unexpected plot twists or compose persuasive speeches on current social issues. Another idea is to analyze famous works of literature from different perspectives or even create their own fictional world complete with characters and settings.

Any innovative ideas specifically tailored to Spanish classes?

¡Claro que sí! Students can record themselves speaking in Spanish about various topics such as travel experiences or favorite books. They could also design bilingual brochures promoting cultural events within their community or create comic strips showcasing everyday conversations in Spanish.

How can artistic sketchbook assignments be incorporated into extra credit opportunities?

Artistic sketchbook assignments offer students a chance to express themselves creatively while reinforcing skills learned in art class. Encourage them to experiment with different mediums, draw inspiration from nature or personal experiences, and document their artistic journey throughout the semester.

Can social studies worksheets be used as extra credit assignments?

Certainly! Social studies worksheets allow students to delve deeper into historical events, analyze primary sources, or debate controversial topics related to society and politics. They can also create visual timelines or infographics summarizing key information for a visually engaging extra credit option.

What policies should be in place for extra credit assignments?

Establish clear guidelines regarding deadlines, grading criteria, and the maximum number of extra credit opportunities allowed per semester. Encourage students to choose assignments aligned with their interests while ensuring they complement the learning objectives of the course.

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Extra Credit Assignment Ideas that Support Student Learning

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• August 11, 2022
• Blogs , General

When we think about extra credit assignments, my first thought is, “Why would anyone want to do extra work for no credit?” Of course, that’s exactly why a professor gives an extra credit assignment. They know the class is hard, and they hope students will call in a free student to help with some of the work (or just don’t have time to do it on their own). Some professors assign extra credit when they feel students have earned points through quizzes and tests but haven’t quite reached the next level of mastery—above an 80%. These assignments also serve another purpose: as a way for students to test out particular topics to see if they are interested in them.

To get you started with great ideas, we as a best assignment writing company put together a list of extra credit assignment ideas that support student learning. The list includes ideas that can be implemented in any course and at any grade level (yes, even grad students will profit from these extra credit assignment ideas).

What are Extra Assignment Ideas?

Extra credit is a reward given to students who show extra interest in their studies and put in the extra effort. Students can earn extra credit by excelling in their studies, and completing tasks and assignments that are not part of their regular coursework. Extra credit assignments vary from one teacher to another but can include projects, research papers, or presentations.

We all know the importance of extra credit assignments. These assignments are given to students to encourage them to do well in their academics. Even though there are many extra credit assignments, some of them are quite common and easy to understand. However, some of them might be a bit difficult for students to understand and complete. In this article, we will discuss some extra credit assignment ideas that can be used by teachers and parents alike.

11 Extra Credit Assignment Ideas

Students are usually assigned extra credit assignments by their teachers to help them improve their grades. Extra credit assignments are a great way to give students an incentive to perform well in class. However, some students may find it difficult to come up with different ideas for extra credit assignments. Here are 10 extra credit assignment ideas that you can use for your classes:

• If you are looking for some extra credit assignment ideas, we have compiled a list of 10 extra credit assignment ideas that you can use in your classroom.
• Write a book report on a book of your choice. The book should be related to the topic of your course.
• Compose an original poem or song about the topic discussed in class.
• Create a PowerPoint presentation about the topic and share it with classmates, parents, or even teachers!
• Write an article for your school newspaper or local newspaper about what you learned in class and how it applies to real life. This is something that could also get you published!
• Do an interview with someone who is related to the topic and ask them questions about their job, education, or hobbies that relate to your class. For example: if you are taking a math class, then interview someone who works as an accountant; if you are taking a science class then interview someone who works at NASA; if you are taking an economics class then interview someone who is involved in business such as a CEO etc… You could also do this assignment by interviewing yourself!
• Create an advertisement/billboard/advertisement (etc..) related to the topic presented during class
• Create a YouTube channel and upload videos related to your topic or subject from scratch or from existing videos available on the internet or other sources (with proper citations).
• Record yourself reading aloud one of the texts in the book that was assigned during the semester and post it as an audio file on SoundCloud or any other popular audio sharing site such as YouTube, etc., where teachers can access it easily and listen at leisure time later on when they have time off from work/personal commitments after school hours, etc. so that they can concentrate better while grading your work accordingly.
• Make up your own test questions based on what was taught in class and submit them as a quiz or exam question for other students in your class who may need extra help! This can be especially helpful if there is going to be another test soon.
• Write a short summary of what you have learned from this course so far with regards to APA Style writing, citing at least two resources used during your research on each topic discussed. Include headings (in bold), subheadings (in italics), text citations, reference list, and title page (APA format). Your summary should be no more than one page long and must include at least one citation per paragraph or group of paragraphs that refers back to one of our readings or lectures for this unit.

Examples of Extra Credit Assignments

Discuss one of the following topics:

• Write about how you can make a positive impact on the environment.
• Write about how you can help your community become better by volunteering your time and services.
• Write about how you can help improve your school’s image by becoming more involved with its activities and events.
• Rewrite an article in your own voice and style. If you’re teaching English or writing, this assignment can be a great way to practice using active verbs and strong sentences.
• Write a song or rap about something that you’ve learned in class this semester (for example, Shakespeare). This is a fun way for students who enjoy music and/or performing arts to get involved in class!
• Paint or draw something based on what you’ve learned in class this semester (a picture of Shakespeare’s face or a scene from Macbeth). This is another good way for those who love art and performance arts to get involved in class!
• Write an essay about why Shakespeare matters today (why should we study him?
• Write an article on how to use Excel spreadsheet software to solve business problems.
• Write an article on how to make money from home without a job.
• Write an article on how to write a good essay for college admission with tips about not doing an extra credit assignment. It’s important to make sure that you are writing something that will be useful to the reader. The key here is to think like the person who will be reading your paper and determine what they need from it before they actually get their hands on it.
• You get a free weekend and you decide to go to the beach or a park. Write about it in as much detail as possible.
• Explain the process of planting a tree from start to finish.
• Describe how to make a delicious cup of hot chocolate for your friends and family on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve.
• Explain the steps needed to create a website for your business, school, or other organization that needs one. Include all pertinent information like domain names, hosting companies, etc.

15 Tips for Assigning Extra Credit

If you are a teacher and want to assign extra credit to your students, then you will have to be very careful. You need to follow a number of tips that can help in making the assignment more interesting for the students. Here are a few tips that will help you with this assignment:

• Make sure the assignment is relevant to the course materials. The extra credit should be something that relates directly to the subject matter being covered in class, such as a lab experiment or an essay on literature or history. If your course requires students to read certain books or watch films, then assign extra credit for writing book reports or movie reviews.
• Ask your students to read a book or an article related to your class assignment and write a summary of it. For instance, if you are teaching English literature, ask them to read a book on Shakespeare’s works or Dickens’ novels and write a summary of them in a one-page essay form.
• Ask them to choose their favourite movie based on the theme of your course and watch it with their parents or friends who have not taken this course yet (if possible). Then, ask them to prepare a five-minute presentation about what they learned from this movie or why they liked it so much and present it in class for everyone else’s enjoyment
• Ask them to watch a documentary about the topic of interest that has been covered in class and discuss its content during your next class session.
• If you want your students to do something extra for the class, then make sure they do it during their free time. It should not clash with their schedule or homework assignments. This way they will have no problem completing it on time and also make sure that they enjoy doing it as well.
• Include some fun activities such as drawing or colouring so that they don’t feel like they are doing something boring and they enjoy doing it at the same time.
• Provide links to other sources that will help your students understand more about what they are learning or researching more on their own time.
• Make sure that you assign this extra credit at least two weeks before it is due so that students can have enough time to complete it properly and submit it on time without rushing through it at the last minute just because they forgot about it or didn’t see it posted until later in the semester when there were too many other assignments due at once for them to be able to finish it all before it was due.
• Use appropriate examples to support your opinions or ideas. You can use real-life examples, stories, or fictional characters. Incorporate quotes from famous people or books if needed to support your ideas and opinions.
• Include at least five references/sources in your work so that readers can refer to them easily and learn more about the topic from these sources.
• Consider using extra credit as a motivator for students who need some encouragement or motivation to get their work done on time and complete it correctly.
• Maintain consistency over time by offering the same amount of extra credit each time it is assigned unless there are extenuating circumstances that warrant an increase or decrease in value.
• You can also write an article about an event or person that has made an impact on the world. This can be done in a magazine-style format or a news article format.
• Write an essay on why you should receive extra credit for this class. This is usually done by students who have already received all A’s in their classes but want to boost their GPA just in case they need it later on in life.
• You can also write a short story or poem about yourself or someone else’s life experience that relates to the course material. This will allow you to express yourself in different ways than typical essays do not allow for.

Wrapping Up

There are various types of extra credit that impact students’ learning. However, extra credit assignment is neither a learning process nor a reward for studies. It can be used as an incentive to enhance the learning process. Typically, what goes with extra credit is a better grade from the teacher. This in turn can incentivise students to take up the assignment and get better grades for studies.

The key to turning in high-quality extra credit assignments is to make sure all directions are followed, and that the student has taken the time to truly research their topic. What really matters is that your extra credit assignment aligns with what they are going over in class, or what they will be learning about in the future. The teacher will know if you have done your research and know the topic, which can help them trust you a little more in class, and other students may want to follow your lead.

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Extra Credit Ideas for Middle School Teachers

“What can I do for extra credit?!”  ​I’m pretty sure there isn’t a middle or high school teacher that hasn’t heard these exact words coming from a student’s mouth. Students are HUGE fans of the concept, and honestly, who can blame them? Another way to boost their grades? Most students will leap at the opportunity (especially if their grades are suffering.) But what do teachers think about the use of extra credit? Truthfully, it’s mixed. In this article, I’m going to take a (brief) stab at explaining the pro’s and con’s of offering additional points to your middle school science students, as well as offer a few extra credit ideas for middle school teachers. 

Let’s dive in, shall we?  

Reasons to offer extra credit:.

Offering extra credit isn’t just about boosting bad grades or humoring your students’ last-minute requests for a better grade. Fans of extra credit assignments typically view extra credit opportunities as a way to provide students with extra enrichment in addition to their regular assignments. Here are a few reasons you should consider offering extra credit in your classroom: 

• Extra assignments (even those given for extra credit) are a great way to give greater exposure to the course material. 
• These opportunities give struggling students the chance to keep trying. 
• Extra credit work can be a fun way to explore different concepts related to your curriculum that you might not otherwise cover. (Ex: Current events) 
• Extra credit assignments are a great way to boost student engagement. 

EXTRA CREDIT PITFALLS TO AVOID:

Not every teacher is a fan of extra credit (and with good reason.) Personally, I believe that extra credit assignments can be a helpful tool within the classroom, but like all things, it can be misused and abused. Here are a few extra credit pitfalls to avoid: 

• Offering bonus points for attendance. In my opinion, just “showing up” is not enough to earn extra points. Students should earn extra credit when they go the extra mile. 
• Giving too many extra points. Extra credit can be nice to boost the grade of an individual assignment, but it shouldn’t radically change a student’s overall course grade. In this case, their class grade is no longer a true refection of their learning, content understanding, and effort.  (Ex: A student earning a D receives a B after factoring in extra credit points.) 
• ​Offering extra credit for every assignment or assessment. This may decrease students’ motivation to give a good effort the first time they complete an assignment. After all, why try if you know you’ll essentially be given a “do-over.” Instead, I recommend offering extra credit sporadically and for different types of assignments. 

​EXTRA CREDIT IDEAS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS 

​Alright, so you’ve decided you DO want to offer extra credit opportunities in your classroom, but you need some extra credit assignment ideas to get you started. Well, my friend, I’ve got you covered. Here are a few of my favorite extra credit ideas for middle school teachers: 

COMPLETING STUDY GUIDES

Periodically, you may consider offering bonus points to students who complete their study guides. Not only will this encourage students to finish this important classwork, it’s also a great way to ensure that your students have everything they need to prepare for tests and quizzes. The following items are a few of the study guides I’ve used with my science classes. You might offer bonus points for the entire study guide or just for a specific section. 

TEST CORRECTIONS  

Test (and other assignment) corrections can be a powerful exercise for students. It teaches the valuable life skill of being able to reflect on mistakes and learn from them. When having students make test corrections, I HIGHLY recommend that you ask for more than a list of correct answers. (Let’s face it…any middle schooler can look up or copy down the correct answers without learning a darn thing.) Instead, I’d recommend having your middle school students give a written explanation for why their original answer was incorrect and what the correct answer should have been. Yes, it’s extra work…but this process helps facilitate true learning. 

It might look something like this:

#1. I answered ____________________. This is incorrect because _______________. The correct answer is _______________ because ____________________. 

INFOGRAPHICS <sh>  Science is a discipline that lends itself well to the creation of infographics! Have your students create an infographic, chart, or diagram that illustrates an important concept within your unit. Having to synthesize the information in their notes and create a visual representation of this information is a great way for students to deepen their understanding of important concepts (and in my opinion, is well worth a few bonus points.) 

For example… <SH4> 

If you are teaching the  states of matter,  you may ask your students to create their own visual diagram or infographic representing how one substance might move between the different states of matter.

​FAMOUS SCIENTIST SUMMARIES

Who doesn’t love a good biographical assignment? I like to offer famous scientist summaries as an extra credit assignment students can tackle for homework or free time assignments. Personally, I think it’s a good idea to let students choose their own famous scientist to research. This encourages creativity and ownership over the project. 

QUESTION OF THE DAY

If you’re looking for an easy way to offer bonus points, having students complete a science “question of the day” can be a great way to do just that! These extra credit questions could be used a bell ringers or a simple addition to a homework assignment. 

NEWS ARTICLE SUMMARIES

​Incorporating current events and news articles into our class discussion is one of my favorite extra credit ideas for middle school teachers. Having students read and summarize news articles is an interesting way for them to see the “real world connection” of our science curriculum. 

What are YOUR favorite ways to use extra credit in your classroom? 

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Here’s the ecology board game to use as inspiration, as well as its accompanying trivia cards and instructions .

Students can design their board game in a collaborative slides platform, including creating 2–4 game-piece graphics designed to be moved around by players. The group should hop on a call or video chat, then move their game-pieces around digitally.

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So far students have read a passage set based on the ny times "room for debate" series. their texts and topic were  "when do teenagers become adults" the passages are available in the text link above. for the past two weeks students have completed the assignments attached below.  ​.

• Do Juvenile Killers Deserve Life Behind Bars?
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• Once TEAMS loads click Class Notebook, then the purple half triangle. To work in the individual notebook, the student needs to click their name then the section. 

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20 Engaging ELA Activities

Both teaching and learning are more enjoyable with engaging lesson plans. But, it’s hard to be creative when you’re exhausted! That’s why teacher bloggers at ELA Today have put together a couple lists to inspire innovative teaching. Need a fresh idea? Start here.

Lauralee’s List

In her article, Lauralee has compiled ten engaging ELA activities. These are perfect for the start or the end of the year when teachers need support due to business outside the classroom. Try some of these creative approaches .

Melissa’s List

In this post, Melissa shares 10 more unique activities to engage secondary students. These lessons are effective ALL year long and cover reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar, and public speaking. Take a peak !

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Extra Credit: To Give or Not to Give – That is the Question

By Michelle Read, Ph.D.; Katherine Fugate, Ph.D.

Snapshot: This article discusses the pros and cons of utilizing extra credit with your students. Both authors have utilized extra credit in the courses they teach. Moreover, the article presents various ways to add extra credit points in the Canvas LMS.

There are a variety of reasons why one might want to assign extra credit for students. However, the use of extra credit in higher education has been a topic of debate for decades.

InsideHigherEd.com ran two articles on this topic, each expressing opposing views on the matter.

Interestingly, the sociology professor used to feel the same way as the English professor until she designed an extra credit assignment that not only complemented the course goals, but, as she said, “enriched” student learning with very current, relevant events which required not only attendance but also reflection in order to earn the optional extra points. These types of extra credit options do not serve to replace an assignment or assignments, instead they allow for additional learning opportunities. While the English professor acknowledges the reality of students’ lives, he does not, however, allow these realities to impact his instructional practices. It is important to recognize and address that in this past year of COVID, educators have hopefully learned how valuable and necessary flexibility in due dates can be. Opportunities for students to maintain their typical average-to-above-average grades via extra credit assignments can be vital to student success and overall morale during turbulent times, such as a pandemic or personal tragedy in the individual’s life. Often times, flexibility in due dates also provide benefit to instructors. Just because one is an instructor, this title does not preclude them from contending with these same realities of life. Sometimes the need for extra credit is not to pass the course due to missed assignments, but augment low scores on the assignments. It is also important to note, that students may simply be trying to boost their totals to the next grade level to improve their GPA or to meet their major’s program requirements. The option to take advantage of extra credit opportunities is the student’s; the job of the instructor is to make any extra credit opportunities relevant, meaningful, and aligned to course goals and objectives.

In 1993, Norcross et al., conducted a study interviewing instructors to determine why they would or would not offer extra credit. Reasons for offering extra credit included the following:

• Reduces student anxiety and builds confidence.
• Extra credit can be a second opportunity to learn the content.
• Some need a second time to learn and engage with the content in order to master the material.
• Capitalize on the student’s current degree of motivation. In doing the extra credit, they will learn.

There were also valid reasons noted for not providing opportunities to earn extra credit:

• Reinforces tendencies to not work hard if students know extra credit is an option.
• Time spent on extra credit means less time spent on regular assignments.
• If too easy to complete, extra credit reduces course academic standards and rigor.
• It’s unfair to those who did the assignments and did well.
• More work on the instructors’ part to create and/or grade extra credit assignments.

It is easy to see that the arguments from each of these professors correlate with what faculty have been debating for years. The sociology professor expands on these benefits by making her extra credit possibilities available for everyone and designs them to be specifically relevant to the content as an optional extension of, as opposed to a substitute to, what is already provided to students for understanding the content.

What constitutes a “good” extra credit assignment?

As with whether or not to  allow extra credit is considered good practice, the opinions on what types of extra credit are valuable is also debatable. The following list are some suggestions gathered from various resources, my own experiences, and from my work with faculty in designing their online/hybrid courses:

• Add opportunities to earn “professional” points when replying to peers’ initial discussion responses. Often, we do not give students any direction in how to do that. Guidance is helpful and will get you more than “Atta boy” from peers. You can ask repliers to make connections that require higher order thinking skills by asking questions or analyzing the content and critiquing it, while also making it necessary to provide additional resources that support or refute their claims, etc. As an instructor, I provide professional points for extra replies, extra resources, going back and answering questions posed to the original posters by their peers, etc. I try to promote ongoing discussions, furthering the goal of having enriching and meaningful learning opportunities.
• Adding extensions to assignments may come across as more work, and it is, but it is meaningful, relevant work and provides the opportunities to make up for points lost from their original submission.
• Provide additional, optional creative assignments. For example, I offer my students an extra credit assignment in which they create a video that offers advice to students who come after them. My students are often in their graduating semester, so the advice is for the next group of graduating seniors and advises them on various aspects of life after graduation.
• Optional blog assignments. Have students reflect and write about topics from your class.
• Suggest students attend events related to the course content. For example, when I was an undergrad (here at Texas State), my music theory professor had us attend a symphony to earn extra credit. I don’t recall him having us write a reflection, as the sociology teacher above did, but it would’ve been a good idea. “Did you like the symphony, why or why not?” would be a great starting point. You can add specific questions to prompt their reflection that tie into your course objectives.
• Extra creativity points. Allow for extra credit points on any creative assignment. Often students will do the bare minimum to make their project look good, but they’ll likely do more if they know you’re looking to provide points for extra appeal, wow factor, etc.
• Revise and explain. When a student does poorly on an assignment or exam, give them the opportunity to revise or correct and then explain their change in answers. If they were provided answers on the test, have them prepare a presentation and/or video that teaches the concept to earn back points.
• Video-record a science experiment. If you teach science or other subjects with demonstrations and don’t normally have students record themselves doing an experiment or demonstrating an activity, consider having them record themselves doing one for extra credit. They could do this by screen-recording if it is an activity completed on the computer or use their phones or use other recording devices.
• Book reports. An oldy, but a goody, often used in K-12, can work in higher education as well. You could also give the students options such as doing one as a paper, as a presentation/video, etc.
• Service work. Allow students to volunteer. The volunteer work should be something that would apply concepts learned in class or at least the opportunity to observe the concept’s application.
• To ensure rigor particularly for upper division or graduate courses, have students take the concepts and topics and explain/teach them for a layperson, someone who has not studied the discipline. This could be done via presentations, and/or videos. You could even tie in the points to how well received the project was by recipients via a satisfaction poll or have them create quiz questions. The latter of course, would require that someone volunteer to be the audience.
• In addition, for upper division or graduate students, have students do a case study analyzing a provided case that is relevant to their profession. For example, have an education student in a class management course analyze a video-based case study looking for specific events, such as poor behavior, not noticed by the teacher.

You may have noticed that any one of these examples, would actually serve as really great assignments too. Does it require extra work on your part as well? Probably. Grading is always going to take your time. Only you as the instructor can decide if doing so is worth your time and is providing meaningful learning experiences for your student(s) who need that extra support.

Ways to add extra credit using the Canvas LMS system

For specific instructions on how to add extra credit points in Canvas, please see the instructions here , which can also be downloaded.

Cohan, D. (2018). Extra, extra, read all about it: To offer extra credit or not to offer extra credit?. Inside Higher Ed . Retrieved from: https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2018/01/16/professor-explains-why-she-offers-extra-credit-her-classes-opinion

Norcross, J.C. , Dooley, H.S. and Stevenson, J.F. (1993). Faculty use and justification of extra credit: No middle ground? Teaching of Psychology , Vol. 20, No. 4: 240-242.

Stauffer, W. (2019). Extra credit is not really extra. Inside Higher Ed . Retrieved from: https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2019/01/16/professor-explains-why-he-doesnt-offer-extra-credit-his-students-opinion

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3 Side Gigs for Full-Time Working Moms

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There are endless listicles online about how to make extra income while working full time, but how many of those options are realistic for busy moms? As master multi-taskers short on time, moms often need flexibility if they're going to take on a side gig .

Sometimes a hobby, passion or skill you do effortlessly can make you extra money. Other times, you may need to acquire certain skills to make extra cash. Four full-time working moms — including myself — share gigs that fall into both categories.

Resume writing is one way Tonnesha Edmond, owner of Pretty Resumes and a mother to two kids in Lawrenceville, Georgia, makes extra income. Additionally, Edmond provides services like job application assistance and business proposals to clients.

“I've always been a great writer, so my family and friends would come to me to help them with their resume and I've always been a great researcher,” she says. “So even if I wasn't super familiar with the job they were going after, I knew how to do the research so I could put together a resume that will actually help them get the job.”

Edmond started monetizing her skill over four years ago when her son was in the NICU for the first eight months of his life. She now juggles full-time employment and her side gig.

How much can you earn through resume writing? Edmond charges $175 per resume and offers packages with add-ons to increase her earnings. A perk of this gig is that her time commitment is only around 10 hours a week.

Edmond says that listing her business on Google has helped improve her visibility and attracted more clients.

Like Edmond, I have a natural knack for writing, and was able to turn that into a side hustle. I have gotten clients by sending out cold emails to entrepreneurs I think could benefit from the services I offer, then setting up consultations to gauge their needs. With online publications, I simply send story pitches to editors.

Teaching English

Megan Holley, a mom of two in Fulshear, Texas, has been making extra money since 2018 by teaching students English online. Holley’s first teaching gig was with a company called EF Education First, but she currently teaches with LingoAce. Holley says she enjoys teaching English as a side gig because of the flexibility it offers. She typically teaches during late evenings or early mornings.

“I can kinda choose my own schedule, which is nice,” she says. “I really do actually enjoy teaching so that's also part of it.”

In terms of earning potential, at LingoAce you can make base pay of $14 an hour as an ESL teacher and up to $30 an hour as a math teacher. However, you will likely need to get a certification if you plan to teach. Companies may require certifications such as Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

The main challenge Holley mentions is acquiring enough students to get the amount of pay you want.

“The more you teach with the company, the more reviews you get and the more people you get saying that they liked your teaching style, then the more students you might get,” she says.

Reselling items online

If you’ve been avoiding decluttering, earning income from your clutter might be a good incentive to tackle it. Keola Harry sells items on Mercari, an international online marketplace for extra income. Harry, who is based in Atlanta, finds time to do this when she’s not working full time and raising two young children.

“So that's me just reselling everything in my house that I thought at one point in my life I loved and I had to have it, and then I bought it,” Harry says. The working mom resells trendy baby items and furniture collecting dust around her home. She says the baby items are snatched up by buyers the fastest.

Harry makes around $600 a month reselling items in her home. This year alone, she’s made over $3,000. It’s also worth mentioning that Mercari may be an attractive platform because it doesn’t charge a seller fee.

Harry began the gig to bring in additional income during the pandemic after her husband got laid off. What started out as a form of extra income to create financial stability has turned into her rainy day fund.

In a bid to maximize her side gig income, Harry places the money she makes into a high-yield savings account to earn interest.

“That's one big perk of having that extra money coming in with the side hustle is that you can put it somewhere, like a high-yield savings account and just watch it grow a little,” she says.

On a similar note...

extra credit assignments ela, Brown v. Board of Education reading comprehension

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I always find this assignment rewarding for my students. This product is a great collaborative activity during Banned Books Week or Read Across America, but it works well anytime.

This is not just another assignment—it’s an engaging, interactive journey. Examples cover some of the most critical and disturbing trials, including The Scopes Trial and Brown v. Board of Education. I use these infographics to give students an idea of a finished product.

This activity keeps students busy, encourages critical thinking, and deepens their understanding of these pivotal events. And the best part? You will be amazed at student creativity! They are a great way to showcase student work on bulletin boards!

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• THREE INFOGRAPHICS WITH COMMENTS.
• FIVE TEACHER PAGES , including why infographics are an excellent way to enhance student learning, CCSS information, and suggestions on how to use infographics in the classroom.
• Instructions for students when using the interactive version.
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