Can you and your students BUYA?

The smart students will do extra credit, I thought; but what about the average and below students who actually needed to attempt extra credit instead of not trying at all.  So I told the students no, I do not give extra credit and the grade you make is the grade you make.

I’m an avid reader.  Vince Flynn’s novels intrigue me.  His story line deals with a CIA operative, Mitch Rapp, and his fight against terrorism abroad.  The television series 24, which stars Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer, fascinates me. Many of my students watch 24.  Some of them actually read a book also.  Often I would hear my students discussing the current episode and what would happen next week.  That’s what I wished I could do; captivate their minds.  What could I do?  How could I increase their interest in math, give extra credit, make it relative, and keep it ongoing throughout the school year?  Then one night while watching 24, Jack Bauer’s computer genius, Chloe O’Brian, used trigonometry to divert a small remote controlled airplane away from a large city.  It was at this point I created BUYA as extra credit. 

BUYA works like a TV series and espionage thriller.  The story line starts with chapter one and continues to the last chapter we study. Every BUYA is different and relative to the chapter of our Algebra II curriculum.  My students and I became the central characters of the BUYA’s.  I became the Overseer, the leader of an evil terrorism group, The Algebreans, which was out to destroy their grades (most students think the teacher is the bad guy anyway).  My students became the rebellious group IWBG.  IWBG is an acronym for I Want Better Grades.  I wanted the BUYA to become a game, giving the students a chance to beat me, the Overseer.  As I read more Vince Flynn’s novels and watched more 24 episodes, I discovered more ideas for the BUYA’s.  It became fun for all of us.  Let the game begin.

Each BUYA is assigned a few days before the chapter test of the material we are covering.  The BUYA is a math problem relative to the lesson and placed in an ongoing scenario of the Algebreans versus the IWBG.  The BUYA’s are never assigned to be a grade changer for students.  The graded weight of each BUYA is enough to help any student who answers correctly, while at the same time not penalizing students who did not attempt.  Some BUYA’s were scored in parts, while others were scored as a whole.  Most BUYA’s are based on examples in our Algebra II book or homework problems.  This allows every student to have an equal chance for success. 

Imagine my surprise at the response of the students after the first BUYA was assigned and the amount of success which came from each future BUYA.  “The comical and real life scenarios we solved always tied our lessons together,” one student said.  “Coach Norton’s Operation BUYA’s were something to look forward to after every chapter.  Every scenario was very challenging and interesting.  Solving real problems with Algebra made these assignments fun.”  Another student said, “Coach Norton’s BUYA’s were a fantastic way of getting the class involved while letting us have the opportunity to get rewarded for extra effort.  We would often wonder what scenario he would create next.”

Success was measured by the number of students who attempted each BUYA, not by those who gave correct answers.  Very few students correctly answered all the BUYA’s and not every student bought into the idea.  However, a majority of the students attempted every one.  Students began taking examples and problems and creating their own scenario for what they believed would be a good BUYA.  You could feel the classroom atmosphere begin to change.  The BUYA’s empowered my classes to become thinkers. 

Clinton High School Principal, Dr. Eddie Peasant, said this after observing the BUYA in action, “Throughout the school year, I spoke to the Clinton High School faculty about making lessons relevant or real-life to our students.  Clay Norton’s BUYA (Bring Up Your Average) concept does just that.  I have been really impressed with the excitement it has brought to Coach Norton’s Algebra II classes!  The BUYA’s allow the students to compete against their teacher in a positive manner, earn bonus points and have fun while doing it.  But mostly, the skill or objective is reinforced in a way which gives students the opportunity to use and increase critical thinking skills.  I plan to encourage more teachers to use this concept in their classes.”

As I reflect on my teaching this past school year, I believe this concept to be one of the better ideas I have brought into the classroom.  Because Operation BUYA was related to examples and homework problems, my students began to listen more attentively.  They never knew what problem I might create a scenario around.  They actually became more engaged with the lessons.  The BUYA concept also allowed me to begin using the Socratic method of teaching.  I wanted the focus to be on giving students questions, not always instruction of this is how you do it and answers.  What began as wanting students to see the relative nature of math in the real world became extra credit disguised in fictional settings.  The overwhelming success of the BUYA actually allowed the Overseer and the IWBG both to be winners.  It was a win-win situation.  Students were allowed to have extra credit and math became fun.        

At the end of each BUYA I left the following statement for my students and I leave it with you as well:  “May the Force Be with You!”, and “May the Grades Be with You?” (yes, I’m a Star Wars fan also).  

P.S.  The IWBG never defeated the Overseer.