Gamifying Learning – Building a Fun, Rewarding Classroom Culture

An interview with Ryan Ferguson, 5th grade teacher at Benson Middle School in IL

Ryan has learned the value of keeping students engaged, motivated, and excited to learn. "One approach that has transformed my classroom in recent years," Ryan states, "is gamification, where learning is incentivized through rewards and interactive play." This approach has helped him create a vibrant, respectful, and cooperative classroom culture. Here’s a look into some of the ways Ryan uses gamification to empower his students and make learning fun.

Bringing Gamification into the Classroom

Gamification in Ryan's 5th grade classroom started a few years back when he "wanted to create a system where students could compete, interact, and earn rewards through positive behaviors, responsibility, and effort." In his class, the game doesn’t tie directly to grades; instead, it focuses on building soft skills like respect, effort, responsibility, and teamwork. It allows every student a chance to earn rewards, whether they’re excelling academically or working on personal growth goals.

The Game Structure: Earning Coins

Each week, my students have the opportunity to earn “coins.” These aren’t tied to academic performance but instead to behaviors that demonstrate a readiness to learn and contribute positively. For example, coins can be earned by showing respect, being responsible, and putting effort into classroom activities. This way, every student can participate and be recognized for positive actions, no matter their academic standing.

Here’s a breakdown of how students can earn coins:

1. Behavior-Based Rewards: When Ryan notices students helping others, paying attention, or showing respect, he quickly rewards them with coins. He finds it a simple but effective way to reinforce positive behavior and encourage students to take initiative.

2. Accelerated Reading (AR) Program: Every student is encouraged to read and take quizzes on what they’ve read. Passing a quiz with a score of 70% or higher earns them a coin, motivating them to engage with reading material while building comprehension skills.

3. Freckle Math Program: Freckle is a math program used at Benson Middle School that makes learning interactive. Freckle itself includes its own coins for correct answers and can be used for avatar customization, so students are further motivated to progress without relying solely on Ryan's class’s rewards.

Rewarding Responsibility & Choice

At the end of each week, students have a chance to spend their coins in the class store. The items range from small snacks to “Rocket Rewards,” which feed into the school’s broader reward system. Rocket Rewards offer exciting prizes in schoolwide raffles, including gift cards, summer activity bags, and even day passes to local attractions. These are a school-wide initiative.

Ryan's class store also offers weekly prizes like snacks, lunch in the classroom with a friend, or the chance to spin a prize wheel. He aims to include rewards that are cost-effective for his pocket, but still motivating. Ryan states, "The thrill of seeing students decide whether to save or spend their coins each week adds an element of strategy, and they love it."

Gamification and Soft Skills

While games are often seen as purely fun, they offer a powerful avenue to cultivate soft skills. Many of these skills, like showing respect or helping peers, are not always directly taught in schools, but they’re essential for personal growth. Gamification provides students with opportunities to practice these behaviors while receiving acknowledgment from someone outside their family.

For Ryan, it’s been inspiring to see students gain confidence and become more self-aware through his system. "For many, this is the first time they realize the impact of their actions and decisions in a community setting," Ryan points out.

Final Thoughts

Ryan finds that gamifying his classroom has been one of the most rewarding experiences in his teaching journey. It’s a tool that allows every student to shine in their unique way, fosters a strong classroom culture, and encourages responsibility, effort, and respect. "Gamification has transformed the way I teach," says Ryan, "and I look forward to seeing how these students continue to engage, learn, and grow each year." It’s more than just a game—it’s building lifelong skills in a fun, meaningful way.