“MindCraft” Classroom Keeps Students Motivated and Focused

Lisa Haynes’ 3rd Grade Class at Dandrige Elementary School
Staff Photo by Kimberly Myers

Spring break is just around the corner and while many people begin to dream about the beach, local educators have something else on their minds. State Assessment testing looms on the horizon and county teachers are looking for new ways to prepare, encourage and motivate their students.

Lisa Haynes, a 3rd grade teacher at Dandridge Elementary School, has found a way to keep her students focused and motivated. She has combined the concept of the video game Minecraft with classroom performance, and her students are delighted. She has created a Mindcraft classroom where her students “Mine for Success”. Each day students earn mining points based on assignment grades, classroom participation, attendance and special bonus activities while also learning to avoid “The Creeper”, or things that can steal their success. These points are then traded for small craft items such as beads, buttons, yarn and lego building bricks. Students accumulate mined items throughout the 9 week grading period, storing them in their mining bag. At the end of the grading period the students will spend a day creating a world of their own with all the items they have mined.

Mrs. Haynes says this is a fun way to encourage her students to do their best each day and she has already seen improvement in the grades of many of her students. She has put an incredible amount of time into this idea, creating wall displays, mining gemstones and game pieces. Pick Axes, diamonds emeralds and TNT boxes are just a the few items she has handcrafted for each student. Mrs. Haynes enthusiastic teaching style makes her the perfect “Game Master” as she equips her students the with tools they need to “Mine for Success’!

Lisa Haynes’ 3rd Grade Class at Dandridge Elementary School
Staff Photo by Kimberly Myers