More Ways to Celebrate and Motivate Our Students!

“Students have already shown us what’s possible when they’re motivated by meaningful literacy goals. By giving teachers the ability to add to that recognition in real time, we’re strengthening the connection between effort and achievement. When students feel that their hard work is seen and valued, they push themselves further—and that leads to lasting growth.” - Founder and CEO, Jonathan LeMaster

Literacy Geeks has always been grounded in a simple idea: when students are engaged, they learn more—and they learn better. That belief continues to shape every update across our learning engines—Comprehension Engine (ES), Quindew (MS), and Literacy Chops (HS). Now, we’re excited to spotlight a feature that takes that engagement even further: expanded Blue Diamond rewards.

From Earning to Celebrating

Many teachers and students are already familiar with Blue Diamonds. Students have been earning them by meeting their reading challenges—building stamina, staying consistent, and engaging meaningfully with texts. That foundation has been powerful. It has helped turn reading into a goal students actively work toward.

Now, we’re building on that success.

Teachers can award bonus Blue Diamonds to recognize outstanding work on assignments. This means that while students continue to earn Blue Diamonds through their reading challenges, educators now have the flexibility to celebrate effort, growth, and excellence in a more immediate and personalized way.

Why This Matters

Recognition is one of the most effective tools teachers have. Acknowledging effort at the right moment can shift a student’s mindset from “I have to do this” to “I want to do this well.”

With the addition of teacher-awarded Blue Diamonds:

• Students see a direct connection between effort and recognition
• Teachers can highlight specific behaviors worth celebrating
• Motivation becomes both consistent (through reading challenges) and responsive (through teacher feedback)

The result is a classroom culture where effort is visible—and valued.

Motivation Backed by Research

This approach is rooted in well-established research on student motivation. Frameworks like self-determination theory emphasize that students are more engaged when they feel:

• Competent (they can succeed)
• Autonomous (they have ownership)
• Recognized (their effort matters)

Thoughtfully designed reward systems—like digital badges or in-platform currency—can reinforce these conditions when they are tied to meaningful accomplishments. Studies have shown that such systems can increase persistence, time on task, and overall engagement.

Blue Diamonds work because they are not just given—they are earned through reading challenges and now amplified through teacher recognition.

Looking Ahead: Expanding Achievement

The success of Blue Diamonds in reading has made one thing clear: when students are motivated, they rise to the challenge.

That’s why Literacy Geeks is expanding performance-based recognition. By next school year, students will be able to earn rewards for excellence in:

• Writing
• Listening
• Speaking

This next step ensures that students are recognized not just as readers, but as well-rounded communicators.

Inspiring the Work That Matters Most

At its core, this update is about amplifying something that already works.

Students are already earning Blue Diamonds through their reading. Now, teachers can build on that momentum, celebrating moments of excellence as they happen.

The result? More motivation. More engagement. And more students who take pride in their learning.

Whether you’re already using Literacy Geeks or just beginning to explore it, this feature is designed to support what you do every day—help students grow, achieve, and believe in what they’re capable of.

Learn more about our 2026 updates!