Hogwarts house cup inspired Behavioral chart for Potter-kids!

For those of you who, as far as my nerdiness is concerned, thought I had any sliver of shame left... Prepare to be amazed! ...because this nerd knows no bounds! I'm sure there is a Potter-vention in the works, but for now I've come up with something that, if I do say so myself, is pretty brilliant! Actually I have to admit, it wasn't completely my idea...
I started reading the Harry Potter books to my son when he was in the first grade. We read them slowly and it was the highlight of each night! After we had finished the book, we would watch the movie. After he and I watched the last movie... there was a low point in my life...

OK! Just kidding! It wasn't like I was actually depressed or anything but it was rough! The books are amazing though and I can honestly say they've been a blessing I the lives of my kids. They love to read and it's a joy to see their imaginations at work. I have now started the adventure with my daughter who is just about finished with kindergarten and she is loving it! Her brother got her very excited to start and he can't wait to watch the movies with us each time we finish a book. It really is something special to see the already strong bond my kids have grow even more with this common interest. They have "Dark Lord Funk" on repeat and they dance around to it. We just love everything Harry Potter!

Amber dressed as the Golden Snitch for Halloween.

After Amber and I finished the first book, she was so excited to watch the movie! She put on Cameron's old costume and kept it on the whole movie- glasses and all!

Anyway, the other night, in an attempt to get my daughter to get back in bed for the um-teeth time, I told her I was taking ten points from Gryffindor. And from there it just spiraled.  Any time she would complete a task I would ask her to do, she would ask, "Do I get points for Gryffindor now?"  or if she was being naughty, she would slump her shoulders and gloomily say, "Did I lose Gryffindor points?"

AND SO, I built on this idea of having a house cup coinside with a behavior/chore chart.  The result is as follows...
The first thing I did was type up a list of house rules and a schedule to be followed. Each time they complete a chore or a routine, etc... they earn points for their house!  When they don't complete tasks, or they have poor behavior, they lose points. It's basic.

Next, I typed 8 pages of possible prizes associated with a different house. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. (2 pages per house.) I looked up the different attributes associated with each Hogwarts house, and incorporated those values in each award. For example it would say, "Congratulations Gryffindor! For your bravery you have earned a late night movie party with your friends!" I cut the different awards into strips, folded them up, and put them in a bowl. The kids then draw out a different prize option each week they will be playing for. On the prize option it shows their house for that week. If they both draw the same house, we do a redraw.

I then found some perfect vases at the dollar store and painted the shield with the colors from each house on them using acrylic paint. I also found an old goblet and a wood base at the thrift store. I painted them and use them as the "House Cup." I couldn't find any "jewels" that were reasonably priced. So, I cut apart mardi gras beads and used them to represent "house points." 
So far, my kids have responded very well! They are excited about choosing a house each week and finding out what they prize they could win is. They're even more excited each time they earn points for their house. It's been a lot of fun, which is why I thought I'd share the idea with anyone else who might be looking for a motivational tool for their kids. Hopefully you'll find this post useful!

“Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it."― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows