First off, this August will be my first year teaching (excited!)! I will be teaching third grade ELA/SS, team teaching with another teacher that will teach Math/Science (we switch classes once half way through the day. I will have roughly 58 students (29 students per class). During my student teaching, rewards systems were a huge thing, and I loved it. I have never seen students work/study so hard as the first and fifth graders I taught--all to earn bucks to spend in a class store or the chance to pick from the treasure box. Anyway, what kinds of systems do you guys use? I'm trying to decide what I'll use for the kiddos to actually earn the opportunity to pick from my treasure box (I've had a blast stocking it this past spring and summer). Right now I'm thinking of using a punch card system (20-25 punches equals treasure box), or a sticker chart system (20-25 stickers equals treasure box). Any types of systems you've tried that simply don't work?
Any system can work, it really depends on the teacher who is using it. The biggest thing is to be very consistent, especially in the beginning of the year.
I did away with the Treasure Box / Class Store a long time ago. Instead I provide clear expectations and consistency. It's a personal philosophy, but I feel that students should strive to meet expectations and not do something that is expected solely to get a reward. Just some food for thought.
I definitely can appreciate all philosophies, and have read some old threads on here about prize boxes/etc. However, I don't think teachers who want to use this method to aide in motivating their students to succeed should feel like less of a teacher or like they're doing something wrong. mopar- thanks for the advice! I agree about consistency in your system. Kids remember EVERYTHING you tell them you're going to do.
I definitely don't think using prizes is a bad thing to reward students. We get rewards for follow expectations as well: lower insurance, better credit, opportunities for extras, etc. PBIS (which is big in many schools) also plays into catch them being good. I would choose something that you feel comfortable with and go with that. Also make sure that it focuses on catching good behaviors.
I had fake money from the Dollar Tree that I used for rewarding good attendance and behavior. The plus was that they had to count out the money correctly in order to spend it. If they needed change they had to be able to tell me what their change would be. If they couldn't do those two things the they couldn't spend their money!! That was motivating
Ms B, First off - congrats on the job! I am newly hired as well I've looked around a lot for ideas on a reward system. I lucked out and got a huge goodie bag of treasure chest toys for super cheap from a very nice lady on Craigslist and I also have my own metal treasure chest that I was dying to use. Now I can! The system I found that I like the best is one I found on Pinterest found in this blog here - http://mrsestblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/classroom-management.html I like how she uses individual rewards, team rewards, and classroom rewards. I also like how she only gives out individual rewards once a week, which means I won't have to restock my treasure chest as often. Although, I might tweak her team and classroom reward system to best suit my needs.
I use a system that I learned from my visit to the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta. Divide your class up into four houses and each house works to earn points for basically anything that would fall into the "caught being good" category. The house with the most points at the end of the week gets a reward. I did this with my entire grade level last year (for the last 9 weeks) so in my green house, I had students from all four classes. It helped build a real community within the grade level and the kids were always excited to tell me when they earned points for our house. This year, I am not sure if the entire team is going to want to do it so, if not, I'll just do it with my own class. Rewards will come at the end of the month, instead of weekly. I love it and found it to be very easy to manage. You just need to have a spot for the tickets to be turned in and then count them up each week.
Roobunny: Thanks! Congrats to you too! I really do like the idea of using tickets, and taking it further by having group and whole class rewards! This could also teach students to work together towards a common goal. The only thing I really want to stick to is a system where students earn their individual awards on their own. I feel like if the treasure box is always contingent on a student getting lucky that I pulled the ticket with his/her name on it out of the bucket, then it's not completely fair. What happens if a student works hard every week and I never happen to pull their name? I would be concerned that they would stop trying or caring about the system if they never did earn a prize. So, do you think there's any way to use tickets in a completely fair way? I'm jealous about your craigslist find! I have gotten some pretty good deals on ebay so far myself, but craigslist would be a great place to look!
I'm the opposite...haven't gotten many good deals on ebay, but found most of my deals on craigslist. Students could also work hard with their team to get their rewards. Or, if you are worried that they might give up if their name is never pulled you could always just have them save up tickets to "purchase" rewards. That's what my 4th graders did when I was student teaching. My teacher did not use team or classroom rewards - only individual rewards. X amount of tickets gave you different rewards (homework pass, lunch in the classroom with the teacher, treasure chest, sit next to a friend day, etc.)
I do a sticker chart for hw...they get a sticker each day that they have all hw assignments completed. When their chart is full, they pick a prize. Yes, I know hw is expected, but having focused on negative behaviors in the past, its nice to focus on positive things and kids doing the right thing! We have a school wide behavior system where the kids earn pawprints for going above and beyond. I let them redeem their pawprints for prizes of varying amounts. The prizes start at 2 pawprints, so everyone always has the chance to shop, or they can save up for a hw pass for 50 pawprints.
Roobunny: I love that idea! My only concern would be--what do you do if the students lose their tickets or claim someone took them? Or am I overthinking it? Lol, I always try to think of the pitfalls to things and how I will handle them before I do the actual things. Or do you just stand firm and tell them from the get-go, if you lose your tickets, they will not be replaced---so keep them in a safe place? Leigh: I have some charts and stickers already (this was my very first idea). However, do you ever get kiddos that just can't seem to earn stickers very fast (but try to). I would never want to embarrass a kid by his/her peers being able to look at a chart and see that he has way less stickers than another child in the class. Or like with Roobunny, am I otherthinking it? Do third graders think that far into it? Also, where is this infamous job list?! I am excited to be added, but don't know where to look!
Ms. B - I over analyze things too, especially now that I've been hired! I've been trying to think of how to incorporate Morning Meeting and Daily 5 into my schedule (which I don't even know what that looks like right now). Also, I have a rotating class which makes me a little nervous. I would tell them from the get-go if they lose their tickets, they will not be replaced. Third graders are more than capable of keeping up with tickets. It also helps to teach them responsibility. Have them write their names on the back of the ticket and keep them in a Ziploc baggie. If it becomes a problem, I would change the system up, but for now you can see how it works out. Leigh: Can I be added to the job list? :unsure:
Ms.B - I just noticed you are teaching ELA...me too! Also, you are in Fort Worth?!?! I'm in Dallas! :thumb:
Roo - I guess I just want to be as close to perfect as possible coming out of the gate! I'm a perfectionist to some degree--but also I want the kids to WANT to be in my class! I know there were always certain teachers I despised when growing up, and who annoyed me more because their reward systems were never consistent...or we'd get promised some type of party that never really came! I never want to be that! I am teaching ELA and Social Studies! I'm pretty glad, because ELA is my forte...SS I could take it or leave it! Better than the teachers who got Math/Science! My students are rotating as well--but they only have to switch once, so I'll have my homeroom class the first half of the day, and another teacher's homeroom the second half for both subjects! I'm excited...although this means I have to buy 58 of everything (each class is 29! Yikes!). The school I'll be teaching in is actually in Euless, but I live in Fort Worth! Fort Worth ISD didn't have a single teaching position open last time I checked! Are you working in Dallas ISD?
I'm not in an ISD. I got hired at a charter school. I actually graduated 4 years ago and applied to so many districts it wasn't even funny. I didn't land a single interview. I even went and got my ESL certificate, hoping that would help... I LOVE ELA...I love a good book and want to ingrain my love of reading in my children. I'm also teaching Health and Character Education - cool subject to be able to teach. I hear you on wanting my kids to WANT to be in my class. I remember my awful teachers just as well as the great ones. I want to be remembered as one of the great ones I'd love to keep in touch. Maybe we can bounce ideas off one another and just "check-in" to see how we're doing as we progress through the year. If you'd like, PM me and I'll send you my email.
