Teachers, tutors, babysitters, and other people who work with children all deal, in one way or another, with behavior problems and discipline. They are always looking for new ways to encourage good behavior. One way that is used by many of them is the reward system.
There are many different kinds of school supplies or toys that can be purchased in bulk and used for rewards. You could use shaped rubber bands, plastic lizards, scented erasers, or countless other things. You'd be surprised how much kids will come to value these small items.
Here are some suggestions for keeping your rewards system effective.
1. Have some small things that are easy to earn, as incentive. This is where the tiny, affordable items that are bought in bulk can be especially useful. If it is not too hard for the kids to earn these things, they will quickly learn the satisfaction of being rewarded for their achievement or behavior. A lizard or a banana shaped eraser, for instance, makes a great reward for a day of good behavior or a high grade on a test.
2. Be conscious of each child's personal record, and reward them accordingly. It is important that the initial bar is set differently for each child, based on their past performance. A child should be rewarded for making improvements, even if their improvement does not reach the highest level of achievement. As their achievement increases, the bar is raised. Initially, reward them for a C if it is an improvement. Then, the next time, they will need to get a B to receive the reward.
3. Stay consistent. In order to keep the attention of the children and their trust in the reward system, make sure a reward is given each time it is earned.
4. Build up to bigger rewards. The snakes and lizards will work for small things, but it is a good idea to have some bigger ideas for greater achievements. For instance, when a child makes the honor roll or gets a good grade for behavior for an entire portion of the year, they could be given a larger reward. A pizza party for the group of children who have met the particular requirement, for instance, is one idea.
5. Provide some prizes that encourage them to develop their skills and consciousness. In between the small bulk rewards and the bigger, end of season rewards, you could give out books for steady achievement in the middle of the term. The field trip or pizza party could be done in conjunction with some community service work. These things can be fun for kids, and can be a welcome change from sitting in the classroom.
When children are rewarded for their positive behavior and increased achievement, they start to experience good feelings associated with these accomplishments. Eventually, they will learn to appreciate the feelings in themselves, even if a reward does not accompany them. The reward system will also make your classroom or any other environment more dynamic and pleasant. Animal shaped rubber bands and plastic lizards can work wonders!
Discipline and behavioral problems driving you up the walls? Looking for new ways to encourage positive behavior? Get the ultimate inside scoop now in our overview of rewards for discipline in the form of shaped rubber bands and animal bands .
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