I've spent a lot of time browsing around the internet for ideas and here are a 2 descent websites I've found:
http://www.interventioncentral.org/behavioral-interventions/rewards/jackpot-ideas-classroom-rewards
http://www.wisconsinpbisnetwork.org/assets/files/resources/Free%20or%20Inexpensive%20Rewards.pdf
The problem is those rewards work for their students in their school. I need ideas for MY students in MY school.
Some things I've tried that have worked:
- Let a student leave early from class for completing their work early.
- Randomly bring donuts for a class that had good behavior the previous day.
- Have cheap candy (Jolly Ranchers/DumDums) at the ready for students who answer questions or are exhibiting excellent behavior in class.
- Tickets for Mizenko specific rewards
There has to be more though. Students are picky about what reward works for them, so I feel like the more ideas I have to use, the better off I'll be.
What have you done in your class for rewards?
What has and hasn't worked?
Do you have an idea you'd like to try?
Scratch and Sniff stickers! I spent $12 on Amazon two years ago and I still have lots left. Big assignments with 100% get these. For some reason, they are far more popular than regular stickers.
ReplyDeleteI also have a bunch of dollar store eraser pencil toppers shaped like animals which I use as prizes for spelling bee winners and other review game winners.
I'm a fan of incentives that don't require me buying things. I also like things that bestow a temporary privilege. For example, I don't allow students to eat food or drink anything but water in class. But they can earn the privilege to drink non-water beverages for a set period of time, or to eat one item in class. Another privilege students can earn is to pick a new seat. If they disrupt class in their new location, I move em back and don't refund their switch privilege. I like trying to get them to view some things as privileges that they otherwise would accept as a right.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Shannon - stickers are insanely popular. I only give them out for 100% (which they can achieve through redoing assignments). I buy mine at a Dollar Tree for cheap, and they have cute ones. I have also taken to giving out the Arete tickets for awesomeness.
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried stickers, so maybe I'll do that in the future. I've got some cute sparkly dinosaur and animal stickers. I'm just worried about being too elementary.
ReplyDeleteNot really on the same note but... check this out!
http://geek.cheezburger.com/GameofThrones/share/8122047232
I have been experimenting a bit with incentives recently because understanding incentives is one of the central focuses of economics.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things that I have found is that although a variety of incentives do have some motivating effect on students (ie..food, candy, privileges) that social incentives are still the most powerful. Kids crave approval from both adults and especially their peers. If you can engineer the social environment of the classroom to reward the desired behaviors you usually see some significant effects.
One example is that I recently offered to reward all students with extra credit if everyone turned in their homework assignment on time. At the beginning of the class I went through the list of all of the students out loud as I collected their work. I had a 100% turn in rate in both of my classes.
That's a great idea! I feel like it may work really well in my smaller classes especially.
ReplyDelete