Classroom Store
Use construction paper to cut out rectangles and place a value on each one. Create a monetary system of behavior rewards. Completing homework might be worth 5 points, being prepared for class might be worth 2 points. Use the behaviors you see as needing improvement in your classroom. Liberally give out tickets to students to help them succeed.
Setting up a store with items might require a little work. You can ask parents to donate items, or ask a parent volunteer to contact some area businesses for prizes. You can also include a “no-homework pass” or “extra computer time” as some of the prizes. Set a value to each prize and at the end of the year, or end of the semester, let the children go shopping with the points they have earned.
Off to the Races
This game works best with a smaller, younger class, but can be adapted to a larger class. Get one play car, airplane, etc for each child and draw a racetrack that will fit on a bookshelf. Draw spaces, as there are on a game board, along your track. Choose one behavior you want to improve for the class as a whole. For each time you see a child behaving in the correct way (or handing in work), they get to move their car up one space on the board. This is not a race against other children, each child continues to move along until they reach the finish line, and then they win a prize. Once they reach the finish line, they start over again.
Tips to Working with a Positive Reinforcement Program
1) Mix up tangible, materialist prizes with those that are not tangible, such as extra privileges. These can be a “no homework pass” or “extra computer time.” This way, the prize is not always something materialistic and helps children recognize intangible items as good.
2) Be liberal at the beginning of the program and then start to tighten up the rules. For example, the first week, you might want to reward students for each piece of homework they complete and bring to school. The next week you might want to reward students for completing all of their homework. Weaning them off of rewards for a behavior will help them to succeed and will help you to move on to a new behavior.
