Rewards and Incentives in the Classroom

Rewards and incentives in the classroom motivate students to strive for a higher education. When students are rewarded for good behavior or class participation, the positive attribute is likely to continue thanks the incentives of an extrinsic reward. Since I am moving towards my goal of managing my own students and classroom, I decided to research rewards systems to better assist the success of my future class.

The article Motivational Tools by Emma McDonald explains the importance of using a rewards system in the classroom. To decide the type of rewards system that is most appropriate for your class, a teacher needs to first decide the goal they are trying to achieve. As I read the article, I discovered a participation rewards systems that I found simple and interesting.

The first rewards system I would like to use in my future classroom is “Red Tickets.” Red tickets are designed to promote class participation from each student. At the discretion of the teacher, red tickets are awarded to students that contribute and volunteer insight to class discussions and small group work, and whom assist their classmates with class work. The students that receive a ticket write their name on the ticket and place the ticket in a jar. At the end of the week, the teacher will pick four or five names from the jar, and these students will receive a reward.

I think the concept of the red tickets reward system is a smart and simple way to motivate students to participate during class. If a student knows that they can receive a small reward such a free homework pass by making good choices, the student is more likely to contribute than if there was no incentive. Also, the concept behind red tickets is straightfoward; the students understand what is expected of them to achieve a red ticket.

The second article I discovered that detailed various rewards systems is Classroom Rewards Reap Dividends for Teachers and Students by Cara Bafile. In this article, fourth grade teacher Kristina Campbell explains “By offering rewards, we are trying to show them [students] that by attending school and getting an education, they will be rewarded. There are the immediate rewards, such as prizes and treats, and long-term rewards, such as a job, college, and a future.” I agree with the concept of the rewards system and the assistance it offers teachers when attempting to manage a classroom. Students need to see that their hard work, whether behaviorally or through participation, is recognized by the teacher and worth positive reinforcement in the classroom.

To promote good behavior in the classroom, Classroom Rewards Reap Dividends for Teachers and Students, explains Lee Canter’s card system, which uses red, yellow and green cards. Each day, the students begin on a green card. The students stay on this card color when they maintain positive behavior. If the student’s behavior is disruptive or negative, the student’s card will change from green to yellow, or from green to yellow to red, depending on the severity of the poor choices and behavior. However, when the student reaches a yellow card or red card, the student is given chances to redeem themselves. Good behavior and positive actions allow students to enter the green card zone again. If students can maintain green or yellow behavior for an entire week, then an extrinsic reward is presented to the student.

I felt Lee Canter’s card system is a helpful tool in managing the behavior of students. While I understand that students will still misbehave and the rewards system is not fool proof, I still believe that having the incentive of an extrinsic rewards system will counteract behavioral issues.

Besides the developing of a rewards system, both articles also explain the type of extrinsic rewards that are successful in the classroom. The article Motivational Tools reminds teachers to use rewards that are not gender specific. For example pizza parties, movie day, and no-homework passes are inexpensive ways to reward class participation and positive behavior. The article Classroom Rewards Reap Dividends for Teachers and Students, suggests “Make the reward meaningful to your students. Opportunities for student choice can be particularly effective.” I thought this proposal would be effective for many students. For example, certain students may work harder to achieve a free homework pass to use at their leisure as opposed to the opportunity to participate in a pizza party.

Resources:

Bafile, C. (2000, November 28). Classroom Rewards Reap Dividends for Teachers and Students. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from Education World Incorporated Education World The Educator's Best Friend Web site: http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr300.shtml

McDonald, E. (2008, October 23). Motivational Tools. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from Education World Incorporated Education World The Educator's Best Friend Web site: http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/columnists/mcdonald/mcdonald030.shtml