Within a school setting, reward charts are used. Compared with prior-to-school settings, which very rarely use them {I have not worked in a centre which has}. I have had to start looking at the type of reward charts to use.
I want to be able to try out my own system whilst I am on my internship and have thought about a few possibilities. Though this one, is the one that I will be using.
Using a hive {with the number 10} and have nine flowers along the way. Each child is a bumble-bee and moves along one flower. Once they get to ten I am not sure if they should get a lucky-dip, an award made by me or something else?
Though I just don’t know what to have as the reward at the end. Any suggestions?
The idea of using this is to promote the three behaviour management areas within the classroom.
The only problem I have with this type of behaviour system is that the children don’t know why they are moving along. When I was last in the classroom, I used a little award and wrote down the exact reason as to why they were getting the award.
Do you use a reward system or chart? How do you monitor it?
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Carly,
I have never used a reward system simply because I am TERRIBLE at keeping up with it. I tend to lean more towards believing the best reward for good behavior is always immediate and a big hug. I just find that reward systems ultimately end up being more about what you can’t achieve for those who need it most and for those who don’t need it – it is all about what they were achieving anyway. Internal reward systems is something I might be more apt to consider.
Here is an idea I can suggest: Have a hugging tree and each time a child does something great, they get a hug from you (immediate reward) and they get to place a leaf on the hugging tree. When the tree is all filled up – the whole class gets a treat! Then the leaves call all fall down at the end of a week/month and as they do, you take them down one by one and remind the children of all the great things you remember them doing that week/month. Then start all over again:) I could write this up for your blog now that I have written here anyway! LOL!
I used reward stickers for the first time last year. I don’t really believe in using them with young children, but for various reasons that I won’t bore you with, decided to try. I bought a couple of pads of reward charts, and the children choose a sheet each. Each childs page had their name and “for really great work”. I gave each child a target to work toward that was relevant to them and wrote that on the back and dated when they received a sticker relevant to a target. I was quite frugal with the stickers so that they remained ‘special’. The reward for the children was to take their page home to their parents to show them how great they had done, this was very motivating for all my children – they would count how many they had to get before they could take it home :) I did have grand ideas of creating my own stickers that were relevant to the reason for giving them ie ‘I am a great friend’. But I didn’t get around to it.
In a perfect situation I probably wouldn’t use stickers awards, that said, I will probably use them again this year, so will be very interested to hear how others use them :)
Hi Carly
We have classroom charts, although they are for a ‘whole class’ to work towards at the moment, we are in the process of making an individual, 5 per child type chart. We will be including with it our magnets that visually depict the behaviours which you can see here; http://www.littlebillies.net/prod91.htm
A simple certificate at the end would be enough to motivate a child. Perhaps they could collect 10 certificates and then receive a small treat….
Hi Deb,
Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately being within a school setting, this is not appropriate. The idea of hugging children for an award unfortunately rings ‘child protection’.
Though I feel that this would work perfectly within a prior to school setting.
Like you I do not use reward systems or charts. I prefer the internal rewards also.
Thanks for you comment!
Carly
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for your comment. I do like the idea of the individual reward charts as this is what they have now though they are sticker charts, though having said that I don’t feel that buying 22 of these would be great for my bank account, which is why I generally prefer to make my own especially when within a k-2 setting. Not only that but the children seem to fly through the charts to ten, which is why I have my problem of wondering what to give once they get to the beehive.
Thanks for the great product.
I am leaning towards an award at the end of ten and once they go through five times they get the lucky dip.
Carly
Hi Carly,
My method is also the sticker reward system. I used it before during my teacher-attachment days.
My Nursery class consists of 2 groups. Each group have a tall reward-can. Each time a group member behaves well, a sticker will be pasted on the can. These stickers are best given during transition time (it ease the transition as well).
This method really worked for me because i realized that the kids are behaving quite well. And if any of their team mates are misbehaving, they will remind each other because they dont want their group’s reward-can to be affected.
Once the can is filled with stickers, rewards like lucky dip- buy those colorful items (anything! badges,stationery,notepads,key chains,coin pouch) in bulks @ warehouse/ extra outdoor time/ extra free play time will be given.
Hope it helps. =)
Hi Carly
We create a chart using velcro(so we can reuse it each month) and shape to go with the theme for the month. If you earn at least 3 shapes a week you get to bring in a special item to share with the class at the end of the week. If you earn 10 shapes in a month you get to visit the treasure chest( it has stickers, pencils, playdough, little toy’s etc).