Positive Behavior Reward System

By Hayley Scanlon

Reward System: What is it?

"The rewards help students remember the classroom rules and commonsense manners,” -Shelley Giesbrecht

-A positive behavior reward system is used to promote behavior modification in the classroom.

-A system of rules is provided to students, and in a result of their compliance, students will receive some sort of reward in return.

• Typically, these rewards are positive activities (free time), events (a holiday party), and

objects (candy, toys, etc.).

How Might a Teacher Use This System?

• The following excerpt illustrates using the positive behavior reward system with a

form of currency/money. Students gain money by demonstrating good behavior,

and get a physical reward when they have earned enough money.

• "Students receive a $1 Birdie Buck for each day they turn in homework on time

and complete," she explained. "Students also receive a Birdie Buck if they have no

warnings or timeouts during the day. On Fridays, students are able to buy things

from a 'Birdie Store' that I have. There are three plastic containers: a cheap box

(items in this box will cost the students $5 and under in Birdie Bucks), a medium

box ($6-$20), and an expensive box ($20-$100). Students may save and buy more

expensive items. It is up to them.“

• -Jen McCalley of Ainsworth Elementary in Portland

(Bafile, 2003)

How Might a Teacher Use This System?• A positive behavior reward system does not always have to involve physical rewards, such as candy. Other rewards seen in a classroom

could include (but are not limited to):“-Work with a friend.-Read a comic book.-Show or tell the class something you have or did.-Have lunch with your favorite person or the teacher.”

(Watson, 2010)

Positives Negatives

• Good behavior increases

• Helps build a classroom community

• Helps teach students how to behave in and outside of the classroom appropriately

• Students build better relationships with teachers and students

• Builds a controlled environment rather than a chaotic one

• Students exemplify good behavior only to receive reward, rather than simply do what is right

• Students may still use bad behavior outside of the classroom, since they are not being rewarded for their behavior in the outside world

Compare & ContrastWilliams, Hendrick, and Tuschinski (2008)

McCarthy H. & Siccone, F.

• This article disagrees with using a positive behavior reward system, stating:

• “While a common method for motivating reluctant learners is providing extrinsic rewards, this method may not be sustainable.”

• They go on to say that students will be reluctant to do the right thing, for they will constantly seek new experiences without rewards.

• McCarthy & Siccone, however, would agree with using a positive behavior reward system. They believe teachers should be the source of giving students motivation. Therefore, by providing rewards to students, teachers are motivating them to learn more effectively.

Online Example

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpGRvstgD3c&feature=related

•This video provides a great example of using a positive behavior reward system.

• I chose this video because it proves that even troubled students can learn more effectively using a positive behavior reward system.

References• Bafile, Cara. "Education World ® : Curriculum: Reward Systems That Work: What to Give and

When to Give It!" Education World® The Educator's Best Friend. 10 Jan. 2003. Web. 04 Oct.

2010.

Retrieved from <http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr301.shtml>.

• McCarthy, H. Siccone, F. (2001). “What Motivates People?” Pages 11-28.

• Watson, Sue. Rewards and Positive Consequences Strategies for Behavior Students. (2010).

About.com. Retrieved from < http://specialed.about.com/cs/behaviordisorders/a/rewards.htm>

• WIlliams, Lunetta M., Wanda B. Hendrick, and Linda Tuschinski. "Motivation: Going Beyond

Testing to a Lifetime of Reading." Childhood Education 84.3 (2008): 135-36. Print.