constructive-rewards-pdf

Constructive Classroom Rewards:Promoting Good Behavior WithoutCompromising Student Health

Herding CatsNo doubt about it. Managing a classroom can be challenging. Somedays it seems it would be easier to herd cats on skates than keep 24students learning and on task. And though it may be tempting to useunhealthy approaches to get students’ attention, the school rewardparadigm is shifting and teachers are finding better ways to engagestudents than using methods that are detrimental to their health.Rewarding and punishing students with food andexercise is “old school.”Using candy, cookies and pizza to get kids to behave or do schoolwork is definitely “old school.” So is withholding recess from theunruly child who needs it most. Or making kids do laps or push-upsas a punishment. With the 3rd highest rate of childhood obesity(one out of three KY kids is already too heavy) rewarding kids withfood, withholding recess or creating a negative association withphysical activity is highly discouraged. These classroom managementapproaches may bring about short term behavior change butthey can have detrimental long term consequences.Says who?Using food to encourage children to behave in a particular way is socommon and potentially harmful that at least 5 professional organizationshave made strong statements recommending against it. The American Academy of Pediatrics The American Academy of Family Physicians The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry The Mayo Clinic The American Dietetic AssociationDisadvantages of Using Food as Rewards Contributes to health problems in children such as obesity, diabetes,hypertension and dental cavities. Interferes with children learning to eat in response to hungerand fullness cues, teaching them to eat because “it’s there”,rather because they’re truly hungry Increases preferences for sweet foods (Birch and Fisher 1994)--we may be teaching children to prefer unhealthy foods. Can contribute to “disordered eating” by teaching children thatfood is not only a reward, but a comfort—-when I’m “good”, Ieat.” Healthy habits will remain strictly theoretical if adults teachabout health but regularly model unhealthy behaviors

Food for Thought“Rewards can be overused and abused. Too oftenstudents come to expect something in returnfor behavior or good grades when in reality theyshould do the behavior for its intrinsic value. I usedto reward students with candy but then when Iasked them to do something they started asking,'What are you going to give me?’ It was then Iknew that my strategy had backfired. “ KY MiddleSchool Teacher“This was the first year I didn’t keep a tub of candyin my classroom to ‘bribe’ kids to do things. To behonest, at first I felt lost without it. Then I startedusing more sound classroom management techniquesinstead of relying on something that wasn’tgreat. I feel better about my teaching since I’vestopped using what my husband calls, ‘thetrained seal’ method.” KY High School TeacherPhysical activity should not be linkedto punishmentMoving our bodies regularly is a basic human need.Punishing children by taking away recess or physicaleducation classes reduces their already-scarce opportunitiesfor physical activity. Another counterproductivepunishment is forcing children to do physicalactivity such as running laps or pushups. Childrenoften learn to dislike things that are used as punishments.Penalizing children with physical activity mightlead them to avoid activities that are important formaintaining wellness and a healthy body weight.“I used to punish kids by not letting them have recess.I finally realized that I was not only punishing them, Iwas punishing me. Those kids were even more woundup in the afternoon because they hadn’t got to movearound. I had more behavior problems in the longrun.” KY Elementary School teacher“Recess is an underutilized opportunity to improve theoverall learning environment in our schools.”—From Recess Rules, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Constructive (and inexpensive) rewards for studentsHighlight the ones that you might use. These will, of course, vary bygrade level.Social rewardsSocial rewards involve attention, praise, or thanks, and are often morehighly valued by children than a toy or food. Simple gestures like acknowledgingstudents’ good actions to them personally or in front ofothers, nods, thumbs up or smiles can mean a lot. These types of socialrewards affirm a child’s worth as a person.Recognition Trophy, plaque, ribbon, or certificate in recognition of achievementor a sticker with an affirming message Recognizing a child’s achievement on the school-wide morning announcementsand/or the school’s website A photo recognition board in a prominent location in the school A phone call, email, or letter sent home to parents or guardianscommending a student’s accomplishment A note from the teacher to the student commending his or herachievement Show and tell—a chance for students to share something they enjoyor are proud ofPrivileges Going first in an activity or being line leader Choosing a class activity Helping the teacher Making deliveries to the office Having an extra few minutes of recess “No homework” pass Reading to a younger class More time to socialize Reading the school-wide morning announcements Eating lunch with a teacher or principal Going to the library to pick a book to read Taking a walk with the principal or teacher Designing a class or hall bulletin board Writing or drawing on the blackboard/whiteboard Taking care of the class animal for a day Allowing a child to choose an extra recess activity for the class onhis/her birthday.Fun stuff Teacher performs special skill (cartwheel, guitar playing, etc.) Guest speaker (find someone really cool in the community to comeand talk about their work or life—a radio DJ, veterinarian, local actoror musician, chef) Music the student selects is played at end of class

Rewards for entire class Extra recess Eating lunch or holding class outdoors Extra reading time Listening to music while working Dancing to music Playing a game or doing a puzzle together “Free choice” time at the end of the day A song, dance, or performance by the teacher or students A book read aloud to the class by the teacher A field tripSchool supplies Pencils, pens, markers, highlighters, crayons Erasers Notepads Bookmarks Highlighters Coloring books RulersSports equipment and athletic gear Paddleballs Frisbees Water bottles NERF balls Jump ropeToys/trinkets Stickers Yo-yos Rubber balls Finger puppets Plastic sliding puzzles or other puzzle games Slinkies Gliders Magnifying glasses Spinning tops Marbles Jacks Playing cards Silly puttyReward ideas excerpted from Constructive Classroom Rewards byCenter for Science in the Public InterestJefferson County Public Schools