Reward Systems

I think that reward systems in the classroom can be an effective way to reinforce appropriate behavior.  Reward systems allow students to track their progress and work toward reaching a goal.  When using a reward system in the classroom, it is important that the reward is meaningful and motivating for the student whose behavior you are trying to change or reinforce.  If the student does not desire the reward they are less likely to exhibit the behaviors that will lead to the reward.  When using a reward system I also think that it is important that the points or rewards students earn for appropriate behavior cannot be taken away if they display inappropriate behavior.  There should be a different consequence for inappropriate behavior, or if the reward system is being implemented effectively the consequence is simply not receiving a point.  Therefore, the reward system should be focused on reinforcing appropriate/positive behavior, not punishing inappropriate/negative behavior.

In my field experience my teacher uses Class Dojo as her classroom management and reward system.  Class Dojo is a website and app that allows teachers to give students points for specific appropriate behavior as well as take points away for specific inappropriate behavior.  Class Dojo also allows teachers to share students' points with their parents or guardians.  I think that Class Dojo could be an effective reward system, however I would use it only to give points for positive behavior, rather than giving and taking away points.  With a system like Class Dojo I think it is also important that students have a goal to work toward as they are earning points.  Another teacher I observed had specific rewards for students once they received a specific amount of points on Class Dojo.  These rewards included, no shoes, homework pass, treasure box, lunch with the teacher, etc.

Each student is given an avatar in Class Dojo and this is what the main screen would look like.

In my own classroom I plan to implement a reward system that focuses on reinforcing appropriate behavior.  Perhaps I will use Class Dojo as a way to keep track of points.  I also like the idea of using "Student of the Week" to reinforce a specific appropriate behavior.  Meaning that instead of giving "Student of the Week" to the student with the most points or the student that was "good", "Student of the Week" would be given based on a specific behavior.  For example, the appropriate behavior one week may be raising a hand before speaking and another week it may be speaking kindly to other classmates, etc.  This does not mean that the teacher does not reinforce other appropriate behaviors, but the reward of "Student of the Week" is attached to displaying the specific behavior designated by the teacher at the beginning of the week.