REWARDS

I feel that rewards are both necessary and beneficial for students in an elementary classroom.  Rewards are beneficial for everyone, for that matter.  Although we want students to be intrinsically motivated to complete tasks and meet learning goals, all learners need to be recognized for their progress and improvement.  Rewards can come in many different forms and do not have to be elaborate.

In my field experiences I have seen school-wide reward systems aimed at encouraging students to meet or exceed behavioral expectations in all parts of the school environment.  At West Lake Elementary, students are given different necklaces to wear when they exhibit positive behaviors.  I have also seen schools use ticket systems that allow students to collect enough tickets to trade in for a reward of their choice.  In many cases, these reward systems are very effective.

All reward systems will not work for every student.  Because of this, I think that it is necessary to have more individualized reward systems in the classroom for students who need extra encouragement.  Rewards should be based on the age of the students, their interests, and the set behavioral and academic expectations.  In the classroom, I feel like the best kinds of rewards are those that come frequently and let students know that they are on the right track and that you, as their teacher, are very proud of their effort and progression.  These small types of rewards and encouragements build students' confidence and help them to develop a sense of responsibility in monitoring their own behavior and learning in the classroom.

Rewards are great! But they have to meet the needs of individual students and help them take pride in their efforts and progress so that they will continue to strive to meet and exceed high expectations.