Classroom Management: Incentives

1. Classroom Management: Incentives Ashley Hankins Jessica Stuecklen Jimmie O’Hara

2. Introduction • Incentives • Pro • Con • Types • The Ultimate Classroom Management Guide for New Teachers • Exit Ticket

3. Pro Helps to maintain positive behaviors Extrinsic rewards based on a high level of performance have been shown to positively affect intrinsic motivation (Pallak, 1982) Students are motivated through different factors, some need extrinsic rewards Increase student participation in discussions (Nelson, 2010) Children repeat actions that are rewarded (Charles, 2011) Online reward platforms have recorded positive impacts because they are more stimulating and interactive (Merrett, 2013) Beneficial to students with special needs (Swain & McLaughlin, 1998) Students in a high school classroom where a token economy was instituted were 2x as likely to raise their hand and contribute (Boniecki & Moore, 2003). Enhances student engagement More effective learning opportunities Reduces stress for teachers (Parsonon, 2012)

4. Con "Over 15 years of research have confirmed that offering a reward for an enjoyable behavior can decrease the likelihood that the behavior will be performed under subsequent non-rewarded conditions,“ (Bracey, 1994) Once the rewards stop, people go back to behaving the way they did before (Willingham, 2008) Easier with people who are already dependent upon you, may be less effective with students testing their independence (Kohn, 1993) If your goal is compliance, they are incredibly effective… what is your goal? Students will be less interested in learning, and more interested in receiving the reward. “Incentives will have a detrimental effect on performance when two conditions are met: first, when the task is interesting enough for subjects that the offer of incentives is a superfluous source of motivation; second when the solution to the task is open-ended enough that the steps leading to a solution are not immediately obvious,” (Kohn, 1993)

5. Types of Incentives • Token economy • Could be a tangible object (money, ticket, coupon), points, or checkmarks. They are exchanged for rewards (reinforcers). • Rewards could include: academic choices (computer time, academic games, free reading), free time, recess time, awards, food rewards, prize (toys), academic prizes (pencils, books) , movie, and parties. • Verbal or symbolic praise • Rewards could include: a smile, a high five, pat or handshake, word of encouragement, praise, note home, or a phone call home.

6. Exit Ticket What do you believe… Will you be using an incentive system in your classroom? Why or why not? (10 points) What is one incentive system you learned, would you use it, and why or why not? (10 points)

7. The Ultimate Classroom Management Guide http://ucmg.weebly.com/