What Teachers Use to Reward Students?

Teachers have a wide array of rewards to offer students, ranging from simple treats to more elaborate activities. For younger students, these may include extra recess time, edible treats, mini toys, or even discounts (coupons). As students progress, rewards might evolve to include treats like donuts, movie days, or additional computer time.

The Necessity of Reward Systems in Education

Motivating students can be a challenging task. Some teachers find themselves overwhelmed with managing the classroom, leaving little time for actual teaching. To address this, many teachers implement reward systems to motivate students, increase participation, and encourage good behavior. However, it's crucial to understand the pros and cons of such systems.

Advantages of Reward Systems

There are numerous advantages to using reward systems in the classroom. To begin, appropriate behavior is more likely to occur when students are either intrinsically or extrinsically motivated. Furthermore, rewards can significantly boost students' participation and interest in classroom tasks and learning. Rewards can also make students feel a sense of pride and achievement, which in turn enhances their self-esteem. Additionally, these systems can help students complete their homework, leading to better performance and academic results.

Disadvantages of Reward Systems

While reward systems can be beneficial, they also come with their share of pitfalls. For instance, students may become addicted to these rewards, leading to a cessation of study without them. Additionally, after a while, students may no longer be surprised by rewards and will lose their motivational power. Another drawback is that students might focus more on completing an assignment to win a reward rather than genuinely understanding the lesson. Furthermore, students can feel controlled and manipulated, which might teach them how to manipulate, leading to increased pressure and, ultimately, a sense of the system being a form of bribery.

Creative Reward Systems

To incorporate more creativity and motivation, teachers can choose from a variety of reward systems that can cater to different age groups. Pinterest offers numerous examples for elementary school, such as personalized achievement or reward certificates. Teachers can create their own certificates using Canva's certificate maker, which comes with numerous templates that students will likely find valuable.

10 Reasonable Rewards for Students

When selecting rewards, it's important to ensure they are reasonable and not too enticing. A good approach is to provide a list for students to choose from, or assign a value to each reward, requiring students to save 'tickets' or 'cards' to earn a better reward. Here are some potential reward options:

Getting to choose a game at recess Having a friend as a special partner during activities Teaching the class a favorite game or activity Taking a homework pass for one assignment Assisting the teacher for the day Having the privilege to draw on the chalkboard Performing any class job for a week Sitting in the teacher's chair for a class period Bringing a class game home for a night Completing half of an assignment

Teachers can find more fun reward options in this list.

Conclusion

In conclusion, reward systems can be a powerful tool for motivating and engaging students. However, it's important to balance the use of rewards with an understanding of their potential downsides. By implementing creative, well-structured reward systems, teachers can effectively motivate their students for better learning outcomes.