Friday, July 22, 2011

First Post

This is my first blog.  I will be talking about a bunch of things but today I want to talk about rewards/classroom economies/etc. in the classroom.  I know several teachers use classroom rewards for behavior and jobs.  I think I am about as obsessed with Beth Newingham's website as every other teacher on the planet.  I see how the system works for her - but I can't keep thinking in the back of my head is constantly rewarding students for doing classroom jobs the right thing to do?  I mean last year I had a monetary system where they earned Scholar Dollars for jobs and then they got them taken away for bad choices.  Half of the time, though, I felt like they only had a good day because they knew they were getting that immediate gratification.  Is this a good lesson to be teaching them. 

On the other hand, what is the alternative?  Will students complete their jobs if there is no motivation? 


I need a veteran's opinion.  The last thing I want to do is start my second year of teaching on the wrong foot and have unmotivated children. 


Thoughts?

2 comments:

  1. I use the Clip Chart and don't give out a huge amount of
    tangible rewards. As students move up the Clip Chart that is a reward in and of itself.
    By the way I teach 3rd grade also.

    Denise
    Yearn to Learn Blog

    ReplyDelete
  2. I plan on using the Clip Chart this year and your comment just justifies my gut feeling that it is enough! Thank you so much!

    ReplyDelete