Back to the Basics

With only two months left in school, I have finally found a reward system that my kiddos are responding to.  It is rather basic and probably overlooked a majority of the time.  I simple stamp book.  At first we called it a sticker book, but my kiddos are quite sneaky with those stickers (they would remove stickers that were traded in and put them on a new page).  But I one upped them and switched to stamps!  We started by having students pick their two favorite colors.  I then cut the paper in 4 inch squares and stapled them together to make a book.  They put their first names on the front and added a picture if they wanted.

Front cover of book

Stamps from Vista Print...self inking
and better than a stamp pad.  I only
have three so far, but ready to order more.

Inside pages

Each time they complete a desired task they would receive a stamp.  The first task we worked on as a group was cleaning up centers in a timely manner.  I encouraged team work because it was all or nothing.  I would set the timer for 2 minutes and if they had all 3 centers cleaned up they all would get a  stamp.  Then we got it down to 1 minute and 30 seconds.  Now I use it various times throughout the day if we are struggling during transition.  After 5 stamps they get to go to the prize pouches.

An over the door shoe organizer works great for small treasures.

Inside the pouches are pencils, erasers, small bouncy balls, fruit punch drinks, stress balls, sugar free root beer candies, mints, classroom coupons, and other small items.  This has been a simple, easy reward system.  The most chosen items are pencils, mints, and root beer candies.

The other reward system I use is a treasure box.  They all want to go to the big treasure box and can if they stay in class, finish their work, use nice words, and safe bodies all 5 days.  I move their little person across the pocket envelops each day.  Those names on number 5 on Friday get the prize.

Prizes include sensory balls, coloring posters, stuffed animals, Frisbees, and small individual snack candies.

Each day their name moves across the pockets.

So...maybe if I started this in August I would have saved a lot of time finding what motivated them the most.  Bet I will next August!!