Speaking of Prizes...How do you give out your prizes

I am the biggest offender of not being consistent with the prizes I feel like a horrible teacher. This year I really want to be consistent I was doing tickets but it was getting cumbersome to keep track of. How does everyone else do it.

Re: Speaking of Prizes...How do you give out your prizes

Throughout the week, I give tickets to kids for doing nice things, not having any bad behaviors etc

We have a raffle on every Friday for 5 winners with bigger prizes from the dollar store but the kids learn to be better to get more tickets and to clap for each other when another person wins

Re: Speaking of Prizes...How do you give out your prizes

I'm a special area, so I'm not consistant and really don't have to be that much.

I give prizes to kids who have completed projects, super listeners (if I have some time at the end of class, I'll ask a question or two to see who was listening), for completing scavenger hunts and sometimes if someone is working really well. If a whole class is working really well, I'll give everyone a sticker.

There was a small group sped class that used the library last year (overcrowding!) and she would give them x amount of stickers on cards at the end of each class. when they filled their cards, they received a pencil.

Message edited 8/13/2008 11:27:58 AM.

Re: Speaking of Prizes...How do you give out your prizes

i have to say i don't give prizes anymore. i feel these kids shoudl not be getting rewards for things that they should be doing anyway. i don't want them doing their homework because they'll get a prize or being nice to another child because there is something in it for them. they should be doing those things because it is what is expected of them and it's the right thing to do. i don't do stickers anymore or prize boxes or what have you... i find that the kids come to expect something where really the behaviors that get rewarded are basic, IMO.

that said, though, i do do a lot of modeling appropriate behavior and verbal praise (i teach self-contained and they need the reminders). they do ear n a HW pass when they've completed all of their HW for the month (I check daily). the teacher i push-in with does citizenship points. when we see the kids do the right thing, they earn a marble. when the jar is full, they earn a class prize like extra recess or a treat. usually though, we have the students be the ones to tell us about the godo things others are doing. it gives them the responsibility to notice the good others are doing and takes the pressure off of us.

i do give class parties at the end of major units when they present projects and what not, but that's it.

Re: Speaking of Prizes...How do you give out your prizes

I like homework lotto- I have a board and they write their name in a square everyday that they do all HW, then on friday, we draw for prizes.

Last year I did a classroom economy- they earned $ for doing their jobs and for being on task/being kind and they had a list of things they could buy from eating lunch w/me to buying stuff from the prize bin. It was cute b/c they had bank accounts and wrote out checks when they wanted to buy things. They love it!

Re: Speaking of Prizes...How do you give out your prizes

Re: Speaking of Prizes...How do you give out your prizes

I have raffle tickets that i give out. My students receive them for being on task, participation, good behavior, having all homework etc...

I have a bowl in the front of my room. When they get a ticket they put their name on it and put it in the bowl. On Fridays during dismissal, I draw two names from the bowl and they get a prize. My kids loved it! I also use it for my monitors, I give them 5 tickets for filing for me during lunch.

Re: Speaking of Prizes...How do you give out your prizes

I have a "Star Student" chart. It's a grid with all their names. I hang a dry erase marker near it and whenever I "catch" them doing something good (behavior-wise) then I draw a star next to their name. 10 stars earns a prize from the prize box on my desk (pencils, erasers, book marks, etc.). I also keep track of how many prizes the child has earned at the end of the chart so that "stars" stand out and I can show parents.

Re: Speaking of Prizes...How do you give out your prizes

I have a Caught Being Kind basket.. Whenever someone is caught being kind to someone their name is put into the basket- The drawing is on Friday and the winner gets to pick from the prize basket.

Re: Speaking of Prizes...How do you give out your prizes

I was in K until this year , when I will go to third, but thats just me being a baby right now and getting used to it....

I had prizes for table pts. but also did a ticket thing of lunch with me....they would eat with me one day and it was the faVored prize...it stunik sometimes to give up the time when i had so much to do, but it really helped me cement knowing my students early on, and also gave them a chance to get to know me....long story short, my prize box was still full at the end of the year, b/c lunch with "Mrs. XXXXX" was the top pick every week....

Message edited 8/14/2008 11:39:38 PM.

Re: Speaking of Prizes...How do you give out your prizes

I think the best way to do prizes is to have a consistent day and time when kids who have earned can pick their prizes. Even if they earn sooner they have to wait to the weekly tie set aside for prizes. I also think it's important to give the kid responsibility in keeping track of whatever they are earning. I've done prizes lots of ways:

1. Raffle tickets that I give out and the kids keep until prize day. x number of tickets and you can pick a prize. They are responsible for keeping track of their tickets.

2. Sticker charts- each kid has their own and I give out stickers

3. Economy system where kids earn fake money and can use it to buy prizes

Re: Speaking of Prizes...How do you give out your prizes

Re: Speaking of Prizes...How do you give out your prizes

Re: Speaking of Prizes...How do you give out your prizes

I have a PDF file that has money and bank ledgers with directions as to how to implement a classroom economy if you want it...I got a lot of my ideas from it. The one thing I would say to be careful about is making sure that they don't bounce checks- I had some kids that really struggled with that!

I really liked that it taught them some responsibility- I had some kids that were known as "troublemakers" that would ask for more and more jobs to earn money, and kids that quit their jobs when they were feeling lazy and would BEG to get them back!