“Clip Up the Good Work” Behavioral Incentive System:
Our class has begun a behavioral incentive system, which I call the “Clip it Up” system. It designed to encourage students to do their best and recognize those students who are staying focused, being helpful, and treating each others with kindness.
Our class has a behavior chart and each student has a clip. Each child starts their day on the green, “Ready to Learn” square. If I catch students staying on task, being kind, etc, without having to prompt them first, I will ask to them “clip it up.” This means the child can move a clip up to “Good Choices,” and if I ask him/her to “clip it up” again, they will land on “Great Job.” Conversely, if a student is having trouble following directions or treating other friends they way they want to be treated, I will ask that student to “clip it down.” This would move the student’s clip to “Think About It.” If this behavior continues, I would ask the student to move his/her clip to “Teacher’s Choice,” which will mean a note home.
Each space on the clip chart has a certain reward amount. “Great Job”= 3 Bucks, “Good Choices” = 2 Bucks, “Ready to Learn”= 1 Buck, “Think About It” = 0 Bucks, and “Teacher’s Choice” means they get a Buck taken away from their money box.
Every few weeks we will trade our bucks in for stickers and pencils or coupons that can be redeemed. These coupons include “Bring a Furry Friend to Class,” “Sit in the Comfy Chair” and “Lunch with the Teacher,” among many other choices. Every coupon or prize costs a certain number of bucks, and I have spoken to students about how they need to save their money if they want the more exciting coupons. The students get very excited about getting an opportunity to trade in their bucks! I look forward to our first trade-in day.
We Are Bucket Fillers
As a whole group, we also do the “bucket filler” system. Bucket fillers are people who follow the rules, listen to the teacher, care about people, say please and thank you, etc. If the class as a whole is doing a great job by showing their manners, being good friends to each other, or trying their best during class, they can earn a pom-pom to put in the class bucket. When the classroom bucket is full, the class votes on a prize for the group. In the past, classes have chosen prizes like extra recess, an "electronics party" and a movie party.