School-Wide Rewards
Improve Behavior,
Boost Achievement

Many schools are using rewards as one part of their school-wide effort to boost student achievement and test scores. Some choose, instead, to reward attributes of student character while some others reward attendance. Still others reward homework completion, discipline records... or other essential pieces of the “student achievement puzzle.”

At Franklin Elementary School in Elyria, Ohio, monthly grade-level meetings help principal Kimberly Riposo-Conley stay on top of student progress. Each student’s name is called at those meetings, and the grade-level teachers respond by giving a “thumbs up” if the student is making good progress. The lack of a “thumbs up” rating from any member of the team cues the need for further discussion.

Read More:
School-Wide Rewards

Read more about rewards in these articles from the Education World archive.

Strategies That Work: Rewards
These Education World articles explore the subject of classroom rewards and offer teacher and expert suggestions for getting the most bang for your motivational buck.

Preferred Activity Time (PAT) Is Preferred by Kids and Teachers
A description of one reward plan offered by Fred Jones in his book Positive Classroom Discipline.

Preferred Activity Time (PAT): Learning to Give in Order to Get
Fred Jones offers more tips for making PAT work.

Classroom Rewards Reap Dividends for Teachers and Students
Ten tips for using rewards in the classroom.

Carrots or Sticks? Alfie Kohn on Rewards and Punishment
Alfie Kohn, an outspoken critic of rewards, shares his views and talks about how teachers can encourage intrinsic motivation.

“As principal, it is important for me to stay connected with the kids,” Riposo-Conley told Education World. “Our monthly meetings help to ensure that no child falls between the cracks.”

The monthly thumbs-up conversations focus on five areas of student growth: academics, behavior, and social, emotional, and physical development. “Our school is located in a high-poverty area, so our entire staff understands that many variables play a part in educating our students,” said Riposo-Conley. “If a child doesn’t earn a thumbs-up rating from all grade-level teachers in all five areas of growth, we discuss the child’s needs and make sure he or she gets needed support.”

Riposo-Conley keeps at her fingertips a grid that identifies students who need support in any growth area.

REWARDING THE
“ESSENTIAL PIECES”

In addition to the monthly thumbs-up meetings, the staff at Franklin Elementary works each year to develop incentives and rewards to ensure continued student growth in all areas. Last year’s school-wide theme was “You Are an Essential Piece!” Each day, teachers handed out a puzzle-piece shaped card to one student who deserved recognition for effort, a show of good character, academic reasons, or another area of expected growth. The piece included the student’s name and the reason he or she was selected.

“Students placed their puzzle pieces in a designated location in the cafeteria,” said Riposo-Conley. “Then, each Friday, ten puzzle pieces were drawn. The students’ names were announced over the PA, and they came to see me for a small token of recognition.”

Each month’s newsletter spotlighted the “Precious Pieces at Franklin” and the puzzle pieces were displayed in the school’s main hallway, where they served as an incentive to all students.