I’ve been thinking about implementing a reward system in my classroom to promote good behavior. Has anyone tried this before? I’m curious about how well these systems actually work in practice. Do students respond positively? Are there any downsides I should be aware of? Any insights from teachers or parents would be really helpful.
In my experience, reward systems can be really effective if they’re used with care. At home, we’ve had some luck with a simple chart on our fridge where the kids earn stars for doing little things like finishing homework and helping out around the house.
What I’ve found helpful is keeping the rewards small and something they can look forward to, like a bit of extra screen time or choosing a meal. Rotating the rewards every few weeks keeps things interesting and lets them feel involved by choosing new goals. While nothing is perfect, this method has encouraged a more positive attitude and better habits at home. I imagine a similar approach could work well in a classroom setting with a few adjustments.
I used reward systems when my kids were younger. They worked okay for a while, but I had to keep changing things up to maintain interest. With my son, we tried a point system for chores and homework. He loved it at first, earning points for video game time. After a few weeks though, the excitement wore off.
For my daughter, sticker charts were a hit initially. She’d proudly show off her stickers to everyone. But soon, even that lost its appeal. We ended up trying different approaches - sometimes letting them choose rewards, other times surprising them with something fun.
What I learned is that no single system works forever. Kids’ interests change, and what motivates them shifts too. In a classroom, I imagine it’d be even trickier with so many different personalities. Flexibility and creativity seem key to keeping kids engaged long-term, whether at home or in school. 
A classroom reward system can spark initial enthusiasm, although the interest fades quickly. It often has a short-term effect without long-lasting change.
I’ve tried a sticker chart at home for my 5-year-old. It worked great at first, but now the novelty has worn off. I’m curious if teachers see the same thing in classrooms?
My child gets excited about new motivators, then loses interest. Do you find ways to keep the reward system fresh? Or is it better to change tactics entirely after a while?
I’d love to hear what’s worked for others long-term. Right now I feel like I’m always searching for the next thing to keep my kid engaged with chores and good behavior.
We’ve tried a few different reward systems at home. My kid liked earning points for chores at first, but then lost interest. Now we’re experimenting with a ‘chore jar’ - little slips of paper with tasks that my 11-year-old can pick randomly. It adds an element of surprise that keeps things more engaging. We’re still figuring out what works best, but mixing things up seems to help maintain interest. I’m curious how teachers handle this in a classroom with lots of different personalities!