Authored by Deanna Proach in Child Education
Published on 07-09-2009

Reward systems are an excellent way to engage young children in school lessons and homework. Today, teachers are using reward systems as a way to praise students’ good behavior and to help children remember the classroom rules and pleasant manners. Teachers commonly reward students based on good behavior and academic performance. A student’s academic performance is based on his or her strive to do well on tests and projects and to turn in homework on time.

There are quite a few rewards that teachers give to students who follow classroom rules and perform well in their studies. Students who behave properly and hand in their homework on time with good results might be given the opportunity to be the line leader. They may also have the opportunity to choose a game for one gym lesson. These kinds of rewards help boost confidence and self-esteem in children. Some reward systems that teachers are creating are ones that teach children responsibility, while praising their good behavior at the same time.

One reward system that teachers of young children are increasingly using is the star system. A child is rewarded a star when he or she completes homework on time, is not disruptive in the classroom and does not fight with his or her peers. Stars are often rewarded to students at the beginning or end of each day. Once students accumulate as much as twenty stars, they are given the opportunity to choose a small toy or candy bag from the classroom treasure chest. This reward system is most popular in K-grade 3 classrooms.

Another unique and creative reward system that teachers are now using in their classrooms is the dollar reward system. Students receive a paper dollar each day they complete and submit homework on time. They also receive a paper dollar if they follow the classroom rules and are given no time-outs or warnings for bad behavior. There are three plastic containers that contain a variety of candy, toy and school products. Items in the cheap box will cost five dollars and under in paper dollars. Items in the medium box cost $6-20 dollars and items in the expensive box cost anywhere from $20 to $100. Children have the option of saving their paper dollars for an expensive prize or they can spend it all on cheaper items. Regardless of how they choose to spend their paper dollars, the dollar reward system does give children an incentive to achieve good grades and behave well in the classroom.