What would be a good treat OTHER than candy or stickers to reward my second grade class with?

Question

My second graders were kind of notorious for acting nutty when a substitute would come. One time I had seven kids all claim they had lice, so the sub sent them all to the nurse and they were found playing in the hallway.

Another time, a boy in the back of the room was throwing balls of trash into the can at the front of the room and he'd say, "I'm YAO MING!!!" (b-ball player) each time."

Well, after much punishing, lectures, etc I am proud to report that only four children in my class misbehaved for the substitute and it was very mild -- they were talking excessively.

I wanted to reward the others for being good.

Any suggestions?

Answer 1

A "no homework" pass that they can use on any evening they choose!

Answer 2

I use little erasers, little pencil toppers or cute grippers, stamps, temporary tattoos, the small little memo pads, the teeny packs of small colored pencils, pens or crayons.. etc.  Way to go for them!  I was in one of those notorious classes when I was a kid, I feel so bad now!

Answer 3

Crayons, pencils...something useful and school related.

Answer 4

i think....u might reward them with a pack of crayons ...or a set of pencil,colors,rubber....etc.

Answer 5

There is an excellent book you need to read: Punished By Rewards.  It is chock full of studies which show that rewards actually reduce good behavior.  Why bribe the kids?

Answer 6

Colorful pencils, little toys, bubbles.

Answer 7

Behaving in class is expected..kids don't deserve a reward for doing what they are supposed to do.  The kids that are misbehaving need to be punished.  At my child school..they will withhold recess for bad behavior and I think lying should be punishable.

Answer 8

pajama day (come to school in pjs); bring a toy to school day; crazy hair day; crazy hat day

activities are so much more rewarding than stuff!

Answer 9

Watching a children's movie, extra play time out or a field trip to a near by park!

Answer 10

Special privileges work too

First in line or first to go to the library or get the ball first at recess. Show them that their actions have a direct relation to what they get to do.

This way they don't get dependent on trinkets for being good

Instill in them that if you act good you get to do specail things

You would be supirse what an honor it is to be a line leader or incharge of the lights can be to a kid

Also this might sound backwards but find one of the trouble makers and make them responisble for not jus them but for a few other kids as well. Try out some simple things youwould be suprised how quickly reponsiblity straightens out kids

Answer 11

My daughter's teacher uses "chance cards" with each child's name.  Students can earn chance cards for doing well on quizzes, listening to directions, walking quietly in the halls etc.

On Friday a number of chance cards are drawn (# depends on overall class behavior that week) and the kids get a prize - sometimes it's a item like a pencil, but the more popular are the cards for a homework-free night, or a soda in the classroom (soda is banned), or chew gum, or lunch w/ the teacher or principal.  Or even "sit by your friend" day.

Answer 12

My kids teachers go to the everything is a dollar store and buys the packages of whistles, balls, cards etc that are atually for the party loot bags and then hands them out as a reward to the kids.  they also have the behavoir chart and at the end of the month all of the kids that got a check next to their name at the end of everyday gets to have a popcorn party and the others go to the library to study.  The treats she gives out are cheap and useless but the kids think they have gotten a million bucks.