Reinforcement Systems for Classrooms

Effective implementation of positive reinforcement requires careful consideration of factors that help maximize its benefits and ensure its success. 

Be Clear and Consistent

To use positive reinforcement effectively in the classroom, it's important to be clear and consistent. Set clear rules and guidelines for your students and make sure they stick to them. Take the time to review these expectations with your students when necessary. 

For example, a teacher may want to reinforce the behavior of students raising their hands before speaking in class. In this case, they can set a clear guideline that students must raise their hands and wait to be called on before speaking. Follow this up by rewarding the desired behavior with praise, extra merits, stars, stickers, etc.

Make the Reinforcement Immediate

For any type of reinforcement to be effective, it needs to be implemented immediately after the behavior. In the case of positive reinforcement, you must give the reward right after the desirable behavior occurs. This means that as soon as the student does something desirable, they receive the reward immediately.

For example, Sarah completes her homework on time. To reinforce this behavior, her teacher gives her a sticker immediately after she turns in her homework. Sarah enjoys collecting stickers, so receiving one right after completing her homework encourages her to continue doing it on time in the future.

Never Take Rewards Away!

Once a student earns a sticker, prize, token, or coupon, it's important to recognize their effort. The child is proud of their achievement. 

Do not punish them by taking away something they worked hard to achieve. If they earned it, they should keep it, regardless of their behavior afterward.

For example, Sarah earns a sticker for completing her homework on time, but later in the day, she talks out of turn during a lesson. Even though she misbehaved, her teacher shouldn't take away the sticker she earned earlier for doing her homework.

Choose Something That is Motivating

When choosing to reward your students, make sure it is something that will motivate them and keep them interested. It is important to pick something everyone can enjoy and that will be well-received by your students’ parents. 

For example, sweets and desserts might not be a good choice because some students may have allergies or health conditions like diabetes, and some parents might not want their children to have too much sugar.

Make Sure the Reward is Attainable

Another crucial aspect to consider when implementing positive reinforcement in the classroom is setting realistic expectations for all students. It's important to make sure that every child has the opportunity and ability to meet the expectations you have set.

For example, you’re planning a class reward system where students need to read four books in a month to earn a class pizza party. Before implementing this, consider if the task is achievable for all students.

If there are some struggling readers in the class, expecting them to read four books over that time frame might be too difficult. While it's good to motivate and challenge the class, setting unrealistic goals can make these students feel anxious and discouraged. It might also lead to pressure from their peers, which could make the situation worse if they do not earn the reward.

Social reinforcement involves gaining approval from your peers, teachers, or other adults outside the school setting. Some examples are discussed below.

Verbal and Non-Verbal Praise 

Verbal praise means using positive words to appreciate a student's behavior. Instead of using generalized comments like "Good job” or “Well done," be specific about what they did well. For example, you might say, "Great job for finishing your work on time!" 

However, it is also important to know your students well so that praise doesn't make them uncomfortable. For example, a shy or timid student might feel uncomfortable with too much attention and may avoid participating in the future to avoid being noticed. Be mindful of how you praise them. 

In situations where speaking is not possible, use gestures like a thumbs up to show approval.

Comments and Written Approval 

Writing encouraging comments on a student's work can motivate them to keep doing their best. Comments like "Keep up the good work!" or "This is excellent; keep it up!" can boost their confidence. 

It's important to vary your comments for each student so everyone feels valued. If everyone receives the same remark, they are likely to become indifferent. 

Sending letters home to parents praising their child's achievements can also reinforce positive behavior. When students know their parents are proud of them, they are more likely to continue doing well.

Privilege-based reinforcement is all about giving students special privileges when they meet certain expectations. These privileges are things they don't normally get to do, so it's like a reward for their behavior.

High-Profile Privileges

These involve giving students special privileges for a certain amount of time when they do something well. This will encourage them to keep up the good work.

These privileges are usually noticeable to everyone in the class. By offering these special perks, you're also showing everyone in the class that you recognize and appreciate the student's efforts. This can inspire other students to behave well too.

Examples of high-profile privileges include: 

• Letting the student sit in the teacher's chair during quiet reading time
• Allowing the student to choose which equipment to use during recess
• Making the student  the teacher's special assistant for a while
• Giving the student  an early start for break time

Special Activity Privileges

Another way to use privilege-based reinforcement is by letting students who meet certain expectations participate in fun and special activities for a specific amount of time. 

This means that when students demonstrate desired behavior, they get a chance to do enjoyable things. This can include:

• Playing a game
• Drawing or coloring during class
• Spending more time on the computer

You can also combine these rewards with other tools. For example, let the student choose a friend to join them in their activity. This not only doubles the reinforcement effect but also increases their social approval among classmates.

Environment Change Privileges

These include letting students change their surroundings or situations for a specific amount of time. For example:

• Allowing them to play music while they work
• Giving them free time after a lesson to relax
• Letting them work outside of the classroom for a change of scenery

Material reinforcement involves giving physical items or prizes as rewards. These types of rewards can be especially motivating and effective during certain times, like at the beginning of the school year after a long break or towards the end of the term when students are eager for vacation.

Depending on the age and size of the class, you can use various items for positive reinforcement, such as pencils, erasers, small toys, stickers, balloons, medals, or certificates. These tangible rewards can encourage students to continue displaying positive behaviors and efforts in their learning.

Targeting and Rewarding a Specific Behavior 

Follow the steps below to target and reward a specific behavior you want to encourage in your class:

• Pick the behavior you want to focus on, like being on time or handing in homework.
• Describe it clearly so that everyone knows exactly what the behavior looks like so it's easy to spot.
• Keep track of how often the desired behavior is demonstrated over a few days for the whole class.
• Share the data with your class and set a reachable goal for them to improve.
• Think of rewards with your students to come up with fun options, like extra playtime or stickers.
• Keep an eye on the behavior and share updates with your class every day.
• Offer a reward if everyone does well and let a student pick a surprise from a bag for the whole class.
• Get ready to change the system when everyone's doing great by using tokens instead of material rewards to show success.

In this system, you can create a classroom economy where students earn tokens, tickets, or coupons when they show desired behaviors. The token itself doesn’t have much value and is intended as a placeholder for the actual upcoming rewards. 

If a student collects enough tokens, they can trade them in for a valuable reward. For example, a certain number of coupons might let a student pick a special prize or privilege.

To make sure this system works, everyone in the class needs to know what the tokens can get them. And remember, tickets should only be valid for a specific amount of time, like each day or week.

Some teachers prefer the group reward as a way to foster cooperation and a sense of community.

Individual reinforcement systems can be helpful for students who struggle with group rewards or need help with specific behaviors or skills. 

Teachers can create a system where each student earns tokens or rewards based on their behavior. This does not mean getting rid of group rewards entirely, rather it is an extra system to help certain students.

For example, Alex often gets distracted during independent work time. His teacher decides to use a special plan just for him. Alex earns tokens or stickers for every five minutes of focused work completed without distractions. 

This individualized approach can help Alex stay focused and motivated on the task while still benefiting from the overall positive reinforcement system in the classroom.