Encouraging positive behavior that's conducive to a safe learning environment is the essence of classroom management.
Treasure Chest can be used solely or alongside other techniques. This method takes some maintenance, but should cost you very little with exciting rewards.
Follow this plan to prep:
1. Collect small age appropriate items for your students (e.g. McDonald's Happy Meal toys, party favors, company giveaway items).
2. Use a shoebox for the token holder and larger sturdy box container for your treasure chest. Decorating ideas include covering in foil and glitter or securing with an old belt to look rustic and more mystical.
3. Find an image you like to use as your "treasure tokens" (e.g. gems like the ones above or gold coins). Copy into Word, print, and cut down to size.
4. *Important! Introduce the method to your class before implementing.* An ideal time is at the beginning of the day when the children are alert and attentive to new ideas and information. An exciting way to introduce is by explaining to the children that you have found a special treasure chest full of wonderful treats. When someone does something good then they will receive a gem token (e.g. pushes in their chair, raises their hand before speaking - tailor to your students and specific children's needs for the positive behaviors that you want to encourage). The student writes their name on the back and places in the token holder box. Explain to the children that the more tokens they recieve the greater their chance is of winning some treasure!
5. Select one day a week that you will make the selection, and depending on the amount of toys you have then you can select 1-3 children to win per week. When you do the treasure drawing, have each winning child share with the class why they received some tokens that week (to reflect on the positive behavior(s)) and how they feel now that they've won a prize (reinforces continuation of positive behavior(s)).
This concept can also be tied in with probability and economics teaching and learning in your classroom. :)
Treasure Chest can be used solely or alongside other techniques. This method takes some maintenance, but should cost you very little with exciting rewards.
Follow this plan to prep:
1. Collect small age appropriate items for your students (e.g. McDonald's Happy Meal toys, party favors, company giveaway items).
2. Use a shoebox for the token holder and larger sturdy box container for your treasure chest. Decorating ideas include covering in foil and glitter or securing with an old belt to look rustic and more mystical.
3. Find an image you like to use as your "treasure tokens" (e.g. gems like the ones above or gold coins). Copy into Word, print, and cut down to size.
4. *Important! Introduce the method to your class before implementing.* An ideal time is at the beginning of the day when the children are alert and attentive to new ideas and information. An exciting way to introduce is by explaining to the children that you have found a special treasure chest full of wonderful treats. When someone does something good then they will receive a gem token (e.g. pushes in their chair, raises their hand before speaking - tailor to your students and specific children's needs for the positive behaviors that you want to encourage). The student writes their name on the back and places in the token holder box. Explain to the children that the more tokens they recieve the greater their chance is of winning some treasure!
5. Select one day a week that you will make the selection, and depending on the amount of toys you have then you can select 1-3 children to win per week. When you do the treasure drawing, have each winning child share with the class why they received some tokens that week (to reflect on the positive behavior(s)) and how they feel now that they've won a prize (reinforces continuation of positive behavior(s)).
This concept can also be tied in with probability and economics teaching and learning in your classroom. :)