bean Jar

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bean Jar
By kali

I know a fourth grade teacher that has a bean jar. The bean jar is used for vocabulary and spelling words. Every time one of the students finds one of their words in a magazine, book, newspaper or hears it on the radio
or TV, they share it with the class and they are rewarded with a bean in the jar. The students LOVE this, as it gives them real meaning to the words and it is a chance to help your class community. Once the jar is filled the class has a bean party, where everything is on theme.........greenbeans, Lima beans, jelly beans, etc etc.
Stacie,
You never "wean" students off of behavior

managment plans or reward systems. All classrooms are going to do different things and that is part of growing up to be a learner who has ample opportunites, to both be taught at their mode of inquiry comfort level, yet equally have to step out of that zone so they can expierence those learning styles that are not their strongest too.

You need to understand something very important. It is so wonderful that you have a high tolerance level for room activity and the kids can chat anytime they want and you would rather talk things out than to have any system in place that used a visual representation of behavior. A lesson for you is this; it is not about you or your level of tolerance. It is your responsibility to provide a classroom where every single child can be successful and feel safe. When you have students with Autism, with severe economic disabilities, or speech and language challenges you learn that you need more than one way to teach children how to be community members in their classroom. A teacher talked about using a color system, along with verbal teaching of social skills and appropriate behavior. You could not understand this. This might be the system that works with a non verbal student because they have a visual to help them understand and participate. I remember when I took my teacher exam and this rude person was finished and felt the need to ask the test giver a bunch of questions. I guess she didn't think that maybe their were some test takers who worked better in silence when taking a timed test.