Hang in there!

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Home : 2004 : September : 23

Hang in there!
By Sameproblem!

I'm in the same boat. I have a teeny-tiny classroom and so if I don't keep some kind of order it appears to be chaos in the room. Therefore, although I'm a softy at heart, I have to become "the enforcer" with a heart of gold
in the classroom. That means I enforce the rule consistently so they know I mean business, but I always let them know later how much I care about them and how much it "pains" me to see them trip up--which is only human from time to time.
I'm also trying the ticket reward system and I will select 8 winners on Friday. This time, I've placed a special surprise coupon in the reward basket

that they may choose. It's pizza lunch in the classroom with me. Of course I will have to get their parents permission. I may use thie particular reward sporadically, so that they never know when it will return and they will always be trying just in case. Who doesn't love pizza? Although it's costs some of my time and money, I'm hoping it will be worth it down the line in terms of better behavior.

I know some people are against external rewards; however, many of the children in my classroom are coming from homes where there is little structure, support or attention; therefore, I work with external rewards until that internal motivation kicks in hopefully down the line.

Hope that helps.