Submitted by Monica Autry, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina

Idea posted October 8, 2003

I usually have well over 500 students in my school. It becomes quite expensive when you buy reward prizes for that many students. I know, because I've done it! I had a principal a couple of years ago that encouraged teachers to reward students differently. She told us that we absolutely could not reward students with food. She also frowned on stickers, tangible prizes, etc. So what was I to do!! It really made me think of other ways to reward my students.

I will list and describe some of the ways I reward my students. They require some planning, but work really well.

1. Terrific Musician Chair

I have a desk set aside with a large poster over it that reads, "Terrific Musician." The poster is really pretty and I put lights around it! At the chair there is a tape player (with a tape already in it), a set of instructions, and a book to sign. The students listen to one Music K-8 song with the lyric sheet printed out for them to follow along. The instructions then tell them to take out a note in the folder under their seat. (In this folder I have letters that they take home, telling their parents what a great job they did in music class. I've also made these parent notes coloring sheets. There is a web site called The Land of Music that has really cute music cartoon-type pictures.) The TM book that they sign is also a great way to prove communication with parents to administrators. You would not believe how quiet the room gets when I tell them I'm looking for a "Terrific Musician." This reward takes about 5 minutes. I keep track of whose been, and try to reward as many as possible. I tell them there is no limit to how many times they can be terrific musicians.

2. Bulletin Board

One whole wall in my classroom is a bulletin board. Each month students have a chance to put something different up on the wall, usually something seasonal.