Incentive Plans...It's a Team Effort!
I have thought quite a bit about behavior incentive plans within the school setting. As the inclusion ESE teacher at my school I am often asked about advice on various students...some of whom do not receive my services. I reach into my bag of tricks, reference to various behaviors, strategies and books as well as recently look back on materials obtained within my graduate research.
Devising these plans can not be a lone teacher mission, there need to be at least 2 heads in on the planning and at some point the student needs to be involved as well. I think many teachers are afraid to ask for help when it comes to managing behaviors because they feel it makes them look as if they do not know how to do their job or they cant manage the student or students at hand. I wish teachers would get rid of this stigma because even though the students are in their classes, they still belong to the school and we all need teach the students as if they belong to all of us, and this includes behavior skills and teachings as well. For example, I serve a few students in a first grade classroom who do not have any behavior issues, however another student with whom I do not serve was having difficulties with motivation and following directions. The teacher asked me for help and she and I sat down an planned an incentive plan involving matchbox cars (the students one and only interest), a daily behavior tracker that can be viewed and tracked throughout the day by the teacher and the student. If his daily goal was reached he would receive a matchbox car. As time went on it switched from a daly goal to a weekly goal. This plan has worked for the student. They do not always work right away, an we were prepare to have to go back to the drawing board, but the point is we did it together. At the moment the student knows if he does what he is supposed to he will get his reward, but eventually the goal is for him to do what he needs to because he is motivated to do so...in a sense we are igniting the fire within.
"A well thought-out, student-centered plan will go a long way in decreasing inappropriate behavior and in allowing students to focus on learning" (American College of Education, 2020). In order for the curbing of behaviors to happen, and the ignition of the fire within to happen, teachers need to reach out for help in creating proper incentive plans and get the support needed to keep it going. Incentive plans are not meant to be long term, but when trying to teach replacement behaviors they help in the process. I try to give that support as best I can, and I hope my coworkers know I am here to support them in everything, especially with those kiddos that prove to be most difficult.
Resource:
Devising these plans can not be a lone teacher mission, there need to be at least 2 heads in on the planning and at some point the student needs to be involved as well. I think many teachers are afraid to ask for help when it comes to managing behaviors because they feel it makes them look as if they do not know how to do their job or they cant manage the student or students at hand. I wish teachers would get rid of this stigma because even though the students are in their classes, they still belong to the school and we all need teach the students as if they belong to all of us, and this includes behavior skills and teachings as well. For example, I serve a few students in a first grade classroom who do not have any behavior issues, however another student with whom I do not serve was having difficulties with motivation and following directions. The teacher asked me for help and she and I sat down an planned an incentive plan involving matchbox cars (the students one and only interest), a daily behavior tracker that can be viewed and tracked throughout the day by the teacher and the student. If his daily goal was reached he would receive a matchbox car. As time went on it switched from a daly goal to a weekly goal. This plan has worked for the student. They do not always work right away, an we were prepare to have to go back to the drawing board, but the point is we did it together. At the moment the student knows if he does what he is supposed to he will get his reward, but eventually the goal is for him to do what he needs to because he is motivated to do so...in a sense we are igniting the fire within.
"A well thought-out, student-centered plan will go a long way in decreasing inappropriate behavior and in allowing students to focus on learning" (American College of Education, 2020). In order for the curbing of behaviors to happen, and the ignition of the fire within to happen, teachers need to reach out for help in creating proper incentive plans and get the support needed to keep it going. Incentive plans are not meant to be long term, but when trying to teach replacement behaviors they help in the process. I try to give that support as best I can, and I hope my coworkers know I am here to support them in everything, especially with those kiddos that prove to be most difficult.
What incentive plans do you use either at home or at school? What are your thoughts on the process? Comment below and share👇!
❤Author- Lindsey Cruz- Special Education Mama and Teacher
American College of Education (2020,
February 2). Module
4. Part
One: Incentives. Lecture
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