I would use the sticker and reward program. You make a chart of all the kids names and for every thing they do right they get a sticker beside their name. When they get lets say 5 or10 stickers they get a coupon. Then for every so many coupons they get lets say a candy or granola bar or a small toy or trinket or they get a certificate of a appreciation or something to keep them interested. Then if you want the howl class to work towards a goal then you can say when the whole class reaches a 100 or 200 sticker together they get a field trip to the park or ten minuets extra recess or a game day or a pizza party or something like that. You could take a pole on what the class would like to do or what would keep them motivated the most or something like that to get some ideas from the kids they would be the best source. I hope this helps give you some ideas. Good Luck!

The first thing you should do is not go in with negative thoughts. It’s a bad way to start the year off. Get to know your students and what they like. I really am not a firm believer in giving awards for things students should do, but there are these little incentive charts that you can give each student. Everyday, when they have finished all that was required of them and stayed out of trouble, they receive a sticker. At the end of the week or month, you would give each student a prize. A different type of prize for the different level of points. Below is a printable incentive chart, but they can also be found at any teacher store. You could also do coupons: No homework pass, free choice, computer time…etc.

Printable Chart: http://www.janbrett.com/games/incentive_charts.htm

Charts that can be purchased:

http://www.abcteacher.com/catalog/tf-inccht.shtml

You should get a jar and 100 marbles. When they reach 100 marbles, then they have a marble party. The party can be anything you wish, a movie, cupcakes, five extra minutes of recess etc.

Here is what I did when I taught second grade. At the beginning of the year I made it easy for them to earn marbles allowing them to earn a marble party really quickly. Reward them for everything that is positive; raising hands, standing in line quietly, turning in homework etc. etc. As the year progresses make it harder for them to earn the marbles. They will keep each other in line and will respect you.

Good luck, the hard classes are the ones you will end up loving the most.

I really like using “money” as an incentive/reward system.

It teaches them budgeting, money skills and its realistic.

I don’t know about 3rd graders, but by 4th/5th, I’ve used

checks, banks and tellers in the classroom. They thought

it was cool that they were given a “bank account” and had

to write out checks for pencils, erasers, extra-time on tests,

turning in papers late, etc. They also used that checking account to go to the student store and purchase goods.

I am a teacher and I always give out Jolly Ranchers. I give them to students who help clean, answer correctly, etc. Food is always a great motivator for younger kids!