Show Me The Money: Behavior Management Using Bonus Bucks

Everyone always compliments me about my behavior management. Well, I have to say it's all because of the bonus bucks I use. This is like candy to a little kid... they crave them! My students will work really hard to earn these bonus bucks just so they can go to the treasure box! Crazy right? Well, it works, but the trick is, to be consistent, practice what you preach, and show fairness to all. If you do that your students will know that you mean business and will work even harder for you. Bonus bucks are kept in a cup on the students' desk. This cup is just for their eyes and hands, and they are not allowed to touch any other students' cup of money. Here is a picture of my bonus bucks: 

Bonus Bucks

Every week the students earn their bonus bucks by saying "Thank you" when called on, being a secret walker, winning the pack 'n stack race, winning desk contest, being a good helper and peer facilitator, and having great quality work. However, they can also have them taken away by not listening, not following directions, and not being respectful.  I tell my students it's just like in real life... if you get stopped by a Police Officer because you were speeding in your car, you have to pay a fine. Well, same goes here in the classroom, if you break the rules, you have to pay a fine. This really helps the students understand the importance of following the classroom rules. Once they have to give you their bonus bucks, they are very careful not to make that same mistake again. Every Friday the students get a chance to go pick something out of the treasure box. Each week I set a certain amount of money they need to have. If they do not have that amount of money, they have to wait until the following week.  I also tie this into real life situations. I tell them if I go to the store and I see something I really want to buy, but I don't have enough money, then I will go back home and save some more money and work hard and then when I have enough, I will go back and buy whatever it was I wanted. Hard work pays off!
Here is a picture of my treasure box: 

Treasure Box
Isn't it cute? I ordered it and the jewels off of Amazon. I just hot glued the jewels onto the box. Inside the box I have: stickers, stuffed animals, books, trinkets, jewelry, cute pencils and pens, holiday toys and much more. At the beginning of the school year I ask my parents to donate some toys to help our classroom.

Another positive reinforcement that I have in my classroom are my clip cards. Each student has a clip with their magic number on it. Every day all the students start on green and we go from there. If the students move UP to blue or purple, they earn 10 bonus bucks. But, if they move DOWN to yellow, orange or red, they owe me 10 bonus bucks each time. This also really helps in managing the students' behavior and having them stop earlier and make a better choice. If they are down below green, they can always move back up again. Here is a picture of my clip chart:



If the student moves down to red, they will need to write a reflection. This reflection is then put in their behavior folder and taken home for parents to sign. Here is my template:

If I want to gain the attention of my students... I don't use my voice. I use Mr. Clicker Attention Getter! All I do is click it three times when a student is talking, and they all have to look at me immediately. If I am looking at that table because they are playing or talking they have to pay me bonus bucks at the end of the day because they earned a point for our Desk Contest. This is where they compete with each other to see who the quietest table is. If they do not have any points at the end of the day, then they get 10 bonus bucks, but for each point, they owe me 10 as well. This really works great during guided reading time, or writer's workshop time. 
Here is a picture of Mr. Clicker Attention Getter: 

You can get this at the pet store! It has really saved my voice. 
If you are interested in more of my tips and tricks for behavior management using bonus bucks click on the link below.

Show me the Money! Behavior Management Using Bonus Bucks Grades 1-3

I hope you can find something helpful and useful for your classroom! 
Love, Kara 

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