For regular education classroom teachers, giving rewards in exchange for good behavior is a mistake.

It’s true that “do this and get that” type rewards can improve behavior in short term. But incentives of this nature, don’t benefit students in the long run and make classroom management more difficult.

For real, lasting behavior improvement, focus instead on creating a classroom that nurtures intrinsic motivation.

Rewards turn good behavior into work. This effectively makes good behavior less desirable and more like an effort your students deserve to be paid for.

Rewards lead to entitlement. They will feel entitled to receive something for merely doing what is expected.

To deepen these feelings, and to get your students to want to behave-for themselves and for the betterment of your classroom-stop rewarding them for good behavior.

Instead, support it, encourage it and feed it by creating a classroom your students love coming to everyday.

By: Carmina F. Gloria | Teacher I | Wawa Elementary School | Abucay, Bataan