ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Students have five (5) goals to accomplish during each class period.  These goals are DOING EVERYTHING WITH RESPECT, HAVING A SAFE BODY AND SAFE WORDS, STAYING ON TASK, FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS WITHOUT DELAY, AND WORKING ON THEIR PERSONAL GOAL - WHICH IS UNIQUE TO EACH CHILD. 

Students earn one point for each accomplished goal for a total of 5 points per period. There are 10 periods in a full day and students have the opportunity to earn 50 points per day. Students accumulate these points during the week and use them to earn daily privileges and weekly store. The daily privileges are for students who earn 95% or better (45 to 50 points) and allow students to have 15 minutes of fun time on the classroom computer. The weekly store allows students to use 5 days of accumulated points to shop in the classroom store, which contains small toys or special snacks.

Students mark their own points to the best of their ability at the end of each period and base it on the 5 goals which are clearly posted in the classroom and mentioned in the above paragraph. Teachers also monitor the child’s points throughout the day and students have the opportunity to conference with the teacher about the total of the earned points the next morning. At this time, the student and teacher can make plans to focus on the child’s strengths and come up with daily strategies to give more attention to the child’s needs.

HIGHER POINTS CLUB
Along with the weekly school store, a student has the opportunity to earn a place in the higher points club. This voluntary reward program was suggested and co-developed by the students of the Lower Elementary and recognizes outstanding achievement. Students have the opportunity to earn 50 points per day for a total possible 250 points per week. Students also have the opportunity to earn bonus points each period for exhibiting exemplary behavior such as doing extra work, or being extra polite or helpful.  As such, it is possible for students to not only achieve 250 points per week but they may even earn higher than 250 points in a given week. When a child earns 250 points or higher in a given week, he or she enters the higher points club. Accordingly, this student receives an extra 10 points to spend in school store, a certificate of achievement with ribbon, and his or her picture taken which is then placed on the higher point’s club wall. Once a child achieves a place in the higher points club he or she can not be removed until the school year is over. Conversely, when a child earns the higher points club more than once, he or she receives an extra 10 points to spend in school store each time and the child’s picture is put in a silver colored frame, then  a gold colored frame and then ribbons are hung from the frame for each placement after 3 times.

Sensory Integration
Sensory integration teaches children to be aware of their internal controls and what their bodies need. Familiarizing children with this program allows them to utilize various tools to help themselves.  Some of the sensory integration tools our children use are: the use of hand signals to express their needs when words are too difficult, sensory breaks where students are allowed to take a small squishy ball to an empty room for a few minutes and play catch by tossing it against the wall, squeezing Koosh, rice, or other related sensory balls to help them focus in the classroom, exercises (crab walks, humping hacks, wall push-ups, etc.) Students may also ask for a break or space at which time they may wish to go to a clear area in the back of the room and just sit quietly for a few minutes to help them regain their focus and control.