So far so good.

I have been using 'Wiseman's Warehouse' as a form of positive reinforcement for the past two weeks. The results have been mostly positive. The majority of students have really responded well to the concept, trying hard to earn Wiseman Dollars. I still have a couple of students who haven't really embraced the idea. When they receive a token they show no signs of actually wanting it like the other students. I don't know if this is them putting up a front, trying to look cool and not too eager in front of their peers or if they really don't care. I'll keep working on them.

Positive reinforcement

As a part of my inquiry into increasing behavioural engagement I am looking at what I do in regards to positive reinforcement for my students. I have found that positively reinforcing my students does not come naturally to me, particularly when it comes to praising them for doing things that I expect to be normal behaviours. After all, I don't get any sort of praise/reward for stopping at red lights. However, I realise that type of thinking is wrong and that students need to be taught how to behave in a way that is acceptable and normal. If positive reinforcement is going to help with that, i'm all in.

After observing a few other teachers in action and researching what others do to positively reinforce their students I have created a system of my own. It's called Wiseman's Warehouse. When Students are working well/doing what they should be doing they get given Wiseman Dollars.  Every Friday Wiseman's Warehouse is open from 1.10pm - 1.30pm, students are able to use their Wiseman dollars to buy things such as stationary, treats or free time. So far it seems to be working well, I only have to go and reach for the Wiseman dollars and the whole class goes silent. Hopefully it continues to work well once the novelty has worn off.