283. Can't Miss Classic: Why Reaching for a Reward System Might Be the Wrong First Move

Rewards might feel like an easy classroom management solution, but are they actually making your life harder? In this Can't Miss Classic, we’re taking a closer look at when rewards help, when they can backfire, and how to use them more intentionally. We’re sharing why you probably don’t need a reward system from day one, how to use short-term and surprise rewards strategically, and simple ways to build classroom community without turning every positive behavior into a transaction.

Prefer to read? Grab the original episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/back-to-school-classroom-management/

Resources:

• Order our book: Structure and Spark
• Join the Teacher Approved Club!
• December Teacher Planner
• Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink
• Skylight Calendar
• Dr Scholl’s Women’s Sneaker
• Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
• Shop our teacher-approved resources.
• Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
• Leave a comment or rating on Spotify.

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 148, ​​How to Build Positive Relationships with Your Students at Back-to-School
• Episode 114, Elementary Teacher Questions Answered Part 1
• Episode 103, When to Use Rewards to Boost Your Behavior Management – And When Not To
• Episode 87, 4 Important Ways to Build Classroom Community at Back to School
• Episode 73, 4 Reasons Why Affirming Students Is The Most Important Goal for Back to School

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the Teacher Approved Club, where members get seasonal morning work pages for grades K–5 this month to add fall and holiday fun without throwing off their routines: https://secondstorywindow.net/club