Earn a Reward

When I learned that Ryan was having a hard time completing his classwork, I had to come up an alternative way. He already has Communication Picture System on his desk. It tells him what to do including turning the paper work to the teacher when he is done, instead of leaving in his desk.

It took me a day to deliberate with a new idea. Bingo! I emailed to Ryan's teachers: General Education and Resource Specialist about putting each star for competing the assignment in class. After he gets five stars, he can come to my classroom for five minutes to play a computer. The more often he gets five stars, the teachers can increase him to ten stars. It will make him work harder to complete the tasks! The teachers were willing to try out my new idea.

On Monday, Ryan began to use Communication Picture System and a star chart on his desk. The Communication Pictures System really work! So does putting five stars within for days! That includes writing a complete sentence in class. (He always had to do at home, but not this time. ) Before he completed the fifth stars, he told his Resource Specialist Teacher, " I have four stars. I need one more star then I can go to my mom's room." She was shocked to see the improvement. He made a HUGE improvement. Ryan was so excited to come to my room for five minutes to do whatever he wants before he went back to class.

The first thing, he wanted to play in Tepee that I have set it up for my Thanksgiving Theme in my room. One of my youngest students joined with him for a couple of minutes. They were happy campers. As soon as he finished visiting my room for five minutes, he went straight back to work. He got another second round: a first star. He is looking forward to getting another round.

The word has spread out during lunch time. Teachers are asking me to get a copy of the chart. They too have some challenging students in their own class. Trying out new things wouldn't hurt. Thus, I have to say I literally am so proud of Ryan for earning a reward: five stars within four days.