Not that long ago, a friend of mine showed me how some teachers now used a reward program in their classrooms similar to that of video games, namely, the leveling up systems found in RPGs. Here is a program I intend to use in my own classroom.
PERK POINTS
Perk Points: In my class, students will have the opportunity to earn perk points based on behavior, participation, and academic performance. When a student fails to follow the class procedures, that child risks forfeiting some of the points she or he had earned for that day. At the end of the day, they get to keep however many points they still have. A hardworking student can expect to earn up to six perk points per school day. These points are accumulative. As students amass more points, they may achieve higher Levels.
Levels: Every student in my class begins the school year at Level One. As each student rises to a new level by collecting a certain number of perk points, they will earn the right to choose from a list of rewards called Perks, which I have listed on the following page.
Class Perks: In addition to collecting perk points for themselves, students will also earn points for each other. All perk points collected by every student in class (at the end of each school day) are matched in a Class Pool. Class pool points amass to earn rewards that the entire class gets to enjoy. I’ve listed these perks on the last page of this handout.
Perks
Level Two: A student achieves Level Two when she or he has amassed 20 Perk Points. When a student reaches Level Two, she or he may choose one of the following two Perks:
· 10 extra minutes of free time every day, or
· One time only, the student may add 100 Perk Points to the Class Pool (see final page of handout for those perks associated with the Class Pool).
Level Three: A student achieves Level Three when she or he has amassed 40 Perk Points. When a student reaches Level Three, she or he may choose one of the following two Perks:
· The student receives one additional, extra credit question on every quiz and test, or
· For the next five school days, every student receives an additional 2 Perk Points at the end of the day (these will not be added to the Class Pool).
Level Four: A student achieves Level Four when she or he has amassed 80 Perk Points. When a student reaches Level Four, she or he may choose one of the following two Perks:
· The student receives an additional 20 Perk Points, or
· The student may wear a hat in class (but only while in the classroom).
(Continue to Next Page!)
Level Five: A student achieves Level Five when she or he has amassed 140 Perk Points. When a student reaches Level Five, she or he may choose one of the following two Perks:
· One time only, the student may select one other classmate. That classmate receives 40 Perk Points, or
· One time only, the student may add 40 Perk Points to their own total.
Level Six: A student achieves Level Six when she or he has amassed 220 Perk Points. When a student reaches Level Six, she or he may choose one of the following two Perks:
· Once per test and quiz, the student may select one question. That question is automatically treated as if answered correctly, or
· The student may roll a six-sided die. The entire class receives Perk Points equal to the result times ten. In other words, if the result is a three, then every student receives 30 Perk Points. These points are not added to the Class Pool.
Level Seven: A student achieves Level Seven when she or he has amassed 300 Perk Points. When a student reaches Level Seven, she or he may choose one of the following three Perks:
· Once per week, the student may wear appropriate pajamas to class, or
· Every student receives a fun, extra credit opportunity, or
· The student receives Double Perk Points for the next ten school days.
(Continue to Next Page!!)
Level Eight: A student achieves Level Eight when she or he has amassed 400 Perk Points. When a student reaches Level Two, she or he may choose one of the following three Perks:
· The student receives Triple Perk Points for the next eight school days, or
· Double Perk Points for all students for the next five school days, or
· Triple Perk Points for Class Pool for the next two school days.
Level Nine: A student achieves Level Nine when she or he has amassed 500 Perk Points. When a student reaches Level Nine, she or he may choose one of the following three Perks:
· After the next test or quiz, add to the Class Pool 50 Perk Points for every A that the students earn, and add to the Class Pool 30 Perk Points for every B that the students earn, or
· The student receives a bag of M&M’s (parents will be contacted for possible food allergies) at the end of every day for the next five school days, or
· Every student receives a bag of M&M’s (parents will be contacted for possible food allergies) at the beginning of every day for the next two school days.
(Continue to Next Page!!!)
Level Ten: A student achieves Level Ten when she or he has amassed 620 Perk Points. When a student reaches Level Nine, she or he may choose one of the following three Perks:
· Every day for the next five school days, each of the student’s classmates receives a bonus number of Perk Points equal to however many the student receives, or
· The student may choice to lose 100 Perk Point and return to Level Nine, but the classmate of the student’s choice will automatically receive enough Perk Points to rise to the next level (these changes will not affect the Class Pool), or
· The student may select and enjoy one perk from any one of the previous levels.
Gold Level!: A student achieves Gold Level! When she or he has amassed 740 Perk Points. When a student reaches Gold Level!, she or he may choose one of the following three Perks:
· The student may choose NOT to receive a perk, but instead select another student (or select her- or himself), and the selected student may receive ALL of her or his perks when she or he next gains a level, or
· The student will receive an additional 5% on all of her or his tests and quizzes, or
· ALL students in the classroom receive an additional 3% on all of their tests and quizzes.
(Don’t Stop Now! The Best is Yet to Come!! Next Page!!!)
Hyper-Sweet Level!!! (words cannot describe the Awesome): A student achieves Hyper-Sweet Level!!! when she or he has amassed 900 Perk Points. When a student reaches Hyper-Sweet Level!!!, she or he may choose one of the following three Perks:
· The student selects another student. The selected student may receive ALL of her or his perks when she or he next gains a level, or
· All students receive an additional 5 Perk Points every day, or
· Add 200 Perk Points to the Class Pool.
Class Perks!!!
White Belt: The Class Pool has reached a total of 500 Perk Points. When this happens, the class has earned a video and popcornJ
Green Belt: The Class Pool has reached a total of 1000 Perk Points. When this happens, the class has earned a pizza partyJ
Blue Belt: The Class Pool has reached a total of 2000 Perk Points. When this happens, the class has earned a classroom visit from an age-appropriate comedian.
Purple Belt: The Class Pool has reached a total of 5000 Perk Points. When this happens, the class has earned a field trip to a play (Parents interested in chaperoning are invited to contact me ).
Red Belt: The Class Pool has reached a total of 9000 Perk Points. When this happens, the class has earned a field trip to the movie theater (Parents interested in chaperoning please contact me at either).
Black-and-silver-with-pink-polka-dots Belt: The Class Pool has reached 15000 Perk Points. When this happens, the class has earned a field trip to Chucky Cheese (Parents interested in chaperoning Please! contact me).
Parents will be contacted to check for any possible food allergies that their children might have.
