The Joy Jar Classroom Management

A Behavioral Strategy Presentation

By: GraceJoy Hauser & Crystal BunnEEX 4601 Dr. Reyes

Spring 2010

The Fantastic Joy Jar!

This strategy is for lower elementary grades (Pre-K to 3rd). Our version of this strategy is geared specifically for exceptional students with varying exceptionalities.

A reward jar such as this is an easy way to use positive reinforcement with students. By focusing on their positive behaviors, teachers will encourage them to repeat these behaviors.

Pom-poms will be deposited when:

The teacher takes notice of exceptionally positive behavior such as:

• Staying in seat during Circle Time

• Act of kindness towards a friend

• Taking initiative to help teacher and others

Pom-poms will be removed when:

The teacher takes notice of negative behavior such as:

• Disrupting class• Hurting others• Running in halls

Rewards or Privileges

• Together with the students, decide on what rewards or privileges they will earn and explain the behaviors that will earn those.- ie. movie to watch, class pizza party, or class field trip.

• It’s a good idea to have multiple levels of rewards so kids will be encouraged to continue with their positive behavior!

Who is this strategy appropriate for?

Due to its basis in Skinner’s Behaviorist “token economy”

type theories, I would recommend a behavioral strategy such

as this for use particularly with elementary-level students. Although it may work with lower-functioning middle school

children, chances are they may feel it is childish and not buy

into the concept of marbles as a means to the reward or

privilege at the end.

Project Joy Jar in Action!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlG_jKeMqsg

Materials

To create your own Joy Jar, you’ll need:

• A large, clear jar. - Preferably plastic to avoid nasty accidents in the classroom!

• Lots and lots of colorful marbles, buttons, beads, or other suitable material students can easily see accumulating in the jar.

• A list of behaviors that will earn marbles, as well as those behaviors that will have marbles removed from jar. - This can be created with students so as to provide a sense of ownership of their classroom.

• List of rewards or privileges for when marbles reach certain levels.- It’s a good idea to have multiple levels of rewards so kids will be encouraged to continue with their positive behavior!

*You can find these materials in any craft store such as Michaels and Joanne’s.

Source

Step by step explanation of how to create and implement the marble jar at home or

in your own classroom:http://www.ehow.com/how_4804551_reward-jar-improve-childs-behavior.html One teacher’s class blog featuring pictures of her own marble

jar:http://sites.google.com/site/abmadson/classroommanagement