Want to hear about the only behavior management system that has consistently worked in my classroom? It includes carnival tickets and an auction! Heck yeah!
For years, I tried to find the perfect way to promote positive behavior in my classroom. I implemented a clip chart, a treasure box, classroom currency, whole group rewards, marble jar…you name it, I tried it. All worked for awhile but in the end lost their novelty or just became too time consuming to manage.
Introducing the Ultimate Behavior Management System – The Auction
Here is the quick version.
- Buy a roll of carnival tickets.
- Pass out the carnival tickets whenever you see behavior you want to reinforce. Sometimes I tell them why I am handing out tickets and sometimes I let them try to figure it out. They scramble looking around the room to see what all of the people receiving tickets have in common so they can earn one too!
- Students save their tickets. I let them know it is their responsibility to keep them in a safe place and I will not replace lost tickets.
- Finally, on the last school day each month, we hold a classroom auction. I spread out the items I will auction that day so students can bid on the items they really want. Usually between 8-10 items are best for auction (these are usually Dollar Spot or Dollar Store items). Any more items and the auction would go on forever. I do not have enough items for all students to win something auction day. We discuss this ahead of time and I remind them that they will have more tickets next month if they do not win. I always have a smaller item for sale at the end of the auction that anyone can buy (ex. Anyone can buy a mechanical pencil for 8 tickets and have enough so any student interested can purchase one.).
- Continue this every month until the end of the year. The last auction of the year is a mega auction. I auction off more items so students can use all of their saved tickets.
Class Auctions = Game Changer
- No matter how many tickets I pass out, I have a limited number of items up for auction. The more tickets I pass out the higher the auction prices go but I don’t have to spend any more money on prizes. Genius!
- Students absolutely love the excitement of the auction. I give my best auctioneer impersonation and go for it! The whole month, students speculate on the prizes and when the day comes they compete with each other for favorites.
- Tickets provide flexibility. I can pass out tickets for many reasons. If something is exceptional I give multiple tickets (but not too often).
- Putting their name on their paper. A battle at all grade levels! Am I right?
- Picking up trash on the floor. Sometimes I will watch a piece of trash. When someone picks it up, I make an announcement and award tickets. I can be dramatic. “Ding, ding, ding…We have a winner. Bobby has picked up the mystery piece of paper and thrown it in the garbage can. This has earned him 3 tickets! Ding, ding, ding!” My students are used to my outbursts and love them!
- Showing responsibility, kindness, gratitude…
- Volunteering to do something
- Taking a risk
- Exceptional behavior for guest teachers
- Just about anything you want to reinforce!
Are you looking for a new way to promote positive behavior in your classroom? Consider running an auction! Simple to implement and so much fun!
What methods of behavior management have you found effective for your class? Please share in the comments below!