Reinforcers

What Is It?

Using Reinforcers is a practice that supports process praise by providing positive cues in response to a student behavior. Reinforcers allow teachers to acknowledge and focus on students’ active participation, positive behavior, effort, or contributions to the learning environment at any point during the school day. Reinforcers can be tangible items, such as stickers or small prizes, or intangible motivators, such as verbal praise, social activities or special privileges. Different reinforcers may be used to motivate diverse learners as it is important to the effectiveness of this practice that the reinforcer is personalized for students.

Why Use It?

The use of reinforcers encourage desired behaviors and makes it more likely. Reinforcers also motivate learners to engage in classroom activities.

Instructional Steps:

• Identify the desired behavior/outcome (prior to the lesson or as it occurs in the lesson).

• Determine what reinforcer will motivate students to increase or repeat the behavior/outcome.

• Gather the necessary resources (tokens, prizes, stickers, etc.) needed for student motivation if tangible reinforcers are to be used.

• Name the expectation (desired behavior/outcome) to students.

• Model the desired behavior/outcome or highlight the student behavior as it happens.

• Reinforce student(s) when the behavior expectation is met and continue to reinforce the behavior as needed.

• Post the reinforcers and token system you are using as a visual reminder to the students.

• Once the classroom expectations have been taught and practiced, have students encourage one another to follow expectations by complimenting one another when they demonstrate expectations.