Tips For Establishing An Accountability System

Every child is "wired differently". So, you have an opportunity to customize accountability measures for your child, unlike the one-size-fits-all scenario that tends to occur in a traditional classroom.

Set time aside to discuss the reward system with your child before school begins. Explain that the system will be designed to encourage doing the very best in school (whatever that means for the child). Ask your child to start thinking about a few rewards that can be earned.

Here are a few options for rewards that might stimulate some thoughts:

• Use tangible items such as stars and stickers for young children, and consider a more significant reward when a certain number of stars/stickers have been earned.

• Allow immediate access to desired privileges for older children (e.g., gaming time or another reward that is desirable).

• Depending on the age and grade level of your child, considering using a system of rewards and points that allows your child to earn the desired reward after reaching an agreed upon number of points.

• A variation on the point/reward system is to allow your child to either: (1) take the earned reward or (2) “bank” points until there are enough points to earn a higher value reward. (This may or may not work, depending on the child. Your child might lose interest if the desired reward cannot be claimed for a long period of time. Be watchful, and renegotiate the terms of the accountability system or how your child is using the system if you begin to see a decline in your child’s engagement in school.)

Two sets of questions have been prepared for you. They will guide you as you can explain your expectations about school behaviors and identify the kinds of rewards that are meaningful to your child. The guided lists of questions are in table form and are based on common areas of concern for our UVA students.

Please take a look at the resources that we have prepared for you, and download them to your device if you think they will be helpful (or .

1. Click here to view and download a table of questions regarding expectations about school work. Note the type of motivation (i.e., intrinsic or extrinsic) that the question is associated with.

2. Click here to view and download a table of questions that will help you identify rewards that can be earned based on the expectations that were discussed in the previous set of questions.

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Here are a few keywords and phrases that are commonly associated with the development of student accountability systems:

• Praise for meaningful accomplishments.

• Set milestones to reach, and display them.

• Tap into known motivators or ask questions to discover what they are.

• Let your child have some choices about what is earned and how it is earned.

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NOTE:

If your child needs frequent, short term goals during the day to stay motivated, set up the system so that your child is able to earn partial points towards the daily goal(s) at checkpoints throughout the day. For example, set up the system so your child earns 50% of the daily points for some of the goals at a midday checkpoint if everything has been accomplished for those goal(s) at that point.

Or, if you are able to acknowledge progress towards daily goals more frequently during the day (e.g., after each lesson is completed and summarized), do that so your child receives frequent feedback and is able to measure progress towards the daily reward.

After you have gathered information from your child and have agreed upon the desired goals and associated rewards, organize everything in a format that can be updated and re-used week after week. Options include:

• A displayable chart

• A laminated sheet

• A printed sheet per week

• An electronic version (e.g., a Word document or Excel spreadsheet)

• An erasable whiteboard

Involve your child in the creation of whatever option you select. A tech savvy middle school or high school student can help you create a Word document or Excel spreadsheet. An elementary or middle school student can help you create a wall chart, etc.

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NOTE:

There are accountability templates online that can be downloaded and modified for your purposes. Feel free to search online, or go to this website where you can browse for ideas.

• Start using the system as soon as the semester begins so that a routine is established.

• Display the accountability goals and rewards somewhere where your child can see them (and where you will be reminded to apply them).

• Evaluate your child's progress every day and every week according to the measures that were agreed upon. Be consistent.

• Maintain a weekly history so that you can look for trends. (For example, take photos of wall charts; save electronic versions every week, etc.)

• Consider granting a surprise bonus reward after a sustained period of meeting goals to keep your child motivated or to recognize significant improvement.

• Revisit the accountability system and update it periodically to keep it fresh and meaningful for your at-home learner.