Case
Candy Incentives Issues

We have a student within an ESE classroom with behavioral issues. As an incentive to do the right thing, this student receives Skittles every time they are on task. This has been working for keeping the student on task. Other students see him getting candy and wonder why they are not getting any for doing the right thing. I do not want to embarrass the student that gets Skittles by explaining to the entire class that he is getting them for behavioral issues. Any advice on how to handle this?

Posted on: 10/09/19 | Views: 390
Solution #1
Top Solution
I would remove the skittles from the class gradually and transition into another reward system of earning points or money for them to spend on different things like lunch with the teacher, sitting in the teachers chair, moving desks for the day, earning a treasure box reward. Something that the whole class can participate in, not just the one student.

I fully agree!

I agree as well I have that situation going on too and I feel like children shouldn't be given candy at school by teachers unless it's a special day like a party or something I also believe that what you do for one you should do for all. There are other ways to reward students besides candy.

I agree with this approach to the solution. It will help to reward the whole class when there is positive behavior.

I agree with this! Incentives don't have to be food related, so it is best if you use a new rewarding system that all the students can participate in.

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Solution #2
It can be hard for other students to understand why one student is being rewarded for positive behavior and not them. That is why I believe in rewarding the whole class for positive behavior. Doing this also builds a strong classroom bond. I utilize a Positively Positive Pom-Pom Jar. I focus only on positive behavior and give lots of praise, and recognition when a student, students, or class do something positive. They have the opportunity to earn pom-poms for positive, kind, respectful, and encouraging behavior. A student, students, or whole class can earn pom-poms to add to the jar. Once the jar is full the whole class earns a party. I will list 5 different options on the board and the class votes for the party they want. Whichever option has the most votes wins. The day of the party the mason jar is emptied and we start all over. They have the option to have multiple parties throughout the year, its all up to them. This helps to teach them to hold their selves accountable for their actions and it helps them to learn to think before they speak, act, or react.

I agree with this! Rewarding the students as a whole is more productive and allows them to feel included.

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Solution #3
Definitely transition to a different rewarding system. Something much more simple and not involving candy as the other students are bound to also want some Skittles. Possibly a reward system with stickers on a board allowing the student to build up with good behavior to receive Skittles or a different reward.
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Solution #4
It's important for students to understand that in the classroom, it's important for students to be treated fairly, and not equally. That specific student receives some different incentives to help him because that's what he needs. Maybe introduce a different incentive for the other students to create two different systems in the classroom, but I wouldn't remove the skittles from the other students if they are working well.

Having 2 different incentives is a great idea! It allows the others to feel included and it also allows the ESE student to continue working on his behavior to get his incentive.

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Solution #5
You could try creating a skittles tally card. A mark will be placed on the card for every skittle he earns, and then at the end of the day when the students are packing up you could give him the skittles to take with him instead of eating them in class.

I don't think this is a great idea. When the student behaves, they are expected to get rewarded for it right there or they might not continue to behave. This also wouldn't be fair to the other kids because they aren't being rewarded either, even if it's in secret or because of the fact that the student is ESE.

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Solution #6
It seems that the skittles are working to keep the student on task. I think that the previous solutions are all good possibilities. Another option is to increase the amount of time that the student has to be on task before they earn the skittle. This can be done at an interval where the student is slowly working more and more to receive a skittle. It could reach the point where the student only receives one skittle per subject/ class period or even only one skittle a day as long as they continue to have better behavior.
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Solution #7
I agree with the solution
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Solution #8
Candy/snacks would be better for something like occasionally recognizing the whole class for doing a great job, but not just one student. For the student in question, pick a different reward that the students are likely not to get jealous of. Nothing food-related.
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Solution #9
I would replace the skittles with a reward system. Instead of candy because kids love candy and when they see others with it they want it too. So I would do some type of educational reward system.
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Solution #10
Transitioning is a great idea, as I read above. I think candy should be given sparingly to begin with, so you may be a little to far down the rabbit hole to take it out completely. There aren't enough Skittles in the entire world to make every student happy!
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Solution #11
From experience, try seeing if snacks would work with this student instead of skittles. If it works, now the whole class will be able to get the snack and not feel left out.
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