January 2026 - Next Day Teaching

Why Individual Behavior Charts Don’t Teach Students What We Think They Do

When faced with the burnout that creeps in with whole-class reward systems, many teachers shift to using individual behavior charts. These could be clip charts, behavior cards, color systems, names on the board, etc. I’ve used some of these systems myself. I’ve seen many teachers use others. Here’s what I’ve noticed over time: Whole-class systems […]

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Shiny golden trophy and stars on a vibrant yellow background, symbolizing success and victory.

Whole-Class Rewards Break Down When Accountability Is Only Collective

Classroom Management

During my 16 years in the classroom, I saw and used a lot of whole-class reward systems. The issue isn’t the reward itself – it’s the way accountability is handled. Here’s what I mean: One of the more common ones was a “fill the jar” system. I’ve seen these with pompom balls, marbles, cute little

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Kids and teachers having fun with bubbles and balloons in a lively classroom setting.

The Real Purpose of Whole-Class Reward Systems (It’s Not Motivation)

Classroom Management

The purpose of whole-class reward systems is often framed as motivation. The thinking goes: If students want the reward badly enough, they’ll behave. But that assumption is exactly where many systems start to fall apart. Last week we talked about why many whole-class reward systems fail: Most whole-class reward systems fail because they put all

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A teacher guides students during a classroom activity, fostering engaging learning.

Why Most Whole-Class Reward Systems Fail (And What Successful Teachers Do Differently)

Classroom Management

Whole-class reward systems are often recommended as the ultimate classroom management solution, but they often solve the wrong problem. If your whole-class reward system works one week and falls apart the next, you’re not imagining things. Most teachers love the idea of whole-class reward systems. After all, they’re fairly simple to set up. (And they

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