Rewards Reinforcements and Token Economies

 

Rewards, reinforcers, and token economies. What are they? What makes them the same or different? Which one works best for the special ed classroom?

Let’s break down the differences and similarities and learn when the best time to use each is during the school day.


Understanding Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is powerful in any classroom, but especially so in the special ed classroom. It gives students a sense of accomplishment and praises them for a job well done.

It can be and is often used to reinforce positive, on-track behavior.

But what types of positive reinforcement work best and when?

Reinforcers

A positive reinforcer is anything provided after a behavior that increases the likelihood of that behavior occurring again in the future. One thing that makes reinforcers so different is that not every learner has the same one or the same type of reinforcer. They are usually individualized and take into account the learner’s preferences – that’s why they tend to be effective.

Examples of reinforcers include attention, sensory experiences (a high-five or fist-bump), food, toys, mini-erasers, or time spent with certain people. They are highly individualized, so what is right for one student may not be suitable for another. It is essential to understand what motivates each student.

Reinforcers tend to be the most effective of the three and can really make a difference in a student’s behavior.


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Rewards

Rewards are things that the teacher chooses and gives. They are given after an action, but the students have very little, if any, say in choosing what the reward it. While it may seem like a nice idea to provide the class with a reward, it may not even be motivating for some students.

This can be problematic in the classroom, because some students may not alter their behavior if the reward is not something that motivates them. For others who are motivated by the reward, this can prove frustrating if it’s not given because others chose not to follow the rules or complete the task.

Rewards, Reinforcers and Token Economies in the Special Education ClassroomToken Economies

Token economies are where students earn tokens or “bucks” for following rules, demonstrating positive behavior, and/or completion of tasks. Those tokens can then be redeemed for things that the students want in the class or school store.

Token economies are a type of reinforcer, but they add an extra step where they require the student to demonstrate the behavior before getting a token which then can be redeemed. For students who need immediate reinforcement, having to hold on to tokens for a week before shopping at the classroom store can be too long and unmotivating.

As with other reinforcers, it is important to understand what motivates your students and make sure that you offer those items as something they can purchase with their tokens or tickets.


All three types of positive reinforcement have their place in the classroom but it is up to you to understand which one(s) will be most motivating for your students.

 

 

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