We use notice patrol as an incentive, we have 2 students bring around daily notices to each classroom, and we often use this as an incentive. If they win they get to be the notice girl or boy for a day or a week. It's takes them out of class for about 25 minutes and instead of food they actually get a little exercise by walking from room to room. Our Principal has also allowed students to read daily announcement or lead the pledge over the PA system, however the shy ones don't like this as much.

As a parent with a child with food allergies I hate food rewards in the classroom. I usually buy goodies that go in the treat jar.

As a teacher I never ever gave out candy as a reward as I didn't want to be responsible for the tooth decay (how can I teach young children good dental hygiene and other health related topics while handing out candy??) Also the sugar high along with the red, yellow or green food dye reaction can be horendous. There are some interesting videos watching children react to sugar and food dyes, and let's not get into the other more incidious additives. I personally would like to see this practice eliminated all together. I bite my tongue every time we do candygrams.

OUR PRINCIPAL SPONSORS A PROGRAM CALLED, "WALK WITH THE PRINCIPAL". THIS IS FOR STUDENTS WHO DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP, OBEY RULES ,ETC. THE PRINCIPAL WALKS WITH APPROX. 15 STUDENTS ON FRIDAY ON THE OVAL WALKING TRACK. THE STUDENTS RECEIVE A BOTTLE OF WATER AND AN ORANGE. THESE ARE DONATED BY THE SCHOOL FOOD SERVICES DEPT. ALSO, THE STUDENTS RECEIVE A STICKER OR PENCIL STATING, "I WALKED WITH THE PRINCIPAL".

We also use roller skate passes, movie tickets, and gift certificates from local fast food places (I know food but it works!. We have a traveling award - the Golden Skate- and that is awarded to the class with the most in attendance to our monthly skate parties and skating passes. THis has been fun and really has become a rivalry between the eighth graders and (beleive it or not) the kindergarden class! Both teachers -we've been told- offer incentives too!
The hardest part, kids like food, kids respond to food, kids are ALWAYS hungry at school! Hope your group cis able to offer a happy medium!

Our middle school principal used to take kids fishing in the afternoon but we are very near a river. The kids loved it. We also are very close to a bowling alley which again the kids loved. Over the summer we solicit the same businessess every year and tell them that our school will only ask them once for donations and that time is now. We explain that we will use any donations as special rewards for the kids througout the year. (Letter on school letter head signed by our Principal and President) We get tickets from our local theater, movie theater, ice skating rink, putt putt golf, free video and game rentals, bowling and such. The first year it took alot of contact work because you usually need to contact major chain central offices for donations. Now we have a list with Businesses, Donation Contact Name, addresses, phone, fax and email numbers. We just need to send the letters out or make the calls now.

We are in the process of collecting end of the year surveys from our parents about what they want to see the PTO focus on for next year. As an incentive, each child who returns a completed survey gets a ticket to enter a drawing to attend an ice cream party with the Vice Principal. (There will be 12 winners, and spending time with her is as big a draw as the actual ice cream). We are already getting some great feedback, including one parent who wrote quite a bit about wanting us to lessen food as a reward throughout the school.

We are in Texas - it's HOT, so snow cone parties are one of our frequently used PTO incentives for class rewards, maybe 3-5 times a year. Plus we did use ice cream for the survey, and we've done lunch with Principal once, and we were thinking about doing some popcorn parties next year.

Within the school some of the local businesses provide coupons/tokens that the PE teacher hands out as rewards - but most are fast food certificates (a coke, free hamburger).

There are other things used,too - special privileges, books, pencils, stickers, etc. it's not ALL food - I'm just mentioning those. However, this is well worth thinking about, because it is really easy to fall back on the food items since they are quick and easy.

What other activity could we have with the Principal or Vice Principal that wouldn't involve food, would only take 15-20 minutes, and would be popular. What kind of incentives (if any) do your community supporters provide?

I'd appreciate any discussion on this.

[This message has been edited by JHB (edited 05-19-2001).]