Biggest lesson I learned while subbing in classrooms this past school year? The best classroom management systems are not always the fanciest ones.

As teachers, we often start the year with big plans. Elaborate reward systems, organized prize boxes, and uniquely designed incentives that look amazing on paper. 

The problem? Many of these systems become difficult to maintain once the school year gets busy.

After spending time in so many different elementary classrooms this year, I noticed something interesting. Classroom management systems that work best are simple, easy to maintain, and motivating for students.

Three positive behavior systems consistently stood out to me while subbing. These systems were effective, manageable, and, most importantly, teachers actually used them all year long.

How to Use a WOW Chart to Promote Positive Behavior

Without a doubt, the WOW Chart was one of my favorite classroom management systems that I witnessed throughout the year.

I loved this system because it recognizes positive behavior without requiring teachers to constantly hand out prizes or keep track of complicated point systems.

Assembling the WOW Chart

To get started, simply print and assemble the WOW Chart as a poster. 

Many teachers choose to laminate the chart so it can be reused over and over again throughout the school year. Once assembled, display the chart in a location where students can easily see it.

Whenever you notice a student demonstrating positive behavior, invite them to write their name in a space on the chart using a dry-erase marker. Students absolutely love this part!

There is something incredibly powerful about publicly recognizing positive choices. Students beam with pride when they get to add their names to the board.

With the WOW Chart, students do not immediately receive a physical reward. This is special because the recognition itself becomes meaningful, shifting appreciation from always being tied to a tangible gift. 

Students know that their positive behavior has been noticed and celebrated.

Keeping the Momentum

As the board fills with names, excitement builds. The more students demonstrate positive behavior, the more opportunities they have to add their names to the chart. 

More names on the board mean more chances to be selected as the winner.

Once the chart is full, or mostly full, simply draw a letter and number combination. The student whose name appears in that space becomes the WOW winner.

The reward can be anything that works for your classroom. Some teachers may choose to give a small prize. Others may offer extra recess, a classroom privilege, or simply celebrate the student with praise and applause from classmates. 

The flexibility of this system is what makes it so easy to maintain all year long.

| Ready to add this WOW Chart to your classroom? Get the full set inside The Library!

Implementing Table Rewards: Remove the Shoes

A classroom management system that creates a spirit of teamwork is priceless.  Many teachers I encountered had success implementing a Table Rewards System, which involves table teams working together toward a shared goal.

Classroom community is important, and students love working together to earn rewards as a group. The “Remove the Shoes” reward system is a simple and fun way to encourage teamwork, positive behavior, and responsibility.

Setting Up a Table Rewards System

Each table is assigned both a table number and a color. Throughout the day, when table groups are working cooperatively, cleaning up quickly, staying on task, or making positive choices, the teacher awards the table a shoe beneath their table number.

I love this system because students begin encouraging one another, and quickly realize that everyone contributes to the group’s success.

Teachers can decide how many shoes a table must earn before receiving the reward. Starting with a smaller goal, such as earning two shoes, may work best at the beginning of the year when students are still building stamina.

Once a table reaches the goal, students earn the opportunity to take off their actual shoes for a designated amount of time. Some teachers may choose thirty minutes, while others may allow students to remain shoeless for the rest of the day.

Reverse it! Start the day with all shoes displayed under the table number and remove them as you see positive behavior. Once the shoes are removed, that signals to students that they can remove their shoes too.

Taking off their shoes feels like a huge reward, yet it is completely free and incredibly easy for teachers to implement.

Pro Tip: Print the materials for the chart on magnetic paper! It’s so easy and makes moving the pieces simple.

Classroom Reward Jars Made Simple with Smiles for Success (FREE Download)

Whole-class reward systems may not be new, but my experience subbing has taught me that they are an underrated gem as a successful classroom management system.

There is something powerful about students working together toward a common goal. When an entire class shares responsibility for creating a positive classroom environment, students look out for one another—building a sense of responsibility to shared success.

Similar to the table rewards, a simple whole-class reward jar is an easy way to build that sense of teamwork.

Whole Class Rewards in Practice

Throughout the day, classes naturally have opportunities to earn compliments and recognition. 

Maybe another teacher comments on how quietly students walked through the hallway. 

Perhaps a substitute leaves a positive note, or the class works especially hard during a challenging lesson. These are all great opportunities to add to the class reward jar.

Whenever the class demonstrates positive behavior or receives a compliment, students can shade in a smiley face in the jar. Watching the jar slowly fill up gives students a visual reminder that their positive choices matter and that everyone contributes to the success of the class.

Encouraging Accountability

One of the reasons I like this system so much is that it encourages students to think beyond themselves. Instead of focusing only on individual rewards, students begin recognizing that their actions impact the entire class community.

As a bonus, this greatly improves overall learning in the classroom. Moving from a nice display to a functional classroom management system that limits disruption of the learning process, similar to my favorite classroom displays that support learning.

As the jar fills, excitement naturally builds. Students often begin reminding one another of expectations because they are invested in reaching the class goal together.

Once all of the smiley faces have been shaded in, the class earns a reward. The reward can be whatever works best for your students and classroom culture. Some teachers may choose extra recess, a dance party, lunch in the classroom, or another special activity.

I appreciate this system because it is simple to maintain, easy for students to understand, and flexible enough to fit any classroom. Most importantly, it helps create a classroom culture where students are working together and celebrating shared successes.

| Want to implement this whole class rewards system in your classroom? Grab it for FREE inside The Library.