Submitted by Chrystalle Doyle, Ashton, West Virginia
Idea posted March 24, 2005
I switched a few years ago from music bucks to a music credit card. The problem with music bucks is that children lose them, or other kids steal them or bully them out of their money. I use a half sheet music credit card, which I created on PrintShop. (Photo is at the bottom of this page.) I then laminate these cards and give one to each student at the beginning of the year.
I use this as my main reward system. The students are paid daily on their credit card by me with a permanent marker. The students earn two points a day if they are good AND have their music folder (with the music we are working on) and instrument, if applicable. They can also earn extra points by getting As on assignments or other tasks I assign. Students earn ten points on their birthday, and I have a weekly in-class drawing where two students can earn an extra ten points. Every grading period we have a buying day, where the students can buy rewards that range from 2-200 points. Some kids like to save, and some like to spend it all. The students keep track of their points and no one else can use them. If the points are not in my handwriting, they are unacceptable, so no one tries to write their own points. I clean the cards on buying day with nail polish remover and put any leftover points in the first box. This has worked very well for me. The students enjoy it, and everyone gets a reward - not just a few students.