This behavior-management technique treats the entire class equally, but its use of clear guidelines, rewards, and consequences is particularly suited for students with ADHD.
The "Class Rules and Expectations" are developed by the teacher and students on the first day of the year, and each rule is defined. What does it mean to respect school property? How can you make another person's day better? Students earn or lose bottle caps (or some other token), depending on their behavior.
The Stoplight System can be adapted for home use, too, to define and reinforce family rules.
Rewards
Each student receives two bottle caps at the beginning of the week. More can be earned by positive behavior, such as lining up quietly, helping others, and completing extra-credit assignments. At the end of the week, the caps can be traded in for rewards.
5 bottle caps: Choose from sticker box
10 bottle caps: Choose from prize box
20 bottle caps: Skip one homework assignment
25 bottle caps: Lunch with the teacher and a friend
Consequences
If a student breaks a class rule, the clothespin bearing his name is moved from the green to the yellow light. He also loses three bottle caps and five minutes from recess. A second infraction takes his clothespin to the red light, and costs five bottle caps and 10 minutes off recess. If there's a third infraction, he owes 10 bottle caps and forfeits recess for the day, and the teacher calls his parents. Each day, students get to make a fresh start from the green light.
