Mrs. Smith is an exceptional education reading teacher in a high school that has block scheduling. Her student
population consists of;
1st period - 10 SLD students
2nd period - 7 educable MR students
Lunch and planning
3rd period - 5 SLD students, 7 students on AIPs
4th period - 3 SLD students, 2 educable MR
19 students are on-track for a special diploma.
Mrs. Smith decides to start a token economy system in her classroom to increase the behaviors she wants from her
students and decrease the behaviors she doesn't want from her students. She knows that this system has been used successfully
with students of differing ages, cognitive levels, behavioral issues, and disabilities.
She believes that it will be difficult for some students to 'buy into' the token system at first. High schoolers may
think they are too old for this kind of system. However, she thinks that if some of the reinforcers are enticing enough, enough
students will fall in line and the rest of the students will follow.
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Mrs. Smith identifies the behaviors she want to increase.
- Being in class on time
- Having materials (paper, pencil, book) ready at the begining of class
- Turning in homework
- Following teacher's directions
- Speaking respectfully to everyone in class
Mrs. Smith identifies the exchange medium (the tokens).
- A roll of tickets bought from the local superstore.
- 1 ticket for 1 out of the 5 behaviors, 2 tickets for all 5.
- Students will put their names on their tickets when they receive them.
- A large manila envelope, with the student's name will be hung on the side wall, so the students can deposit their tickets
every day.
- Tickets are cashed in every 2 weeks for periods 1 and 3 and the students in 2nd period and 4th can cash
them in weekly.
Mrs. Smith identifies the reinforcers
- 1 ticket - pen
- 1 ticket - pencil
- 3 tickets - 2 pencils
- 5 tickets - pocket folder
- 10 tickets - 25 pieces of notebook paper
- 10 tickets - 5 extra minutes computer time
- 15 tickets - Fridge magnet
- 15 tickets - Marker
- 20 tickets - Student can pick a book for themselves to keep
- 20 tickets - Play a board game (if partner also has 20 tickets)
- 25 tickets - Notepad
- 25 tickets - Student can buy 10 minutes of computer game time
- 30 tickets - Student can listen to CD player for the last 7 minutes of class.
- 35 tickets - Student can play a videogame for the last 7 minutes of class.
- 40 tickets - Student can buy the last 10 minutes of class to lounge on couch.
- 45 tickets - Student can borrow one of the class videos or DVDs.
- 50 tickets - Mrs. Smith buys the student pizza for lunch.
- 100 tickets - Student receives 2 movie passes.
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Mrs. Smith walks each class period through the token system on the day it begins and answers the students' questions
about the token system. Every student recieves a ticket for listening and participating. Mrs. Smith also 'walks' the students
through the system, in an abbreviated fashion, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Even though the 1st and 3rd period classes
are to 'cash in' their tickets every 2 weeks, Mrs. Smith decides it's better to let everyone have the chance to 'cash in'
the first week. Mrs. Smith makes it very clear to the 1st and 3rd period classess that they will not be able to 'cash in'
again for 2 weeks.
Mrs. Smith explains that each student is different and likes different items. Some students will save for the movie passes,
while others will like getting pencils and paper. Every student will earn at least 1 ticket so they will be able to purchase
something.
Mrs. Smith also explains to the students that their tickets will not be taken away for punishment. (No response cost)
Tickets are earned for following certain rules and can not be taken away for unrelated behaviors.
Tickets are only given by Mrs. Smith, no one else. Students must put their names on their tickets and deposite them into
their envelopes.
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