Caitlin Campbell #6

Title: A Penny for your Thoughts

Grade: 5th Grade
Undesirable Behavior Targeted: Students are continuously talking out of turn, interrupting other
students and the teacher, and blurting out the answer. This interferes with learning because students are
unable to adequately pay attention or actively listen to the lesson due to their being focused on the
disruption.
Expected Behavior: Students are expected to raise their hand, wait to be called on, and then share their
thoughts and answers. Students are expected to share/talk with table groups when instructed to do so by
the teacher.
Types of Positive Reinforcement:
1. Immediate R+: Students will be awarded a penny every time the perform the expected behavior.
2. Ongoing R+: Students will place the pennies they have earned in the gallon jug until the jug is
full.
3. Overall R+: Once the jug is full students will earn a movie day.
Interactive Learning Activity: The interactive learning activity will correlate with the classroom
economy already set in place. Students will see the value of hard work and savings. Students will have a
visual representation of their savings, via the jug. Students will also be able to have a visual example of
a financial record that is tracking their progress.
5th Grade (10) Personal financial literacy. The student applies mathematical process standards to
manage one's financial resources effectively for lifetime financial security. The student is expected to:
(A) define income tax, payroll tax, sales tax, and property tax;
(B) explain the difference between gross income and net income;
(C) identify the advantages and disadvantages of different methods of payment, including check,
credit card, debit card, and electronic payments;
(D) develop a system for keeping and using financial records;
(E) describe actions that might be taken to balance a budget when expenses exceed income; and
(F) balance a simple budget.
Teaching Expected Behavior: Teacher will take a day to have discussion with class about how talking
out of turn and not raising your hand can be disruptive to class. Teacher will have students, in their table
groups come up with examples of disruptive and non-disruptive behavior. Once groups have developed
their examples, had them approved by the teacher, they will perform them for the entire class. Together,
as a class, the expectations will be set and written down as visual reminder.
Teaching the Plan: After having taught the expected behaviors, the teacher will then explain how
students will earn one penny each and every time they successfully perform the desired behavior.
Teacher will elaborate that during group activities, entire groups will be able to earn pennies if the entire
table performs the desired behavior successfully. Teacher will model this for them and give out a
generous amount of pennies during that first day.
Options Provided: Nickels and dimes can be handed out for students who need a greater incentive or
performed desired behavior during rowdy class time. Another option provided could be to have multiple
jugs, with each jug representing a different Overall R+. Student can't place their coins in the jug of their
choosing, working and compete if towards the Overall R+ they desire. The jug that reaches the top first
wins.
Items Needed:
Pennies, Nickels, Dimes
Gallon Jug
Play Coins (if real coins are not viable)
 Caitlin Campbell #6