Homeschooling/Work Incentives

We were back to our schooling and routines this week...Sometimes this can prove to be quite challenging if resistance is met! 

Know what I mean?  

There have been moments in our almost 9 years of home education that I could swear there was a mutiny on my hands!

Well, there are ways to combat mutiny to include (most importantly) wearing out our knees in prayer:)  But there are others ways too. We actually had a great week with very little complaints after re-introducing this little incentive program!  Like anything else, we had fallen off the wagon with using it in the last year or two....but now we're baaaaaaaaaack!  
Like anything else, it has it's pros and cons but for the most part, it works like a charm.  Whining and complaining are reduced to a bare minimum.  I'm a happy Mama and peace is much more abundant. How's that for incentive? We use it for homeschooling but it also trickles over to regular life, chores, etc.  You could definitely use it for homework, chores, behavior, etc., even if you aren't a homeschooling family.

So the idea is that the children are rewarded with chips for good attitude and other things.  In our case, the chips have monetary value but you could also attach them to something else that works for your individual children.  I believe I adapted this idea from something similar that Kimberly Hahn used but my memory has escaped me for sure...my apologies.
On the flip side, these little chiparoos can also be taken away if the ills of whining and complaining creep in!  What we giveth, we can also taketh away;)
*Recommended for Pre-K~6th grade*

I started with these counting chips that I found at the Dollar Tree.

I printed out a poster with the value of each chip written on it and what kinds of things can be done to earn that particular color (dollar value) chip. It is hung in our school room.

{I have it on a Word document so if you would like a copy, just drop me an e-mail:)}

Each child has a special cup on their work area or desk to collect the chips.
At the end of each week, (or two, however you decide), everyone cashes in their chips for money.  We don't give allowances in our family so this is a good way for the children to earn money for spending on field trips, giving to church, or for their savings.

I only use 4 colors and separated them into individual baggies.

 I am tweaking and updating the activities for earning as we go this time but here are a few examples of the values for each chip that we use: 
Yellow Chips: Worth 10 cents

*Cheerful/good attitude about work or assignments
*Helpful with siblings or Mom
*Nice and neat writing (not hurried)
*Extra work book pages
*Chores without complaint

Red Chips: Worth 25 cents

* Each book read to little sister
* Each saint story read and retold back to Mom, Dad or older sibling
*Each new prayer or scripture memorized
*Super good attitude (bumped up from yellow chip) if sustained through the school day.

Blue Chips:  Worth 50 cents

*Each Fr. Lovasik spiritual booklet read
*90% or better on test or book work
*Extraordinary good deeds or kindness or attitude
*Each additional load of laundry folded or put away, after regular chores
{I keep our little Fr. Lovasik books and Saint books in little bins, readily accessible.}

Green Chips: Worth $1.00
These are ultra special and hardest to earn! Mostly given at Mom or Dad's discretion.

*Each chapter book read
*100% test scores
*Running for 20 minutes or P.E. for a week with no complaints.
We have re-introduced "P.E." and I'm getting major tears going on.  It's a priority for my husband and I to have healthy and active children so we pulled the big green chip for the week to get everyone motivated.  Ok, ok, bribery maybe.  But hey, it's working and a lot less drama to deal with! 

In all honesty, my kids were reluctant about the chips and their values...Especially the yellow ones: "Only 10 cents?" I kept it to my self but I wanted to accuse them all of being spoiled little children;) But let me tell you, once they started earning those little yellow chips, it was a crisis if one should be taken away!  And believe me, I take them away when I need to.  Having to do so, already, I bit my tongue again. I wanted to say with a little sarcastic voice..."Well, it's only 10 cents!" Ok, that's just a little keeping it real moment, just like there is any time you try to introduce something new or different to your kids.  You'd think it was some foreign vegetable for goodness sakes!  

They really DO dislike having their chips taken away so they really serve as both an incentive and disciplinary measure.  As for taking them away, I give out one warning that I'm going to take away a chip if the attitude doesn't change and the next time I do it with no hesitation. Complete follow-thru has to be made for the system to work.  I really don't raise my voice at all when I say: "Hand over your chip!" Oh my goodness, it's so nice.  But I won't lie and tell you that handing over the chip is always a peaceful process.  I have some children who do it knowingly and willingly, while others insist on screaming and pleading.  I will say that the screaming and pleading child gets quieter once he figures out how everything works! *wink*

Well, that's just my "two cents", no pun intended!
Do you use incentives in your home?