John Small Elementary School is off to a great start this school year, using reward as an incentive for students to exercise good behavior.

Last year, the school’s teachers, administration and behavior specialists within the school formed a committee to formulate a school-wide Positive Behavior Intervention and Support Plan (PBIS) to shift the dynamic of behavior within the school. This year, the plan was implemented and proved successful.

The school issued requirements to students for exercising good behavior, and those who did, were allowed to attend the school’s first Fall Ball, a student dance event that gave students the opportunity to dance, mingle and socialize with their peers and teachers. The event was not only incentive for positive behavior, but also for students to build character, become better organized and demonstrate self-control and respect for each other, according to John Small teachers.

The requirements for this event, which were for the period from Aug. 25 to Oct. 3, challenged students to maintain a total of 25 points for behavior each week. Teachers tracked student behavior through the use of a log. Each student was given 30 points each week and points were deducted for behavioral offenses. Teachers monitored their students’ ability to respect staff and other students, follow directions, respect personal space, be in their correct area and wait their turn to speak, to name a few.

The Oct. 10 event was well attended, according to teachers, with 160 students attending the fifth grade ball. There was a separate ball held for the fourth grade. It was an opportunity for students to have a good time together, as well as a bonding experience with their teachers, who also attended the event. However, the teachers were not there in a chaperone capacity as much as they were to bond with and have fun with the students.

This system of keeping behavior in check has proven very effective in its inaugural year. It gives students something to work toward, rather than just issuing punishment for offenses. Peer pressure is a powerful thing. A student who may not have behaved well enough this six weeks may hear his or her peers talking about the event and how much fun they had, giving that student incentive to demonstrate good behavior in order to attend. This kind of system could have what it takes to alleviate the majority of behavioral issues in schools.