2017

1st Grade
Resident Inquiry
and
Research Project

By Sheri Hanson
I wonder if implementing a positive reward
system, rather than consequences to bad
behavior, would motivate my students to not only
follow the rules and routines given by the school
and teachers, but if it would also improve
classroom management and therefore improve
student learning, and if reminders of the reward
would improve the outcome?
It was the first day of First Grade. I was
excited and scared all at the same time.
The first day was a little crazy. The student’s didn’t
seem to understand what a straight line was, and they
were a little out of control in the classroom. By the
end of the day…………….
I looked like this!!!
So I came up with the “Warm Fuzzy’s”. I explained to the students that
every time they acted appropriately, they would get a Warm Fuzzy. I told
them it is called that, because I get all warm and fuzzy (Happy) when they
act appropriate and follow the class rules and procedures. This means every
time they transition from subjects correctly, every time they listen and not
talk during the lesson, and every time they walk in the hallway correctly,
they get a Warm Fuzzy. They had the opportunity to get many in a day. Once
they filled the jar, they would be able to win a class wish.
I wrote on the board the wishes of every student. Then we voted using tally marks.

The wishes included:

- Pajama Day
- Eating lunch with the teacher
- Bring a stuffed animal to school
- Be the teacher for a day
- A party
- Extra recess
- No homework pass
- Show & Tale

The winning wish was…….

Bring a stuffed animal to school.

Now they had a goal to strive for, and

had to be accountable for their actions.
 Classroom Behavior During Morning Arrival
Student’s were

Student’s Showing Inappropriate Behavior.

18
expected to come into
the classroom quietly, 16
put their “Take Home” 14
folder in the basket, put
their items in their 12
locker, and start on 10
their Leader in Me No
8 Reminders
calendar and reading
log. 6 Reminders

The turning point was 4

on 10-9-17, when the 2
student’s realized their
0
actions controlled how
many Warm Fuzzy’s
they received.

Dates of Inquiry
 Classroom Behavior During Math Lesson
Student’s were expected to

Student’s Showing Inappropriate Behavior.

16
not talk during then lesson,
and while the teacher was 14
talking . Also, during the 12
lesson, they could not walk
around the room or go to the 10
bathroom.
8 No
They were expected to pair- Remind
share correctly and not get off 6 er
task, and complete their 4 Remind
activity. er
2
The turning point was on
0
10-9-17, when the student’s
realized their actions
controlled how many Warm
Fuzzy’s they received.

Dates of Inquiry
Tests and On the morning of 10-2-17, the student’s took a unit
test over representing word problems involving
Classwork addition and subtraction, using models and number
sentences. We had gone over this for several days,
but this was before the Warm Fuzzy’s project. They
had been talking, getting up to go to the bathroom
in the middle of the lesson, and just not paying
attention. Because of this behavior, all but 4 failed.
That morning, we introduced the Warm Fuzzy’s
expectations and what their reward would be when
the jar was full.

I retaught the lesson, with reminders of the Warm

Fuzzy’s, which changed the students behavior. On
10-5-17, they retook the test and all students but 3
made an A, and those 3 made a B.
Every lesson, from then on, we had these
expectations, and during the lessons the student’s
acted appropriately, they not only received a Warm
Fuzzy, but it reflected in their grades.
Appropriate Classroom Behavior
During Math Lesson
Classroom Behavior During Subject Transitions
Students were expected to put away
the materials they were working with 25

Student’s Showing Inappropriate Behavior.

and listen to the directions for the
next subject. They were to do this
quickly and at a noise level of 1. This 20
was their biggest challenge. They got
better, but not where they should
have been. 15

You may notice that the last four days

were days I didn’t give reminders. This 10 No Reminder
was because I was getting frustrated Reminders
with them and reverting back to old
5
habits of Non Positive reward system,
and forgot to remind them about the
Warm Fuzzy’s. This very well could be 0
the reason they never quite
conquered this area in behavior.
They received the least amount of
Warm Fuzzy’s during this time.

Dates of Inquiry
Hallway Transition Behavior – to Recess, Lunch & Specials
25
Students were expected to

Student’s Showing Inappropriate Behavior

walk in the hallway in a 20
straight line, to the right of
the hall, with no talking and
no touching the walls. 15

It was in this area that I saw 10 No Reminders

the most growth in my Reminders
students. The turning point 5
was 10-5-17, when my
students started holding
0
each other accountable.
They would remind each
other about the Warm
Fuzzy’s.
Dates of Inquiry
Hallway Transition Behavior – to Recess, Lunch and Specials

Appropriate behavior
Reflective Thoughts
I not only learned a lot about
my student’s,
I learned a lot about myself,
as well. Seeing first hand
that a positive reward
system does work has
opened my eyes to new
possibilities.
Everyone is happier, has a
goal mindset, and is still
responsible for their actions.
This is a “Win-Win, which is
one of the Leader In Me
categories, and will no doubt
lead my students, and me, to
a successful year.