Young children like to show what they know to those who will listen sympathetically and sincerely.  They may require rewards such as listening and gold stars that can be easily given and readily understood. It is easy for teachers to miss many of the ways they create incentives in their usual classroom routines.  Insightful, skillful teachers instinctively consider and act on their students’ likely reactions to incentives.  They notice what does and does not constitute a reward for a particular child or group of children. Rewards Built Into Activities Many rewards in elementary school classrooms arise from the learning process itself.  Young children experience pleasure when discovering new information or developing a new skill.  In an elementary school classroom, this should be occurring with great frequency.  Teachers should be on the lookout for small as well as big achievements, should congratulate young learners, and, when appropriate,...(Read Full Article)