Learning objectives
- Design a fair, transparent points system pupils trust.
- Choose between ClassDojo, Google Sheets, or paper-plus-photo.
- Run a weekly rewards ceremony pupils look forward to.
- Avoid the three most common rewards-system mistakes.
The 5 principles of a behaviour system that works
- Positive bias: 5 positive points awarded for every 1 negative point. Catching them being good beats catching them being naughty.
- Visible scoreboard: Pupils must see their points. Hidden tracking changes nothing.
- Predictable rewards: Pupils know what 50 points earns. Random rewards build resentment.
- Reset weekly: Long competitions break poorer pupils' spirit. Weekly resets give every pupil a Monday-morning fresh start.
- Quiet correction, public praise: Take points privately. Award points loudly.
What you actually award points for
Keep it to 6 categories. More than that and pupils stop tracking.
| Earns points (+1) | Loses points (–1) |
|---|---|
| Helping a classmate | Disrupting another's learning |
| Excellent effort | No effort on a task |
| Thoughtful question | Disrespectful comment |
| Following a charter rule | Breaking a charter rule |
| Leadership / kindness | Unkindness / exclusion |
| Honesty (even when costly) | Dishonesty |
The three tool options compared
| Option | Pros | Cons | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ClassDojo (free) | Cute avatars pupils love. Parent app built in. Real-time. | Needs steady data. Free tier has ads. | Schools with reliable internet and tech-comfortable parents. |
| Google Sheets | Free forever. Fully customisable. Easy export. | No avatars. Pupils must trust your phone screen. | Older pupils (JSS3+) and budget-conscious schools. |
| Paper + photo | No tech required during lessons. Pupils see the wall chart. | You photograph and share weekly. More manual. | Primary schools with limited devices. |
ClassDojo — 10-minute setup
- Sign up at classdojo.com (free, choose Teacher).
- Add your class name (e.g. "JSS1A 2026"). Add pupils one by one or paste a list.
- Edit the default behaviours — keep your 6 categories from the table above.
- Generate the parent invite code. Send it on WhatsApp with one sentence of explanation.
- Project the class scoreboard during exit time on Fridays.
The weekly rewards ladder
Make rewards predictable. A simple Friday afternoon ceremony works wonders.
- Top of class for the week: "Pupil of the Week" certificate (Canva template) — photograph and post in the parent group.
- 10+ positive points: Get to choose Monday's bell-ringer activity.
- 25+ positive points (term cumulative): Recognition at school assembly.
- 50+ positive points: A small physical reward (sweets, sticker, exercise book — your call).
The reward matters less than the recognition. A handwritten note from you outperforms a sweet.
The three mistakes to avoid
- Over-punishing: If 30% of your class is losing points daily, the system is broken — not the pupils. Re-balance towards positives.
- Comparing pupils publicly: Never read out the lowest scorer. Privately discuss.
- Forgetting parents: If parents only hear from you when their child is in trouble, you lose them. Send 3 positives for every 1 negative.
🎬 Demo — Friday recognition ritual
2:50pm Friday. Pupils pack bags. You project the week's scoreboard. Award "Pupil of the Week" — photograph the recipient with their Canva certificate. Send the photo to the parent group: "Congratulations to Adaeze, who earned 18 positive points this week. Have a restful weekend, parents." Three minutes. Massive impact.
✍ Exercise 3.1 — Launch your points system
Before next Monday:
- Choose your tool (ClassDojo, Sheets, or paper-plus-photo).
- Set up the 6 point categories.
- Design one Pupil-of-the-Week certificate in Canva.
- Run the system for one full week. Track the +/– ratio.
Deliverable: A 1-paragraph reflection on how the +5:–1 ratio felt in practice.
Knowledge check
Unit 3 — Behaviour & Rewards
4 questions. Choose the best answer for each.
Question 1 of 4
The recommended positive-to-negative points ratio is:
Question 2 of 4
Why reset points weekly?
Question 3 of 4
Which tool is best for a primary classroom with very limited devices?
Question 4 of 4
Which is one of the three mistakes warned against in this unit?
Unit summary
- Positive bias: 5 wins for every 1 correction.
- Six categories. Weekly resets. Friday ceremony.
- Tool choice depends on your school's tech reality — all three work.
- Quiet correction, public praise. Always.