Strategies for Encouraging Appropriate
Behaviors
How to give encouragement 
Clear, Specific, & Clean: Describe the skill observed, without adding any references to
past mistakes or wishes for future behavior.

Sincere & Appropriate for Student’s Age: Give genuine response to the desired
behavior that is appropriate for the situation and the individual

Private: Know the student. Public feedback works for some, but embarrasses others.
Tailor the feedback to student’s personality.

Genuine: Use you own style to communicate sincere encouragement. Make it real for
them, especially when working with older kids.
When to give encouragement –

Contingent on Desired Behavior: The desired behavior must be observed before
acknowledgement is provided.

Immediate: Must immediately follow desired behaviors rather than be applied as a
general motivator.

Frequent During Acquisition: At a high enough rate to change/ maintain skills
What to encourage –
 Only rules & behaviors from our school matrix
Positive Performance Feedback
“Cat Tracks” Tickets
Cat Tracks Tickets are the school-wide tangible feedback system Adair County R-1 teachers & staff use
to support learning.
Cat Tracks are utilized to:



Teach new skills
Reinforce (boost) previously learned skills
Increase building awareness (teacher, staff, and students) of the expectations
“Cat Rings” Bracelets
Cat Rings Bracelets are used by the Elementary teachers & staff as a tangible feedback system to
encourage students to use appropriate behaviors outside the classroom.
Cat Rings are utilized to:



Teach new skills in non-classroom settings
Reinforce the previously learned skills in non-classroom settings
Increase building awareness (teacher, staff, and students) of the expectations
*Classrooms will be rewarded with a celebration as the classes reach increments of 100.
Other forms of feedback:




Signs around the building
Verbal and non-verbal regular, specific and positive feedback
Skill review
PBS newsletters
Please Remember:
Children are not born intrinsically motivated. This level of development is achieved as the child moves
through the developmental cycle. As with academic progress, if the child misses the key milestones or
components of learning there will be gaps in his or her achievement (social/emotional/behavioral, speech,
motor and academic.)
As with all teaching, we start where the child indicates they need us to start. We provide the scaffolding
they need to learn the skill, including independent utilization of the skill. Then we gradually remove the
supportive structure.
Adair Co. R-I Elementary Recognition Matrix
Name
Resource
Cat Tracks
Cat Track
Ticket;
Prizes
Description &
Criteria
When student is
“caught” meeting
expectation in the
classroom, s/he
receives a cat track.
Individual
Cat Rings
Bracelets,
Classroom
Containers,
Prizes
When student or
groups of students
are “caught”
meeting matrix
expectations outside
the classroom, s/he
receives a Cat Ring.
When & Where
Presented
Daily, as
expectations are
met; classroom.
Redeemed each
Friday during
lunch.
Daily, as
expectations are
met; outside the
classroom.
Prizes awarded as
classes reach
increments of 100
Group
Paw Award
Classroom
Attendance
percentage,
Classroom
Paw print &
individual
Class with the
highest attendance
percentage for the
month
Monthly
Intercom
Announcement by
Mrs. Copelin
Information to
Staff
Staff
handbook;
PBS Kickoff,
August 16,
2010
Staff
handbook;
PBS Kickoff,
August 16,
2010
Goal(s)
Celebrations
Coordinator
750
weekly
Prizes from menu;
Prizes from drawing
Mrs. Copelin
(Creates, houses,
and distributes
tracks)
100% of
classes
will earn
at least 3
award
parties
Class progress
will be graphed
in Elementary
Hallway
Staff
handbook;
PBS Kickoff,
August 16,
2010;
Certificates
Every
class earn
at least
once
100- 15 m of extra recess
200- 15 m classroom free
time
300- 30 m of Board
Games
400- 30 m of SSR
500- 30 m Computer Time
in Library
600- Popcorn/Movie Party
700- Ice Cream Party
800- PJ Day
900- Pizza Party
1, 000- Whole Class
Lunch Outside
(Count starts over at
Semester)
20 minutes of extra
recess for students &
extra break for
classroom teacher
Angela Meintz
(Checks inventory
levels and
replenishes)
Mrs. Copelin
(Graph class
progress in
hallway)
Angela Meintz
(Distribute Cat
Rings to teachers)
Mrs. Copelin
reward for
students
Homework
Heroes
Charting
System for
classroom
teachers,
No
Homework
Passes
Group
When a student
turns in 100% of
completed
homework for the
month
Individual
Monthly; teacher
will present “No
Homework Passes”
in classroom on the
last day of the
month
presented to
staff sent home
in folders &
paw print
outside
classroom
doorway
Staff
handbook;
PBS Kickoff,
August 16,
2010;
Teachers will
report % of
student
participation to
Mrs. Copelin &
Mrs. Copelin
will post
outside
classroom
doors
80% of
students
2 one subject No
Homework Passes used
at the discretion of the
student
Classroom
Teachers (track
student
participation)
Mrs. Copelin (post
classroom
percentages)
Angela Meintz
(distribute “No
homework Passes”
to staff)
Purr-fect
Attendance
Award
Perfect
attendance
data reports
from Lumen
Student has missed
no days of school
for the quarter
Quarterly
Individual
Perfect
attendance
ribbons
Assembly
Staff
handbook;
PBS Kickoff,
August 16,
2010;
List of students
qualified in
mailboxes
90% of
student
body
Individual Perfect
Attendance ribbon & &
20 minutes of computer
free time
Mrs. Copelin &
Brenda Tuttle
Staff
handbook;
PBS Kickoff,
August 16,
2010;
List of students
qualified in
mailboxes
Staff
handbook;
PBS Kickoff,
August 16,
2010;
80% of
Student
body
Students will be
presented with a
certificate & a field trip
will be planned to a
local establishment
Mrs. Copelin &
Angela Meintz
80% of
students
Students will receive a
PBS T-Shirt
Classroom
Teachers (track
student
participation)
Time for
Computers
Referral
Free!
SWIS Data
reports,
Money for
transportation
& field trip
Student has received
no referral for the
school year
Presented at the
conclusion of the
year
Individual
Assembly
Homework
Champion
Charting
System for
classroom
teachers,
PBS T-Shirts
When a student
turns in 100% of
completed
homework for the
school year
Presented at the
conclusion of the
year
Assembly
Teachers will
report student
participation to
Mrs. Copelin
Mrs. Copelin
(combine student
lists)
Angela Meintz
(order T-Shirts)
Yearly
Perfect
Attendance
Perfect
attendance
data reports
from Lumen
Student has missed
no days of school
for the entire year
Presented at the
conclusion of the
year
Individual
Perfect
Attendance
Pin &
Certificate
PBS Honor
Roll
Attendance
reports,
SWIS Referral
data,
Homework
data
Money for
field trip &
transportation
Assembly
Student has perfect
attendance for the
year, received no
referrals, & has
turned in 100% of
homework all year
Presented at the
conclusion of the
year
Assembly
Individual
Staff
handbook;
PBS Kickoff,
August 16,
2010;
List of students
qualified in
mailboxes
90% of
student
body
Individual Perfect
Attendance Pin &
Certificate
Mrs. Copelin &
Brenda Tuttle
Staff
Handbook;
PBS Kickoff,
August 16,
2010
25% of
student
body
Field trip to Worlds of
Fun, etc.
Mrs. Copelin &
Angela Meintz,
(compile
information &
determine eligible
students)
“Cat Tracks” Elementary Menu
1 Track
Pencil or pencil top eraser
1 Track
Drawing Chance
3 Tracks
Bring small animal or doll to school
3 Tracks
Read a book to a class or special friend
3 Tracks
Treasure Chest Toy
3 Tracks
Bouncy Ball
5 Tracks
Bonus points any subject
5 Tracks
Strike buy back
5 Tracks
Candy (sucker/small candy bar)
5 Tracks
Bring something for show and tell
10 Tracks
Bonus points any subject
10 Tracks
Fast food coupon
10 Tracks
Hat Day
10 Tracks
15 minute computer time
10 Tracks
PBS Chair
15 Tracks
Skip to the front of the lunch line
15 Tracks
Free Book
15 Tracks
Free admission to a school sport event
15 Tracks
Lunch at picnic table
20 Tracks
T-shirt
20 Tracks
Homework pass one subject in advance
20 Tracks
Salad bar
Adair Co. R-I High School Recognition Matrix
Name
Resource
Description &
Criteria
When &
Where
Presented
Information
to Staff
Goal(s)
Celebrations
Coordinator
Cat Tracks
Cat Track
Ticket;
Prizes
When student
is “caught”
meeting
expectation,
s/he receives a
cat track.
Daily, as
expectations
are met; any
location.
Redeemed each
Friday during
Activity
Period.
Staff
handbook;
PBS Kickoff,
August 16,
2010
750 weekly
Prizes from menu;
Prizes from
drawing
Stephanie
Somers
(Creates,
houses, and
distributes
tracks)
Julie Howe
(Checks
inventory
levels and
replenishes)
Monthly
Staff
handbook;
PBS Kickoff,
August 16,
2010
95%
attendance
Parties which
include
ice cream, pizza,
watermelon, other
food; hat day;
p.j./slipper day;
“recess”/play time;
Nat’l Guard rock
wall, etc.; Leave
campus for lunch—
bus to Kirksville,
etc.
Julie Howe and
Stephanie
Somers
Individual
Class
No
Tardy
Party
Tardy
Binder;
Prizes
Class w/lowest
% of tardies
receives a
party
Group
Assembly
Individual No
Tardy Party
Tardy
Binder;
Prizes
Individuals
w/zero tardies
Quarterly
Assembly
Individual
No PASSing
Zone
PASS
Binder;
Prizes
No PASSes for
semester
Semester
Assembly
Individual
Renaissance
Ren. Cards; Gold-3.0
Incentive
G.P.A.; No
packet;
referrals; 95%
attendance; At
least 1 extracurricular
Red-25%
G.P.A.
increase; No
referrals; 95%
attendance
Semester
Assembly
Staff
handbook;
PBS Kickoff,
August 16,
2010
95% of
student body
Staff
handbook;
PBS Kickoff,
August 16,
2010
90% of
student body
Staff
handbook;
PBS Kickoff,
August 16,
2010
90% of
student body
Parties which
include
ice cream, pizza,
watermelon, other
food; hat day;
p.j./slipper day;
“recess”/play time;
Nat’l Guard rock
wall, etc. ; Leave
campus for lunch—
bus to Kirksville,
etc.
Parties which
include
ice cream, pizza,
watermelon, other
food; hat day;
p.j./slipper day;
“recess”/play time;
Nat’l Guard rock
wall, etc. ; Leave
campus for lunch—
bus to Kirksville,
etc.
GoldPizza/volleyball
party
Gold and Red—
incentive packets
Julie Howe and
Stephanie
Somers
Carroll Walker
Renaissance
Committee
PBS Honor
Roll
PASS
Binder,
Tardy
Binder,
SWIS
Zero PASSes,
Tardies,
Referrals for
all four
quarters
Yearly
Assembly
Staff
handbook;
PBS Kickoff,
August 16,
2010
25% of
student body
Field Trip to
Worlds of Fun, etc.
Julie Howe
Stephanie
Somers
Carroll Walker
“Cat Tracks” High School Menu
1
Pencil/Pen
3
Military Ball
3
Hat Day Pass
3
Free pass to game
3
Serve in cafeteria for the elementary 1 time
5
Redbox coupon
5
Military lanyard
5
Candy
5
5 point bonus card
5
Positive phone call home from 1 teacher
5
Free soda/Powerade coupon
5
PBS chair for class period
5
Eat lunch at picnic tables
10
Fast food coupon
10
10 point bonus card
10
Listen to I-pod for 1 class period coupon
10
Skip to the front of the lunch line coupon
10
Hat
10
Coupon to read a book/play on the computer to 1 class period
10
Eat lunch with 2 friends in the EPN room
10
Reserved parking spot for the day
10
Plan lunch menu for a designated day
20
T-shirt
20
$10 gift card
20
Sleep in pass (arrive to school by 9:00)
20
Early out pass, miss last period
20
CD/Movie/Book
Adair Co. R-I Teacher Recognition Matrix
Name
Resource
Description &
Criteria
When & Where
Presented
Information to
Staff
Goal(s)
Celebrations
Coordinator
Staff Tracks
Staff Track
Ticket;
Prizes
When a staff
member is “caught”
meeting staff
expectation, s/he
receives a staff
track.
Daily, as
expectations are
met; any location.
Any staff member
may present any
other staff member
with a track.
Staff handbook;
PBS Kickoff,
August 16, 2010
50 weekly
Prizes from menu;
Prizes from drawing
Stephanie Somers
(Creates, houses,
and distributes
tracks)
Julie Howe
(Checks prize
inventory levels
and replenishes)
Expectations of
staff include:
teaching PBS
lessons; using PBSrelated language;
handing out Cat
Tracks, etc.
Individual
Prizes will include
items such as “extra
planning period for
the day” or
“reserved parking
spot,” as well as
tangible items.
Staff members are
invited to bring any
“white elephant”
items to contribute
to the prize
inventory.