Token boards are just positive reinforcement that works.  They are a visual reminder to the students to see how close they are to an edible or a preferred item or even a preferred activity.  Token boards give clear expectations and a goal to work toward and reduce negative behaviors all at the same time.  Students are able to stay focused and on-task, especially when the tokens are highly reinforcing.

 

They should be individualized for the students.  Some tokens work for some students and other students need images of the local news anchors, for example.

 

You want to make sure that whatever image you use is reinforcing enough for the student to stick with it until the end when they earn their reinforcer. Also, you want to individualize how many tokens a student gets.  When you first introduce a token board system,  you won't be starting with 15 tokens.  Most likely, you will be starting with 3 or even 5 tokens.

There are times that I will pair each token with an eatable reinforcer if the student is brand new to token boards and doesn't yet understand the concept.

Once the student chooses a board they want to use, let them choose the reinforcer they want to work for.  I typically give my students 3-5 different choices of things that they can work for. Then start rewarding good behavior with those tokens.  It can be associated with tasks or time.

 

 

 

Once you are using the token board for a bit, you want to try to increase the student's stamina and so you can increase the tokens that are earned.  One of my students right now is on a 20-piece token board and it works for him.

 

This will depend on the student. Some tokens boards will look very different than other students.  Other students will have a 20 piece, some will have a 3-piece, some will be large and some will be small.  Some token boards even come with behavior expectations! Other token boards are discreet enough to hide in a student agenda.  Each student's token board should be unique to them.

 

No, do not take tokens away.  Once a token is earned, the student gets to keep it.  Remember, this is positive reinforcement.  If the student earned a token but then started acting up, ignore that behavior and reward him as soon as he gets back on track.  Remind the student of the expectations.  Just think, if you worked all week and your boss told you on Friday that he wanted to take back a hundred bucks for being late a few days, you would be very upset!

 

You should never stop this.  This is the whole point we want to get to.  We want students to be able to enjoy and accept positive verbal praise instead of the token in the long run.  Intrinsic motivation is always the goal.

 

Of course.  I have students who need me to place a token on each problem on a worksheet.  When they complete the problem, they get that token.  It is very reinforcing to see the token on the page.  It makes the work fun and engaging.

 

This is harder to use, but yes you can.  I would highly recommend that the student understands time to do this.  For example, if you are doing every ten minutes a student is following the expectations they earn one token, this must be very clear and use a timer.  Students need to have an understanding of time.

If you are ready to get started with token boards you can check out my token board resource here.  I have a bunch to choose from!!