Positive Reinforcement

There is nothing like a little healthy competition to motivate excellent behavior in a classroom. My mentor teacher I have been observing the past couple weeks has recently implemented a reward system for her students. In groupings of desks have become teams; the Hot Air Balloons, Airplanes, Trains and Sailboats. A picture of each hangs over the groups and she rewards them points by tacking on clothes pins to the pictures throughout the day. These are their points. At the end of the week the winning team gets to choose between extra reccess time, computer games, or a treat. I have noticed a markable difference in behavior since. Such a little thing can have such a big impact. Not only this but they are learning team work as well. This post has other additional ideas to try that I thought were also creative and simple.
http://www.teachercreated.com/blog/?tag=managing-student-behavior