Why Behavior Charts Don't Work

The idea behind behavior charts is that they'll improvefourth one, the flavor begins to lose its appeal. And
compliance and motivation in every single child orby the seventh one, you don't like chicken
student. Do they? Of course not. These charts havesandwiches at all. At this point, you are satiated.
built-in problems. You know it. I know it. And that'sThe other problem with focusing kids on a reward or
another reason teachers despise psychologists. Evenprivilege is it does not enhance their relationship with
though behavior charts don't work, many counselorsyou. What are they focused on: You or the reward?
still recommend them. It's kind of like pouring diesel inWhat do you want them focused on? You got it:
your gasoline-powered car and wondering why itThey need to work on improving their relationship
doesn't run well.with you.
The main problem is that behavior charts getLikewise, it's important for you to notice when your
students focused on a reward. After a while, thesestudent is behaving and moving in the right direction.
children do what we call satiate. To understand whatAs we learned earlier, it's not just a problem with the
this means, think about the last time you were reallystudent. We adults play a role, too. The following
hungry for a chicken sandwich (or a Caesar salad, orexercise will show you how to make a different type
whatever your favorite dish is). If I give you a hot,of behavior chart - one that will actually work for
fresh chicken sandwich, it tastes great. If I give youyou!
another, it tastes awesome too. By the third or