Excerpted from Chapter 9: Awesome Tricks of the Trade
in Ben Stiefel's Winning Over Your TOUGHEST Music Class.


     POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT: Is there a more horrible phrase in education than positive reinforcement? Let's call it what it is: bribery. Now doesn't that feel better? I recall dealing with an extremely challenging class in years past. The children would come to my music room each week carrying bags of candy their classroom teacher had distributed to them during the day. How's that for positive reinforcement? A huge sugar jolt for naturally fidgety children!

     Of course, if their classroom teacher had been a strong disciplinarian, she wouldn't have needed to give out candy each day. In all honesty, I could hardly blame her for doing it, although she was potentially creating a whole class of future diabetics! Unsurprisingly, that class would sit in front of me on Fridays, last period, with their bags of candy, totally energized on a pure sugar high! What kind of positive reinforcement could I offer for calm and proper behavior?

     Time to get creative. First, you must be tuned into what children like. What is their favorite television cartoon? Favorite song? Do they like trading cards and if so, what kind? Just ask your students and they'll eagerly tell you their likes. Once you know their loves and interests, you must get creative. If Karate-Destructo (I made up that name) is their favorite cartoon , get a picture of Karate-Destructo, copy it on card stock and add the title "I am a Karate-Destructo Music Class Superstar!" Presto! - instant bribery tool, or if you prefer, positive reinforcement incentive!

     You can purchase special paper for your computer printer that will allow you to make custom stickers. Why not create your own Karate-Destructo Music Superstar stickers? The special sticker paper for your computer printer can be purchased at your local office supplies store. For ease of use, I suggest purchasing sticker paper that is not scored and that is simply a package of single 8 1/2" X 11" sheets. Using any graphic arts software (like Print Master), make a page of stickers, print them and cut them to size. If your computer skills need a little work, have a friend or colleague help you with designing and printing.

     With a bunch of Karate-Destructo Music Superstar stickers in your hand, you've got your own super power: the power of bribery... er... positive reinforcement.

More percussion activites are included in this chapter.

See more of our Music Appreciation and Classroom Management Song Lyrics

Many thanks to Ben Stiefel for permission to display these lyrics.
© Ben Stiefel. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

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