middle school teachers

How do you reinforce good behavior in middle school? Also, any strategies for motivating students who are inattentive?

middle school teachers

I use a token economy system, and also buy lunch for them. Our school has a "Buck" system, where they get one if you deem it appropriate - appropriate behavior, hw,etc. Then, they can redeem it in the store for snacks, supplies, etc.
If your school does not have that, you can set it up in your classroom. Buy cheap prizes and snack packs from BJs or Costco and have them as rewards after they get $5, or whatever the costs are that you pre-establish with them. Starting it in September, I think including them in building the system will be very beneficial.

As for buying them lunch - a local pizzeria by work gives us pies for $6.50 on tuesdays. So when major projects are due, I pick a tuesday and get pizza for the kids who handed it in.

I know some people don't like to spend money "bribing" the kids, but for me, it really works. The kids like it, and act better. Mind you, I'm in South Jamaica, so it's pretty bad where I'm at.

Re: middle school teachers

85 or higher on assignments gets a sticker (never thought that would work, but they love them!)

If everyone in the class does the homework for the day, the entire class gets extra credit points.

I create a contest between classes for spelling quizzes - they have 6 quizzes each quarter, and the class with the highest spelling average at the end of the quarter gets extra credit.

middle school teachers

I have used homework passes, extra points that can be used on quizzes or exams, I have bought the big container of mini pretzels from bjs (they usually have them around halloween) and give those out, and stickers on exams