Reinforcement Strategies for Effective Teaching

Reinforcers: Enhancing Student Response

Types of Reinforcers

A reinforcer is anything provided to a student after they respond, increasing the likelihood of the student responding correctly in the future.

  • Examples of reinforcers:
    • Praise (e.g., "Excellent!")
    • High fives
    • Snacks (e.g., "Good work. You got your snack.")
    • Toys
    • Enjoyable activities
    • Fun physical interactions
    • Breaks from work (e.g., "Go ahead. Gonna take a break. Good for you.")
    • Coins, stickers, or tokens that lead to a reward (e.g., "Nice work.")

Identifying Potential Reinforcers

To identify potential reinforcers, observe the student to see what they naturally gravitate toward.

  • Strategies:
    • Watch the student and note what they play with.
      • Example: Student playing the piano.
    • Place a variety of snacks in view and observe which one the student chooses.
    • Place a variety of items on a table and see what the student picks first.
      • Example: Student picks the moons.
    • Remove the chosen item and observe what the student picks next.
  • Create a list of at least 10 reinforcers to use.

Ways to Know You Have an Effective Reinforcer

Several indicators can show that a selected item or activity is an effective reinforcer:

  • The student repeats the behavior to get the reinforcer.
    • Example: Student correctly identifies what goes with shoes to receive a reinforcer.
  • The student looks for the reinforcer.
    • Example: Student anticipates the phone as a reinforcer.
  • The student smiles when given the reinforcer.
    • Example: Jonathan smiles when praised for good work.
  • The student engages with the reinforcer.

How to Vary Reinforcers

To maintain student motivation, it's crucial to vary and add to the list of reinforcers frequently.

  • Strategies:
    • Have the student choose what they want to work for before the lesson.
      • Example: Demi chooses chips as a reinforcer.
    • Vary reinforcers during teaching.
      • Examples: listening to music, playing with a ball
    • Try variations on a theme.
      • If the student likes cars, identify several kinds of cars they like.
    • Expose the student to new things to broaden their interests.
      • Examples: Bubbles, balloons, stamps, chains, rings, and new activities.

Helpful Hints

  • If a student seems to only like food reinforcers:
    • Pair praise with the food.
      • Example: "You got an 11:00. Wow. You're on eleven."
    • Gradually fade the food until praise becomes the primary reinforcer.
    • Have the student earn a specific number of tokens before accessing the food reinforcement.
      • Example: Earning reinforcement after answering what a chef does.

When to Reinforce

  • Ask the student to do something.
    • Example: Teacher wants the student to look at her and say "yes" when she calls his name.
  • Immediately present the reinforcer after the student does what is asked.
    • Example: "Perfect. Nice and yes."
  • Give the reinforcer only after the student performs the desired action.
    • Example: Reinforcing Steven for saying yes and looking at the teacher.
  • Give praise along with the reinforcer, describing what the student is being praised for.
    • Example: "Yay. Can you turn around and you say yes? Fabulous."

How to Reinforce Less Over Time

  • Initially, reinforce responses even when you've helped the student respond.
    • Example: Reinforcing "I drink" even with prompting when asked, "What do you do with a cup?"
  • As you fade your prompts, provide better rewards for unprompted responses.
    • Give the best rewards for independent responses.
  • Once the student responds consistently, do not reinforce for every response.
    • Instead, wait for a few correct responses before providing reinforcement.
    • Example: Waiting before reinforcing "I draw" when asked, "What do you do with the marker?"
  • Save the best reinforcers for the responses that happen with the least amount of assistance or help.