Cashing in

1 / 5

Second-grader Rashawn Robinson cashed in his beach bucks for a “sit in your teacher's chair for an hour” and a “freezie Friday” freeze pop coupon. He said he got his “bucks” for “always being good every day.”

2 / 5

Fifth-grader Dedrick Gauntt trades some of his beach bucks for a new notebook.

3 / 5

Reading Resource teacher Megan Blake set up the “Shrimp Shack” to enforce positive behavior in the student body, and help teach students about financial and economical understanding.

4 / 5

Second graders line up to make their Shrimp Shack selections.

5 / 5

Second-grader Tyler Love bought a new book cover with his earnings from “being nice.”

[expand]

close

At Fort Myers Beach Elementary School, being kind can pay off.

Megan Blake, the school’s new reading resource teacher, has set up shop with a system that focuses on positive behavior.

She said the rest of the teaching staff helped her come up with the name “Shrimp Shack.”

Throughout the school day, students can earn a “beach buck” for doing something kind to another student or being helpful in class. The teaching staff, faculty, maintenance team and cafeteria crew all get to hand out these “beach bucks” when they witness an act of kindness or other noteworthy behavior.

“It focuses on the positive, rather than only looking at the ‘bad’ behavior,” Blake said.

Every three weeks, the students can cash in their bucks at the Shrimp Shack for school supplies – or they can choose to save up their earnings for some high-dollar rewards.

“It helps them with math, and making economic choices,” Blake said.

Prices range from two beach bucks for a pencil, all the way to 500 bucks – and that earns a student the honor of “principal for a day.”

There are a few middle-ground options too, like getting to have lunch with Administrative Assistant Renee Mulloy or Principal Karen Manzi.

Alonna McMullen, a fifth-grader, came along with her class to the shack on Thursday, but she wasn’t going to buy anything.

“I’m saving up for the principal for the day,” she said.

She said she might also spend her savings on the option to get to help out her teacher or help out in the media center, two other mid-range expense items.

Blake is bringing the rewards-based system to the beach from her previous post at Orange River Middle School.

It can take a lot of the year to save up for the principal’s job, but she said there are usually a few fourth and fifth-graders who will manage it every year.

And, it works – when students see their peers getting rewarded for positive behavior, they want to model it and be rewarded, too.

“We’re already seeing more positive behavior,” she said.