Charlene Melhorn

What do banking and behavior have to do with each other?  In most cases, not a whole lot, but at Create! Achievement they are inseparable.  In order to address some of the out of line behaviors occurring at our arts based afterschool program, we decided to challenge our students with “Student Stars,” a system of rewards and consequences couched in banking language.  As a base line, students are expected to behave and be cooperative, but if they fall below that line they receive a star “withdrawal.”  If they rise above the line they receive a star “deposit.”  After a week of accumulated stars, students receive a behavior review and have checks written in their name with the amount of “star bucks” earned.  They can then choose to cash or save their checks.  

To launch the program, students had to open their “Star Bank Accounts.” So Monday we dressed in blazers and professional attire and as we approached the business room we explained the seriousness of what we were about to do.  Once inside the room and seated around the large conference table, the students began to scour the terms of agreement and asked question after question about each term, each withdrawal, etc.  Some even seemed to mock some of the system, but this is to be expected.  They are, after all, kids who need to put up a defensive and cool front.  Yet, once they had exhausted all of their questions and filled out their account application/contracts, we began to notice a few proud smiles begin to emerge.  Smiles continued, particularly as we called each of their names formally to the front where they signed with special pens.   We signed, shook hands, and then officially stamped the contracts.  Some of the students were even beaming as we said congratulations and shook hands in agreement.  They had the choice and in the end all of them signed the contract, even some of the more reluctant students.