Why your behavior plan stopped working in November
The mid-year slump is real — here's how to fix it
The November wall
In September, your behavior plan was magic. Points, rewards, leaderboards — students were engaged and on task. By November, they've figured out the game. The rewards aren't motivating anymore. The points feel meaningless. What happened?
Novelty decay
Every reward system has a half-life. Research on token economies shows that the motivational effect of points-based systems declines after 6-8 weeks unless the system evolves.
How to reset
Switch from individual tracking to team-based competition using a team scoreboard. Or move from points to a simple plus/minus system using a behavior tracker that students can see in real time.
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