Desk Pets for Behavior Incentive

Desk Pets for a behavior incentive! I am sure you have heard all about this new “as seen on Tik Tok” craze. I had heard about it a few times before deciding YES, this is exactly what my students need. Especially during a difficult and challenging year of having to sit at desks (which is hard as a Kinder kid-really any elementary grade) and having to mind our own space.

Here is how I plan to use Desk Pets for a behavior incentive! I will also share how I use the resources included in my “Desk Pet Collection” located in my TPT store!

_{*This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase from one of my links, I may receive a commission or credit at no additional cost to you.}

Desk Pets for a behavior incentive:

To begin, as a class we will brainstorm ways to earn a desk pet and create an anchor chart to list the behavior, great work, and kindness traits that we all want to see in our classroom! We will also discuss some ways that our pets could get a temporary trip to the “pet sitters” (more on this further down).

Once we have determined how to earn a desk pet, a notice will go home to families to let them know all about the exciting pets that will be joining our classroom!

A “classroom notice letter” is included with an editable and pre-made version!

How to implement:

Many teachers have implemented “desk pets” by rewarding good student behavior daily. They receive a “desk pet” Monday-Friday based on their actions. Which means 5 “desk pets” a week! EEK! THAT IS A LOT OF PETS AND MONEY! ( if you are doing it this way, I PRAISE YOU!) I wanted to find a way that works best for me and my students. Being 5 and 6 years old, a whole day can seem like a long time. I decided to break our day down.

ON MONDAY: Students will earn 1 “desk pet” after their hard work in the morning while they are at lunch! I thought coming back to the classroom with a fun surprise would be exciting for them. They will have 3-5 minutes to play with their “desk pet” (based on all that hand washing and bathroom time after lunch transition…I know you know what I mean!), before it is placed in their pet cage. This will get velcroed to the desk or name plate so they don’t fly off the desks!

Then, we will take time to name our “desk pets” using the “desk pet” name plates! I printed them on cardstock and laminated them. The students will use a vis-à-vis or an expo marker, brainstorm a name and sound it out! We continue to work on writing the sounds we hear, so I thought this would be a fun way to practice that.

The globe “pet cages” are located in my amazon store.

ON TUESDAY: Students will earn additional play time after lunch with their “desk pet” for another good morning!

Continued…

ON WEDNESDAY: Currently, we are remote this day. This is a break in our behavior incentive.

ON THURSDAY: Students will earn 1 food item (also mini erasers) for their pet after their hard work in the morning while they are at lunch! Similar to the erasers you see below!

ON FRIDAY: Today is the day students get to take home their “desk pet!” Food erasers will be returned to my pile and placed back into the collection. Again, students will earn play time after lunch for having a great morning!

Are you wondering, what happens when they don’t have a great morning or afternoon?

Students will never lose their earned “desk pet” because I don’t believe in having something earned taken away. So, their pet will be taken to the “pet sitters” (my teacher desk) until their actions meet our classroom expectations or the unwanted task is completed.

Often, I have students who struggle through our afternoon due to being tired (they are 5 and 6) or because they have to complete an unwanted task. The “desk pet” will return to their owner once it is complete! I am hoping this will be motivation and encouragement through those tough moments!

You could also try other ways of implementing them such as “pet cards”, BINGO or Tic-Tac-Toe!

These premade, editable and blank BINGO and Tic-Tac-Toe boards can be printed onto cardstock, laminated, and placed onto desk! Use a vis-à-vis or an expo marker to cross out the actions shown! Once they earn BINGO or Tic-Tac-Toe, then they earn a “desk pet!”