The possibilities are endless when it comes to rewarding students, so we created a list of 50 free student rewards!
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Even the “cool kids” will enjoy one-on-one time with the teacher, so lend them yours during lunch. This reward can also help you maintain positive relationships with your students.
Kids might not like doing chores at home, but they’re always excited to help the teacher around the classroom. The Teacher’s Assistant can do many roles such as door holder, paper passer, board eraser, and more.
Make your students feel special by letting them borrow your chair or sit in a special seat such as a bean bag or bar stool.
Students might choose to sit next to their best friends or close to the door, so they can be the first ones out for recess. Either way, students will appreciate the freedom to choose where to sit.
A homework pass is a logical reward to give to students who pay attention in class and finish all their work (correctly).
If hats aren’t allowed at your school, Hat Day will be an exciting free reward. Students can wear a silly hat, a hat representing their favorite sports team, or one that shows off their amazing sense of fashion. Regardless of the hat they choose, they’ll be excited to wear it in class.
It’s important to instill a love of learning in students. By establishing reading to the class as a reward, your students will view reading as fun and exciting. Make sure you set expectations for the class, so they are respectful while the reader is reading.
Saying the morning announcements can make students feel like celebrities for the day. Let them study the announcements the day before, so they can be prepared for showtime.
Give your students the gift of sleeping in a little longer. With pajama day as a class reward, they can roll over and come right to school. This is a great idea reward to give before a break.
Reward a student by letting them share their favorite YouTube video with the class. Screen the video ahead of time to make sure it’s appropriate.
At many schools, students are not allowed to eat in class. That’s why eating in the classroom can make a great reward for an individual student or the class as a whole. Keep this reward free by telling students to bring their own snacks to eat throughout the day.
Whether the students want to teach the class how to make an origami bird or teach them how to dance, the key is to let them have free time to talk about something that is important to them.
Something as simple as a positive note or phone call home can really brighten a student’s day and make their parents feel good. This will let the students and parents know that you notice and appreciate their positive behavior, as well as encourage other students to behave so they can receive a positive note as well.
When the students finish their work early, you can give them extra recess time. Just five or ten minutes at the beginning or end of recess is enough to make them happy.
Younger kids love toys, so as a reward, let them bring their favorite toy to school! They can show the toy off during Show and Tell or keep it at their desk all day. Ensure that the toy is not noisy or being used to distract other students.
Being the line leader is the ultimate leadership role for elementary school students! Reserve this honor for the student who exhibits the best behavior. You can change the line leader every day but to make it a desirable reward, let them have the honor for the entire week.
If your students are glued to their cell phones in between classes, cell phone time in class can be an exciting reward for them. Allow them to use their cell phones after they complete their work for the day.
A certificate for accomplishing a task or exhibiting positive behavior can mean the world to students. To make it an absolutely free student reward, email it to them instead of printing it.
Fun Friday is an exciting whole-class reward that students will look forward to. Watch movies, play games, or just give the students time to talk to each other.
TikTok is popular and doesn’t show signs of going away any time soon. You’ll be the coolest teacher in the school when you reward a student by making a cameo on their TikTok.
If you’re an administrator, chances are your students don’t know exactly what you do every day, so reward well-behaved students by letting them shadow you. They’ll gain a new appreciation for your role and enjoy being able to be in the “in-crowd” when it comes to making minor decisions.
This is as free as can be and doesn’t require any planning on your part. Just give your student(s) time to play games online.
There are so many ways to use a dance party as a free reward. Turn on the kids’ favorite songs and just let them dance, or let them take turns doing the latest TikTok dance challenge.
Right along the lines of a dance party, students love to sing! This is especially true for younger students who don’t care about how they sound. YouTube is full of karaoke-style videos.
Reward a student by letting them read to someone in a younger grade. This reward can work for any grade level because kids love to show off their skills, and young students love getting to know a “big kid.”
You’ve probably seen the videos of teachers doing custom handshakes with their students. Reward your students by spending a few minutes creating and practicing special handshakes. Not only does this build a sense of community, but it also helps you deepen your relationships with them.
School computers are typically only used for school-related activities. Turn this into a reward by giving students free time on the computer to do what they want as long as it’s appropriate.
The song leader (or circle time leader) gets to choose the songs for the day. This can also be a logical reward for students who behave well during circle time.
Everyone doesn’t enjoy public praise, so make sure you know how your students feel about it before you announce their perfect behavior over the intercom.
This free reward is a privilege that any student will enjoy. It’s a twist on being the line leader. Instead of just being first in line, students who earn this reward can be first for everything that day (answer questions, lunch, bathroom break, etc.).
Students enjoy reading if the content is interesting. Tell students to bring their favorite books to the class or take them to the school library to check out new ones.
For 2 minutes, one lucky student can have the floor. They can talk about anything they want, tell jokes, dance, sing, or anything else that's appropriate.
If a student demonstrates maturity and responsibility, let them feed the class pet. Make sure you emphasize the importance of this reward, so students will want this privilege and take pride in taking care of the class pet.
Kids, regardless of age, like when adults show interest in things they care about. Something as simple as listening to a student’s favorite songs can make them feel special and connected to you.
This reward is absolutely free if you’re letting the student use your parking spot or an unclaimed one in the faculty parking lot.
Many students dread being assigned a partner for class activities. Reward students by letting them pick their own partners sometimes.
Pull out your old board games or find some free ones online–your students will be appreciative of the time they can spend playing games with you and your classmates.
This is a fantastic reward because the chosen student will have to study the material in order to create the quiz. It also saves you time!
For sock/slipper day, students can wear the silliest socks or the fuzziest slippers they can find. End the day with a fashion show.
Kids love to draw on the board every chance they get, so make it a reward!
Let a well-behaved student choose the warm-up question, write it on the board, and lead the class discussion.
The gift of time is one we could all use! However, for your student, give them extra time to do something they enjoy or extra time to complete an assignment.
This small reward is appropriate for middle and high school students who are dismissed from class by a bell. Let them leave class 5 minutes early to beat the hallway traffic.
This private lunch will feel like a luxury. The lucky student can choose a friend or 2 to stay in the classroom and watch YouTube videos with during lunch.
Children are curious and often wonder what’s happening in other classes. Reward a student by letting them sit in on a class of their choice.
Put a smiley face on your students’ work. It has the same impact as a sticker, but it’s absolutely free!
It doesn’t cost anything to make a student feel special by displaying them on a bulletin board outside of the class. Save this reward for a student who goes above and beyond by exhibiting positive behavior.
Spend a day (or just an hour) watching a movie. Tell students to bring a blanket and snack, and transform your classroom into a movie theater!
Empower your students by giving them the opportunity to design the class bulletin board. Use supplies you already have, and let them show off their artistic abilities!
This is a great end-of-the-year reward. Students can bring an old t-shirt and let their friends sign it!
Most of these rewards can be adapted for individual students or the whole class. With this list of 50 absolutely free rewards, you can reward your students without reaching for your wallet ever again!
Need more than 50? We also put together an additional 10 completely free rewards for your classroom that are sure to kickstart the engagement in your lessons.
Even the “cool kids” will enjoy one-on-one time with the teacher, so lend them yours during lunch. This reward can also help you maintain positive relationships with your students.
Kids might not like doing chores at home, but they’re always excited to help the teacher around the classroom. The Teacher’s Assistant can do many roles such as door holder, paper passer, board eraser, and more.
Make your students feel special by letting them borrow your chair or sit in a special seat such as a bean bag or bar stool.
Students might choose to sit next to their best friends or close to the door, so they can be the first ones out for recess. Either way, students will appreciate the freedom to choose where to sit.
A homework pass is a logical reward to give to students who pay attention in class and finish all their work (correctly).
If hats aren’t allowed at your school, Hat Day will be an exciting free reward. Students can wear a silly hat, a hat representing their favorite sports team, or one that shows off their amazing sense of fashion. Regardless of the hat they choose, they’ll be excited to wear it in class.
It’s important to instill a love of learning in students. By establishing reading to the class as a reward, your students will view reading as fun and exciting. Make sure you set expectations for the class, so they are respectful while the reader is reading.
Saying the morning announcements can make students feel like celebrities for the day. Let them study the announcements the day before, so they can be prepared for showtime.
Give your students the gift of sleeping in a little longer. With pajama day as a class reward, they can roll over and come right to school. This is a great idea reward to give before a break.
Reward a student by letting them share their favorite YouTube video with the class. Screen the video ahead of time to make sure it’s appropriate.
At many schools, students are not allowed to eat in class. That’s why eating in the classroom can make a great reward for an individual student or the class as a whole. Keep this reward free by telling students to bring their own snacks to eat throughout the day.
Whether the students want to teach the class how to make an origami bird or teach them how to dance, the key is to let them have free time to talk about something that is important to them.
Something as simple as a positive note or phone call home can really brighten a student’s day and make their parents feel good. This will let the students and parents know that you notice and appreciate their positive behavior, as well as encourage other students to behave so they can receive a positive note as well.
When the students finish their work early, you can give them extra recess time. Just five or ten minutes at the beginning or end of recess is enough to make them happy.
Younger kids love toys, so as a reward, let them bring their favorite toy to school! They can show the toy off during Show and Tell or keep it at their desk all day. Ensure that the toy is not noisy or being used to distract other students.
Being the line leader is the ultimate leadership role for elementary school students! Reserve this honor for the student who exhibits the best behavior. You can change the line leader every day but to make it a desirable reward, let them have the honor for the entire week.
If your students are glued to their cell phones in between classes, cell phone time in class can be an exciting reward for them. Allow them to use their cell phones after they complete their work for the day.
A certificate for accomplishing a task or exhibiting positive behavior can mean the world to students. To make it an absolutely free student reward, email it to them instead of printing it.
Fun Friday is an exciting whole-class reward that students will look forward to. Watch movies, play games, or just give the students time to talk to each other.
TikTok is popular and doesn’t show signs of going away any time soon. You’ll be the coolest teacher in the school when you reward a student by making a cameo on their TikTok.
If you’re an administrator, chances are your students don’t know exactly what you do every day, so reward well-behaved students by letting them shadow you. They’ll gain a new appreciation for your role and enjoy being able to be in the “in-crowd” when it comes to making minor decisions.
This is as free as can be and doesn’t require any planning on your part. Just give your student(s) time to play games online.
There are so many ways to use a dance party as a free reward. Turn on the kids’ favorite songs and just let them dance, or let them take turns doing the latest TikTok dance challenge.
Right along the lines of a dance party, students love to sing! This is especially true for younger students who don’t care about how they sound. YouTube is full of karaoke-style videos.
Reward a student by letting them read to someone in a younger grade. This reward can work for any grade level because kids love to show off their skills, and young students love getting to know a “big kid.”
You’ve probably seen the videos of teachers doing custom handshakes with their students. Reward your students by spending a few minutes creating and practicing special handshakes. Not only does this build a sense of community, but it also helps you deepen your relationships with them.
School computers are typically only used for school-related activities. Turn this into a reward by giving students free time on the computer to do what they want as long as it’s appropriate.
The song leader (or circle time leader) gets to choose the songs for the day. This can also be a logical reward for students who behave well during circle time.
Everyone doesn’t enjoy public praise, so make sure you know how your students feel about it before you announce their perfect behavior over the intercom.
This free reward is a privilege that any student will enjoy. It’s a twist on being the line leader. Instead of just being first in line, students who earn this reward can be first for everything that day (answer questions, lunch, bathroom break, etc.).
Students enjoy reading if the content is interesting. Tell students to bring their favorite books to the class or take them to the school library to check out new ones.
For 2 minutes, one lucky student can have the floor. They can talk about anything they want, tell jokes, dance, sing, or anything else that's appropriate.
If a student demonstrates maturity and responsibility, let them feed the class pet. Make sure you emphasize the importance of this reward, so students will want this privilege and take pride in taking care of the class pet.
Kids, regardless of age, like when adults show interest in things they care about. Something as simple as listening to a student’s favorite songs can make them feel special and connected to you.
This reward is absolutely free if you’re letting the student use your parking spot or an unclaimed one in the faculty parking lot.
Many students dread being assigned a partner for class activities. Reward students by letting them pick their own partners sometimes.
Pull out your old board games or find some free ones online–your students will be appreciative of the time they can spend playing games with you and your classmates.
This is a fantastic reward because the chosen student will have to study the material in order to create the quiz. It also saves you time!
For sock/slipper day, students can wear the silliest socks or the fuzziest slippers they can find. End the day with a fashion show.
Kids love to draw on the board every chance they get, so make it a reward!
Let a well-behaved student choose the warm-up question, write it on the board, and lead the class discussion.
The gift of time is one we could all use! However, for your student, give them extra time to do something they enjoy or extra time to complete an assignment.
This small reward is appropriate for middle and high school students who are dismissed from class by a bell. Let them leave class 5 minutes early to beat the hallway traffic.
This private lunch will feel like a luxury. The lucky student can choose a friend or 2 to stay in the classroom and watch YouTube videos with during lunch.
Children are curious and often wonder what’s happening in other classes. Reward a student by letting them sit in on a class of their choice.
Put a smiley face on your students’ work. It has the same impact as a sticker, but it’s absolutely free!
It doesn’t cost anything to make a student feel special by displaying them on a bulletin board outside of the class. Save this reward for a student who goes above and beyond by exhibiting positive behavior.
Spend a day (or just an hour) watching a movie. Tell students to bring a blanket and snack, and transform your classroom into a movie theater!
Empower your students by giving them the opportunity to design the class bulletin board. Use supplies you already have, and let them show off their artistic abilities!
This is a great end-of-the-year reward. Students can bring an old t-shirt and let their friends sign it!
Most of these rewards can be adapted for individual students or the whole class. With this list of 50 absolutely free rewards, you can reward your students without reaching for your wallet ever again!
Need more than 50? We also put together an additional 10 completely free rewards for your classroom that are sure to kickstart the engagement in your lessons.
Even the “cool kids” will enjoy one-on-one time with the teacher, so lend them yours during lunch. This reward can also help you maintain positive relationships with your students.
Kids might not like doing chores at home, but they’re always excited to help the teacher around the classroom. The Teacher’s Assistant can do many roles such as door holder, paper passer, board eraser, and more.
Make your students feel special by letting them borrow your chair or sit in a special seat such as a bean bag or bar stool.
Students might choose to sit next to their best friends or close to the door, so they can be the first ones out for recess. Either way, students will appreciate the freedom to choose where to sit.
A homework pass is a logical reward to give to students who pay attention in class and finish all their work (correctly).
If hats aren’t allowed at your school, Hat Day will be an exciting free reward. Students can wear a silly hat, a hat representing their favorite sports team, or one that shows off their amazing sense of fashion. Regardless of the hat they choose, they’ll be excited to wear it in class.
It’s important to instill a love of learning in students. By establishing reading to the class as a reward, your students will view reading as fun and exciting. Make sure you set expectations for the class, so they are respectful while the reader is reading.
Saying the morning announcements can make students feel like celebrities for the day. Let them study the announcements the day before, so they can be prepared for showtime.
Give your students the gift of sleeping in a little longer. With pajama day as a class reward, they can roll over and come right to school. This is a great idea reward to give before a break.
Reward a student by letting them share their favorite YouTube video with the class. Screen the video ahead of time to make sure it’s appropriate.
At many schools, students are not allowed to eat in class. That’s why eating in the classroom can make a great reward for an individual student or the class as a whole. Keep this reward free by telling students to bring their own snacks to eat throughout the day.
Whether the students want to teach the class how to make an origami bird or teach them how to dance, the key is to let them have free time to talk about something that is important to them.
Something as simple as a positive note or phone call home can really brighten a student’s day and make their parents feel good. This will let the students and parents know that you notice and appreciate their positive behavior, as well as encourage other students to behave so they can receive a positive note as well.
When the students finish their work early, you can give them extra recess time. Just five or ten minutes at the beginning or end of recess is enough to make them happy.
Younger kids love toys, so as a reward, let them bring their favorite toy to school! They can show the toy off during Show and Tell or keep it at their desk all day. Ensure that the toy is not noisy or being used to distract other students.
Being the line leader is the ultimate leadership role for elementary school students! Reserve this honor for the student who exhibits the best behavior. You can change the line leader every day but to make it a desirable reward, let them have the honor for the entire week.
If your students are glued to their cell phones in between classes, cell phone time in class can be an exciting reward for them. Allow them to use their cell phones after they complete their work for the day.
A certificate for accomplishing a task or exhibiting positive behavior can mean the world to students. To make it an absolutely free student reward, email it to them instead of printing it.
Fun Friday is an exciting whole-class reward that students will look forward to. Watch movies, play games, or just give the students time to talk to each other.
TikTok is popular and doesn’t show signs of going away any time soon. You’ll be the coolest teacher in the school when you reward a student by making a cameo on their TikTok.
If you’re an administrator, chances are your students don’t know exactly what you do every day, so reward well-behaved students by letting them shadow you. They’ll gain a new appreciation for your role and enjoy being able to be in the “in-crowd” when it comes to making minor decisions.
This is as free as can be and doesn’t require any planning on your part. Just give your student(s) time to play games online.
There are so many ways to use a dance party as a free reward. Turn on the kids’ favorite songs and just let them dance, or let them take turns doing the latest TikTok dance challenge.
Right along the lines of a dance party, students love to sing! This is especially true for younger students who don’t care about how they sound. YouTube is full of karaoke-style videos.
Reward a student by letting them read to someone in a younger grade. This reward can work for any grade level because kids love to show off their skills, and young students love getting to know a “big kid.”
You’ve probably seen the videos of teachers doing custom handshakes with their students. Reward your students by spending a few minutes creating and practicing special handshakes. Not only does this build a sense of community, but it also helps you deepen your relationships with them.
School computers are typically only used for school-related activities. Turn this into a reward by giving students free time on the computer to do what they want as long as it’s appropriate.
The song leader (or circle time leader) gets to choose the songs for the day. This can also be a logical reward for students who behave well during circle time.
Everyone doesn’t enjoy public praise, so make sure you know how your students feel about it before you announce their perfect behavior over the intercom.
This free reward is a privilege that any student will enjoy. It’s a twist on being the line leader. Instead of just being first in line, students who earn this reward can be first for everything that day (answer questions, lunch, bathroom break, etc.).
Students enjoy reading if the content is interesting. Tell students to bring their favorite books to the class or take them to the school library to check out new ones.
For 2 minutes, one lucky student can have the floor. They can talk about anything they want, tell jokes, dance, sing, or anything else that's appropriate.
If a student demonstrates maturity and responsibility, let them feed the class pet. Make sure you emphasize the importance of this reward, so students will want this privilege and take pride in taking care of the class pet.
Kids, regardless of age, like when adults show interest in things they care about. Something as simple as listening to a student’s favorite songs can make them feel special and connected to you.
This reward is absolutely free if you’re letting the student use your parking spot or an unclaimed one in the faculty parking lot.
Many students dread being assigned a partner for class activities. Reward students by letting them pick their own partners sometimes.
Pull out your old board games or find some free ones online–your students will be appreciative of the time they can spend playing games with you and your classmates.
This is a fantastic reward because the chosen student will have to study the material in order to create the quiz. It also saves you time!
For sock/slipper day, students can wear the silliest socks or the fuzziest slippers they can find. End the day with a fashion show.
Kids love to draw on the board every chance they get, so make it a reward!
Let a well-behaved student choose the warm-up question, write it on the board, and lead the class discussion.
The gift of time is one we could all use! However, for your student, give them extra time to do something they enjoy or extra time to complete an assignment.
This small reward is appropriate for middle and high school students who are dismissed from class by a bell. Let them leave class 5 minutes early to beat the hallway traffic.
This private lunch will feel like a luxury. The lucky student can choose a friend or 2 to stay in the classroom and watch YouTube videos with during lunch.
Children are curious and often wonder what’s happening in other classes. Reward a student by letting them sit in on a class of their choice.
Put a smiley face on your students’ work. It has the same impact as a sticker, but it’s absolutely free!
It doesn’t cost anything to make a student feel special by displaying them on a bulletin board outside of the class. Save this reward for a student who goes above and beyond by exhibiting positive behavior.
Spend a day (or just an hour) watching a movie. Tell students to bring a blanket and snack, and transform your classroom into a movie theater!
Empower your students by giving them the opportunity to design the class bulletin board. Use supplies you already have, and let them show off their artistic abilities!
This is a great end-of-the-year reward. Students can bring an old t-shirt and let their friends sign it!
Most of these rewards can be adapted for individual students or the whole class. With this list of 50 absolutely free rewards, you can reward your students without reaching for your wallet ever again!
Need more than 50? We also put together an additional 10 completely free rewards for your classroom that are sure to kickstart the engagement in your lessons.
Even the “cool kids” will enjoy one-on-one time with the teacher, so lend them yours during lunch. This reward can also help you maintain positive relationships with your students.
Kids might not like doing chores at home, but they’re always excited to help the teacher around the classroom. The Teacher’s Assistant can do many roles such as door holder, paper passer, board eraser, and more.
Make your students feel special by letting them borrow your chair or sit in a special seat such as a bean bag or bar stool.
Students might choose to sit next to their best friends or close to the door, so they can be the first ones out for recess. Either way, students will appreciate the freedom to choose where to sit.
A homework pass is a logical reward to give to students who pay attention in class and finish all their work (correctly).
If hats aren’t allowed at your school, Hat Day will be an exciting free reward. Students can wear a silly hat, a hat representing their favorite sports team, or one that shows off their amazing sense of fashion. Regardless of the hat they choose, they’ll be excited to wear it in class.
It’s important to instill a love of learning in students. By establishing reading to the class as a reward, your students will view reading as fun and exciting. Make sure you set expectations for the class, so they are respectful while the reader is reading.
Saying the morning announcements can make students feel like celebrities for the day. Let them study the announcements the day before, so they can be prepared for showtime.
Give your students the gift of sleeping in a little longer. With pajama day as a class reward, they can roll over and come right to school. This is a great idea reward to give before a break.
Reward a student by letting them share their favorite YouTube video with the class. Screen the video ahead of time to make sure it’s appropriate.
At many schools, students are not allowed to eat in class. That’s why eating in the classroom can make a great reward for an individual student or the class as a whole. Keep this reward free by telling students to bring their own snacks to eat throughout the day.
Whether the students want to teach the class how to make an origami bird or teach them how to dance, the key is to let them have free time to talk about something that is important to them.
Something as simple as a positive note or phone call home can really brighten a student’s day and make their parents feel good. This will let the students and parents know that you notice and appreciate their positive behavior, as well as encourage other students to behave so they can receive a positive note as well.
When the students finish their work early, you can give them extra recess time. Just five or ten minutes at the beginning or end of recess is enough to make them happy.
Younger kids love toys, so as a reward, let them bring their favorite toy to school! They can show the toy off during Show and Tell or keep it at their desk all day. Ensure that the toy is not noisy or being used to distract other students.
Being the line leader is the ultimate leadership role for elementary school students! Reserve this honor for the student who exhibits the best behavior. You can change the line leader every day but to make it a desirable reward, let them have the honor for the entire week.
If your students are glued to their cell phones in between classes, cell phone time in class can be an exciting reward for them. Allow them to use their cell phones after they complete their work for the day.
A certificate for accomplishing a task or exhibiting positive behavior can mean the world to students. To make it an absolutely free student reward, email it to them instead of printing it.
Fun Friday is an exciting whole-class reward that students will look forward to. Watch movies, play games, or just give the students time to talk to each other.
TikTok is popular and doesn’t show signs of going away any time soon. You’ll be the coolest teacher in the school when you reward a student by making a cameo on their TikTok.
If you’re an administrator, chances are your students don’t know exactly what you do every day, so reward well-behaved students by letting them shadow you. They’ll gain a new appreciation for your role and enjoy being able to be in the “in-crowd” when it comes to making minor decisions.
This is as free as can be and doesn’t require any planning on your part. Just give your student(s) time to play games online.
There are so many ways to use a dance party as a free reward. Turn on the kids’ favorite songs and just let them dance, or let them take turns doing the latest TikTok dance challenge.
Right along the lines of a dance party, students love to sing! This is especially true for younger students who don’t care about how they sound. YouTube is full of karaoke-style videos.
Reward a student by letting them read to someone in a younger grade. This reward can work for any grade level because kids love to show off their skills, and young students love getting to know a “big kid.”
You’ve probably seen the videos of teachers doing custom handshakes with their students. Reward your students by spending a few minutes creating and practicing special handshakes. Not only does this build a sense of community, but it also helps you deepen your relationships with them.
School computers are typically only used for school-related activities. Turn this into a reward by giving students free time on the computer to do what they want as long as it’s appropriate.
The song leader (or circle time leader) gets to choose the songs for the day. This can also be a logical reward for students who behave well during circle time.
Everyone doesn’t enjoy public praise, so make sure you know how your students feel about it before you announce their perfect behavior over the intercom.
This free reward is a privilege that any student will enjoy. It’s a twist on being the line leader. Instead of just being first in line, students who earn this reward can be first for everything that day (answer questions, lunch, bathroom break, etc.).
Students enjoy reading if the content is interesting. Tell students to bring their favorite books to the class or take them to the school library to check out new ones.
For 2 minutes, one lucky student can have the floor. They can talk about anything they want, tell jokes, dance, sing, or anything else that's appropriate.
If a student demonstrates maturity and responsibility, let them feed the class pet. Make sure you emphasize the importance of this reward, so students will want this privilege and take pride in taking care of the class pet.
Kids, regardless of age, like when adults show interest in things they care about. Something as simple as listening to a student’s favorite songs can make them feel special and connected to you.
This reward is absolutely free if you’re letting the student use your parking spot or an unclaimed one in the faculty parking lot.
Many students dread being assigned a partner for class activities. Reward students by letting them pick their own partners sometimes.
Pull out your old board games or find some free ones online–your students will be appreciative of the time they can spend playing games with you and your classmates.
This is a fantastic reward because the chosen student will have to study the material in order to create the quiz. It also saves you time!
For sock/slipper day, students can wear the silliest socks or the fuzziest slippers they can find. End the day with a fashion show.
Kids love to draw on the board every chance they get, so make it a reward!
Let a well-behaved student choose the warm-up question, write it on the board, and lead the class discussion.
The gift of time is one we could all use! However, for your student, give them extra time to do something they enjoy or extra time to complete an assignment.
This small reward is appropriate for middle and high school students who are dismissed from class by a bell. Let them leave class 5 minutes early to beat the hallway traffic.
This private lunch will feel like a luxury. The lucky student can choose a friend or 2 to stay in the classroom and watch YouTube videos with during lunch.
Children are curious and often wonder what’s happening in other classes. Reward a student by letting them sit in on a class of their choice.
Put a smiley face on your students’ work. It has the same impact as a sticker, but it’s absolutely free!
It doesn’t cost anything to make a student feel special by displaying them on a bulletin board outside of the class. Save this reward for a student who goes above and beyond by exhibiting positive behavior.
Spend a day (or just an hour) watching a movie. Tell students to bring a blanket and snack, and transform your classroom into a movie theater!
Empower your students by giving them the opportunity to design the class bulletin board. Use supplies you already have, and let them show off their artistic abilities!
This is a great end-of-the-year reward. Students can bring an old t-shirt and let their friends sign it!
Most of these rewards can be adapted for individual students or the whole class. With this list of 50 absolutely free rewards, you can reward your students without reaching for your wallet ever again!
Need more than 50? We also put together an additional 10 completely free rewards for your classroom that are sure to kickstart the engagement in your lessons.
Even the “cool kids” will enjoy one-on-one time with the teacher, so lend them yours during lunch. This reward can also help you maintain positive relationships with your students.
Kids might not like doing chores at home, but they’re always excited to help the teacher around the classroom. The Teacher’s Assistant can do many roles such as door holder, paper passer, board eraser, and more.
Make your students feel special by letting them borrow your chair or sit in a special seat such as a bean bag or bar stool.
Students might choose to sit next to their best friends or close to the door, so they can be the first ones out for recess. Either way, students will appreciate the freedom to choose where to sit.
A homework pass is a logical reward to give to students who pay attention in class and finish all their work (correctly).
If hats aren’t allowed at your school, Hat Day will be an exciting free reward. Students can wear a silly hat, a hat representing their favorite sports team, or one that shows off their amazing sense of fashion. Regardless of the hat they choose, they’ll be excited to wear it in class.
It’s important to instill a love of learning in students. By establishing reading to the class as a reward, your students will view reading as fun and exciting. Make sure you set expectations for the class, so they are respectful while the reader is reading.
Saying the morning announcements can make students feel like celebrities for the day. Let them study the announcements the day before, so they can be prepared for showtime.
Give your students the gift of sleeping in a little longer. With pajama day as a class reward, they can roll over and come right to school. This is a great idea reward to give before a break.
Reward a student by letting them share their favorite YouTube video with the class. Screen the video ahead of time to make sure it’s appropriate.
At many schools, students are not allowed to eat in class. That’s why eating in the classroom can make a great reward for an individual student or the class as a whole. Keep this reward free by telling students to bring their own snacks to eat throughout the day.
Whether the students want to teach the class how to make an origami bird or teach them how to dance, the key is to let them have free time to talk about something that is important to them.
Something as simple as a positive note or phone call home can really brighten a student’s day and make their parents feel good. This will let the students and parents know that you notice and appreciate their positive behavior, as well as encourage other students to behave so they can receive a positive note as well.
When the students finish their work early, you can give them extra recess time. Just five or ten minutes at the beginning or end of recess is enough to make them happy.
Younger kids love toys, so as a reward, let them bring their favorite toy to school! They can show the toy off during Show and Tell or keep it at their desk all day. Ensure that the toy is not noisy or being used to distract other students.
Being the line leader is the ultimate leadership role for elementary school students! Reserve this honor for the student who exhibits the best behavior. You can change the line leader every day but to make it a desirable reward, let them have the honor for the entire week.
If your students are glued to their cell phones in between classes, cell phone time in class can be an exciting reward for them. Allow them to use their cell phones after they complete their work for the day.
A certificate for accomplishing a task or exhibiting positive behavior can mean the world to students. To make it an absolutely free student reward, email it to them instead of printing it.
Fun Friday is an exciting whole-class reward that students will look forward to. Watch movies, play games, or just give the students time to talk to each other.
TikTok is popular and doesn’t show signs of going away any time soon. You’ll be the coolest teacher in the school when you reward a student by making a cameo on their TikTok.
If you’re an administrator, chances are your students don’t know exactly what you do every day, so reward well-behaved students by letting them shadow you. They’ll gain a new appreciation for your role and enjoy being able to be in the “in-crowd” when it comes to making minor decisions.
This is as free as can be and doesn’t require any planning on your part. Just give your student(s) time to play games online.
There are so many ways to use a dance party as a free reward. Turn on the kids’ favorite songs and just let them dance, or let them take turns doing the latest TikTok dance challenge.
Right along the lines of a dance party, students love to sing! This is especially true for younger students who don’t care about how they sound. YouTube is full of karaoke-style videos.
Reward a student by letting them read to someone in a younger grade. This reward can work for any grade level because kids love to show off their skills, and young students love getting to know a “big kid.”
You’ve probably seen the videos of teachers doing custom handshakes with their students. Reward your students by spending a few minutes creating and practicing special handshakes. Not only does this build a sense of community, but it also helps you deepen your relationships with them.
School computers are typically only used for school-related activities. Turn this into a reward by giving students free time on the computer to do what they want as long as it’s appropriate.
The song leader (or circle time leader) gets to choose the songs for the day. This can also be a logical reward for students who behave well during circle time.
Everyone doesn’t enjoy public praise, so make sure you know how your students feel about it before you announce their perfect behavior over the intercom.
This free reward is a privilege that any student will enjoy. It’s a twist on being the line leader. Instead of just being first in line, students who earn this reward can be first for everything that day (answer questions, lunch, bathroom break, etc.).
Students enjoy reading if the content is interesting. Tell students to bring their favorite books to the class or take them to the school library to check out new ones.
For 2 minutes, one lucky student can have the floor. They can talk about anything they want, tell jokes, dance, sing, or anything else that's appropriate.
If a student demonstrates maturity and responsibility, let them feed the class pet. Make sure you emphasize the importance of this reward, so students will want this privilege and take pride in taking care of the class pet.
Kids, regardless of age, like when adults show interest in things they care about. Something as simple as listening to a student’s favorite songs can make them feel special and connected to you.
This reward is absolutely free if you’re letting the student use your parking spot or an unclaimed one in the faculty parking lot.
Many students dread being assigned a partner for class activities. Reward students by letting them pick their own partners sometimes.
Pull out your old board games or find some free ones online–your students will be appreciative of the time they can spend playing games with you and your classmates.
This is a fantastic reward because the chosen student will have to study the material in order to create the quiz. It also saves you time!
For sock/slipper day, students can wear the silliest socks or the fuzziest slippers they can find. End the day with a fashion show.
Kids love to draw on the board every chance they get, so make it a reward!
Let a well-behaved student choose the warm-up question, write it on the board, and lead the class discussion.
The gift of time is one we could all use! However, for your student, give them extra time to do something they enjoy or extra time to complete an assignment.
This small reward is appropriate for middle and high school students who are dismissed from class by a bell. Let them leave class 5 minutes early to beat the hallway traffic.
This private lunch will feel like a luxury. The lucky student can choose a friend or 2 to stay in the classroom and watch YouTube videos with during lunch.
Children are curious and often wonder what’s happening in other classes. Reward a student by letting them sit in on a class of their choice.
Put a smiley face on your students’ work. It has the same impact as a sticker, but it’s absolutely free!
It doesn’t cost anything to make a student feel special by displaying them on a bulletin board outside of the class. Save this reward for a student who goes above and beyond by exhibiting positive behavior.
Spend a day (or just an hour) watching a movie. Tell students to bring a blanket and snack, and transform your classroom into a movie theater!
Empower your students by giving them the opportunity to design the class bulletin board. Use supplies you already have, and let them show off their artistic abilities!
This is a great end-of-the-year reward. Students can bring an old t-shirt and let their friends sign it!
Most of these rewards can be adapted for individual students or the whole class. With this list of 50 absolutely free rewards, you can reward your students without reaching for your wallet ever again!
Need more than 50? We also put together an additional 10 completely free rewards for your classroom that are sure to kickstart the engagement in your lessons.
Deiera Bennett is a freelance EdTech copywriter with a background in marketing and 6 years of experience as an educator. When she’s not writing, you can find her binge-watching The Office for the 5th time, spending time with family, or looking up recipes on Pinterest.
The best things in life are free, especially if you’re a teacher! The possibilities are endless when it comes to rewarding students for positive behavior, but it shouldn’t break the bank.
Even the “cool kids” will enjoy one-on-one time with the teacher, so lend them yours during lunch. This reward can also help you maintain positive relationships with your students.
Kids might not like doing chores at home, but they’re always excited to help the teacher around the classroom. The Teacher’s Assistant can do many roles such as door holder, paper passer, board eraser, and more.
Make your students feel special by letting them borrow your chair or sit in a special seat such as a bean bag or bar stool.
Students might choose to sit next to their best friends or close to the door, so they can be the first ones out for recess. Either way, students will appreciate the freedom to choose where to sit.
A homework pass is a logical reward to give to students who pay attention in class and finish all their work (correctly).
If hats aren’t allowed at your school, Hat Day will be an exciting free reward. Students can wear a silly hat, a hat representing their favorite sports team, or one that shows off their amazing sense of fashion. Regardless of the hat they choose, they’ll be excited to wear it in class.
It’s important to instill a love of learning in students. By establishing reading to the class as a reward, your students will view reading as fun and exciting. Make sure you set expectations for the class, so they are respectful while the reader is reading.
Saying the morning announcements can make students feel like celebrities for the day. Let them study the announcements the day before, so they can be prepared for showtime.
Give your students the gift of sleeping in a little longer. With pajama day as a class reward, they can roll over and come right to school. This is a great idea reward to give before a break.
Reward a student by letting them share their favorite YouTube video with the class. Screen the video ahead of time to make sure it’s appropriate.
At many schools, students are not allowed to eat in class. That’s why eating in the classroom can make a great reward for an individual student or the class as a whole. Keep this reward free by telling students to bring their own snacks to eat throughout the day.
Whether the students want to teach the class how to make an origami bird or teach them how to dance, the key is to let them have free time to talk about something that is important to them.
Something as simple as a positive note or phone call home can really brighten a student’s day and make their parents feel good. This will let the students and parents know that you notice and appreciate their positive behavior, as well as encourage other students to behave so they can receive a positive note as well.
When the students finish their work early, you can give them extra recess time. Just five or ten minutes at the beginning or end of recess is enough to make them happy.
Younger kids love toys, so as a reward, let them bring their favorite toy to school! They can show the toy off during Show and Tell or keep it at their desk all day. Ensure that the toy is not noisy or being used to distract other students.
Being the line leader is the ultimate leadership role for elementary school students! Reserve this honor for the student who exhibits the best behavior. You can change the line leader every day but to make it a desirable reward, let them have the honor for the entire week.
If your students are glued to their cell phones in between classes, cell phone time in class can be an exciting reward for them. Allow them to use their cell phones after they complete their work for the day.
A certificate for accomplishing a task or exhibiting positive behavior can mean the world to students. To make it an absolutely free student reward, email it to them instead of printing it.
Fun Friday is an exciting whole-class reward that students will look forward to. Watch movies, play games, or just give the students time to talk to each other.
TikTok is popular and doesn’t show signs of going away any time soon. You’ll be the coolest teacher in the school when you reward a student by making a cameo on their TikTok.
If you’re an administrator, chances are your students don’t know exactly what you do every day, so reward well-behaved students by letting them shadow you. They’ll gain a new appreciation for your role and enjoy being able to be in the “in-crowd” when it comes to making minor decisions.
This is as free as can be and doesn’t require any planning on your part. Just give your student(s) time to play games online.
There are so many ways to use a dance party as a free reward. Turn on the kids’ favorite songs and just let them dance, or let them take turns doing the latest TikTok dance challenge.
Right along the lines of a dance party, students love to sing! This is especially true for younger students who don’t care about how they sound. YouTube is full of karaoke-style videos.
Reward a student by letting them read to someone in a younger grade. This reward can work for any grade level because kids love to show off their skills, and young students love getting to know a “big kid.”
You’ve probably seen the videos of teachers doing custom handshakes with their students. Reward your students by spending a few minutes creating and practicing special handshakes. Not only does this build a sense of community, but it also helps you deepen your relationships with them.
School computers are typically only used for school-related activities. Turn this into a reward by giving students free time on the computer to do what they want as long as it’s appropriate.
The song leader (or circle time leader) gets to choose the songs for the day. This can also be a logical reward for students who behave well during circle time.
Everyone doesn’t enjoy public praise, so make sure you know how your students feel about it before you announce their perfect behavior over the intercom.
This free reward is a privilege that any student will enjoy. It’s a twist on being the line leader. Instead of just being first in line, students who earn this reward can be first for everything that day (answer questions, lunch, bathroom break, etc.).
Students enjoy reading if the content is interesting. Tell students to bring their favorite books to the class or take them to the school library to check out new ones.
For 2 minutes, one lucky student can have the floor. They can talk about anything they want, tell jokes, dance, sing, or anything else that's appropriate.
If a student demonstrates maturity and responsibility, let them feed the class pet. Make sure you emphasize the importance of this reward, so students will want this privilege and take pride in taking care of the class pet.
Kids, regardless of age, like when adults show interest in things they care about. Something as simple as listening to a student’s favorite songs can make them feel special and connected to you.
This reward is absolutely free if you’re letting the student use your parking spot or an unclaimed one in the faculty parking lot.
Many students dread being assigned a partner for class activities. Reward students by letting them pick their own partners sometimes.
Pull out your old board games or find some free ones online–your students will be appreciative of the time they can spend playing games with you and your classmates.
This is a fantastic reward because the chosen student will have to study the material in order to create the quiz. It also saves you time!
For sock/slipper day, students can wear the silliest socks or the fuzziest slippers they can find. End the day with a fashion show.
Kids love to draw on the board every chance they get, so make it a reward!
Let a well-behaved student choose the warm-up question, write it on the board, and lead the class discussion.
The gift of time is one we could all use! However, for your student, give them extra time to do something they enjoy or extra time to complete an assignment.
This small reward is appropriate for middle and high school students who are dismissed from class by a bell. Let them leave class 5 minutes early to beat the hallway traffic.
This private lunch will feel like a luxury. The lucky student can choose a friend or 2 to stay in the classroom and watch YouTube videos with during lunch.
Children are curious and often wonder what’s happening in other classes. Reward a student by letting them sit in on a class of their choice.
Put a smiley face on your students’ work. It has the same impact as a sticker, but it’s absolutely free!
It doesn’t cost anything to make a student feel special by displaying them on a bulletin board outside of the class. Save this reward for a student who goes above and beyond by exhibiting positive behavior.
Spend a day (or just an hour) watching a movie. Tell students to bring a blanket and snack, and transform your classroom into a movie theater!
Empower your students by giving them the opportunity to design the class bulletin board. Use supplies you already have, and let them show off their artistic abilities!
This is a great end-of-the-year reward. Students can bring an old t-shirt and let their friends sign it!
Most of these rewards can be adapted for individual students or the whole class. With this list of 50 absolutely free rewards, you can reward your students without reaching for your wallet ever again!
Need more than 50? We also put together an additional 10 completely free rewards for your classroom that are sure to kickstart the engagement in your lessons.
The best things in life are free, especially if you’re a teacher! The possibilities are endless when it comes to rewarding students for positive behavior, but it shouldn’t break the bank.
Even the “cool kids” will enjoy one-on-one time with the teacher, so lend them yours during lunch. This reward can also help you maintain positive relationships with your students.
Kids might not like doing chores at home, but they’re always excited to help the teacher around the classroom. The Teacher’s Assistant can do many roles such as door holder, paper passer, board eraser, and more.
Make your students feel special by letting them borrow your chair or sit in a special seat such as a bean bag or bar stool.
Students might choose to sit next to their best friends or close to the door, so they can be the first ones out for recess. Either way, students will appreciate the freedom to choose where to sit.
A homework pass is a logical reward to give to students who pay attention in class and finish all their work (correctly).
If hats aren’t allowed at your school, Hat Day will be an exciting free reward. Students can wear a silly hat, a hat representing their favorite sports team, or one that shows off their amazing sense of fashion. Regardless of the hat they choose, they’ll be excited to wear it in class.
It’s important to instill a love of learning in students. By establishing reading to the class as a reward, your students will view reading as fun and exciting. Make sure you set expectations for the class, so they are respectful while the reader is reading.
Saying the morning announcements can make students feel like celebrities for the day. Let them study the announcements the day before, so they can be prepared for showtime.
Give your students the gift of sleeping in a little longer. With pajama day as a class reward, they can roll over and come right to school. This is a great idea reward to give before a break.
Reward a student by letting them share their favorite YouTube video with the class. Screen the video ahead of time to make sure it’s appropriate.
At many schools, students are not allowed to eat in class. That’s why eating in the classroom can make a great reward for an individual student or the class as a whole. Keep this reward free by telling students to bring their own snacks to eat throughout the day.
Whether the students want to teach the class how to make an origami bird or teach them how to dance, the key is to let them have free time to talk about something that is important to them.
Something as simple as a positive note or phone call home can really brighten a student’s day and make their parents feel good. This will let the students and parents know that you notice and appreciate their positive behavior, as well as encourage other students to behave so they can receive a positive note as well.
When the students finish their work early, you can give them extra recess time. Just five or ten minutes at the beginning or end of recess is enough to make them happy.
Younger kids love toys, so as a reward, let them bring their favorite toy to school! They can show the toy off during Show and Tell or keep it at their desk all day. Ensure that the toy is not noisy or being used to distract other students.
Being the line leader is the ultimate leadership role for elementary school students! Reserve this honor for the student who exhibits the best behavior. You can change the line leader every day but to make it a desirable reward, let them have the honor for the entire week.
If your students are glued to their cell phones in between classes, cell phone time in class can be an exciting reward for them. Allow them to use their cell phones after they complete their work for the day.
A certificate for accomplishing a task or exhibiting positive behavior can mean the world to students. To make it an absolutely free student reward, email it to them instead of printing it.
Fun Friday is an exciting whole-class reward that students will look forward to. Watch movies, play games, or just give the students time to talk to each other.
TikTok is popular and doesn’t show signs of going away any time soon. You’ll be the coolest teacher in the school when you reward a student by making a cameo on their TikTok.
If you’re an administrator, chances are your students don’t know exactly what you do every day, so reward well-behaved students by letting them shadow you. They’ll gain a new appreciation for your role and enjoy being able to be in the “in-crowd” when it comes to making minor decisions.
This is as free as can be and doesn’t require any planning on your part. Just give your student(s) time to play games online.
There are so many ways to use a dance party as a free reward. Turn on the kids’ favorite songs and just let them dance, or let them take turns doing the latest TikTok dance challenge.
Right along the lines of a dance party, students love to sing! This is especially true for younger students who don’t care about how they sound. YouTube is full of karaoke-style videos.
Reward a student by letting them read to someone in a younger grade. This reward can work for any grade level because kids love to show off their skills, and young students love getting to know a “big kid.”
You’ve probably seen the videos of teachers doing custom handshakes with their students. Reward your students by spending a few minutes creating and practicing special handshakes. Not only does this build a sense of community, but it also helps you deepen your relationships with them.
School computers are typically only used for school-related activities. Turn this into a reward by giving students free time on the computer to do what they want as long as it’s appropriate.
The song leader (or circle time leader) gets to choose the songs for the day. This can also be a logical reward for students who behave well during circle time.
Everyone doesn’t enjoy public praise, so make sure you know how your students feel about it before you announce their perfect behavior over the intercom.
This free reward is a privilege that any student will enjoy. It’s a twist on being the line leader. Instead of just being first in line, students who earn this reward can be first for everything that day (answer questions, lunch, bathroom break, etc.).
Students enjoy reading if the content is interesting. Tell students to bring their favorite books to the class or take them to the school library to check out new ones.
For 2 minutes, one lucky student can have the floor. They can talk about anything they want, tell jokes, dance, sing, or anything else that's appropriate.
If a student demonstrates maturity and responsibility, let them feed the class pet. Make sure you emphasize the importance of this reward, so students will want this privilege and take pride in taking care of the class pet.
Kids, regardless of age, like when adults show interest in things they care about. Something as simple as listening to a student’s favorite songs can make them feel special and connected to you.
This reward is absolutely free if you’re letting the student use your parking spot or an unclaimed one in the faculty parking lot.
Many students dread being assigned a partner for class activities. Reward students by letting them pick their own partners sometimes.
Pull out your old board games or find some free ones online–your students will be appreciative of the time they can spend playing games with you and your classmates.
This is a fantastic reward because the chosen student will have to study the material in order to create the quiz. It also saves you time!
For sock/slipper day, students can wear the silliest socks or the fuzziest slippers they can find. End the day with a fashion show.
Kids love to draw on the board every chance they get, so make it a reward!
Let a well-behaved student choose the warm-up question, write it on the board, and lead the class discussion.
The gift of time is one we could all use! However, for your student, give them extra time to do something they enjoy or extra time to complete an assignment.
This small reward is appropriate for middle and high school students who are dismissed from class by a bell. Let them leave class 5 minutes early to beat the hallway traffic.
This private lunch will feel like a luxury. The lucky student can choose a friend or 2 to stay in the classroom and watch YouTube videos with during lunch.
Children are curious and often wonder what’s happening in other classes. Reward a student by letting them sit in on a class of their choice.
Put a smiley face on your students’ work. It has the same impact as a sticker, but it’s absolutely free!
It doesn’t cost anything to make a student feel special by displaying them on a bulletin board outside of the class. Save this reward for a student who goes above and beyond by exhibiting positive behavior.
Spend a day (or just an hour) watching a movie. Tell students to bring a blanket and snack, and transform your classroom into a movie theater!
Empower your students by giving them the opportunity to design the class bulletin board. Use supplies you already have, and let them show off their artistic abilities!
This is a great end-of-the-year reward. Students can bring an old t-shirt and let their friends sign it!
Most of these rewards can be adapted for individual students or the whole class. With this list of 50 absolutely free rewards, you can reward your students without reaching for your wallet ever again!
Need more than 50? We also put together an additional 10 completely free rewards for your classroom that are sure to kickstart the engagement in your lessons.
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