A classroom reward system keeps students interested and engaged throughout their time in your classroom.
What's the secret to keeping students engaged and on task? How do you create an environment where your students are well-mannered and efficiently working on the task at hand? What can you do to help you turn around a culture of apathy?
Student motivation is the missing ingredient, and this article is here to show you how a teacher can establish a rewards system for students that keeps them interested and engaged throughout their time in your classroom.
Classroom rewards can be very simple. You have behaviors, actions, and achievements you value in your classroom.
Your students should know what they are and how to meet them. They also know that when they do, they will receive a reward that can take many forms based on their grade level and classroom culture. It could be tangible or intangible.
They may have a monetary value, they may not. The only thing that matters is that your students value the reward. Not necessarily that the reward has a value.
You can do this with little to no budget if you're creative and do a great job selling your system to your students as something they need and want.
Most educators agree that a major factor in student achievement is morale and motivation. If the student isn’t motivated to participate, it is very unlikely they will be successful.
Some of us are intrinsically motivated. No matter what the task, we will try to do our very best. Experienced educators know that the self-motivated do exist, but they are often the exception, not the rule. So how do we reach everyone else? Consistent use of small rewards can help with morale and motivation.
Students like to see their accomplishments recognized. If they meet or exceed expectations, they want to be rewarded for it.
Adults aren’t all that different, a trait of a quality staff meeting normally has some highlights or recognition of your fellow teacher's hard work and accomplishments.
Humans like to be recognized and rewarded, and when you do so, they are more likely to do so again. We all like to know that our effort is appreciated. Keep reading for some ideas on how to reward students in your class.
Grade Level: All
Description: Allow the student to earn a ticket that can be used to opt-out of a homework assignment
Grade Level: All
Description: When earned, call home to a parent and let them know about their child’s accomplishments
Grade Level: All
Description: Keep a drawer of snacks that can be used as incentives during class
Grade Level: Elementary
Description: Fill a basket with small treats and virtual prizes. These can be donated by parents or staff. When a student has accomplished a task, let them choose something from the “treasure box”
Grade Level: Elementary
Description: Elect a line leader based on behavior goals
Grade Level: Elementary
Description: Keep a set list of jobs that students complete each week. Allow those who meet expectations to pick the jobs they want
Grade Level: Middle
Description: During reward time, allow a student to pick, teach, and lead a game that you have previously approved appropriate. This is also great during review games.
Grade Level: Middle
Description: Allow a student to earn some out of class time making rounds with the school custodian
Grade Level: Middle
Description: Allow multiple students to design and create your class bulletin board
Grade Level: Middle-High
Description: I always liked playing music during individual work periods in class, if a student has met expectations allow them to choose the genre or playlist.
Grade Level: Middle-High
Description: Allow student some floor time to tell a joke
Grade Level: Middle-High
Description: Tutor younger students
Grade Level: High
Description: If a lesson requires a camera or some special lab supplies, allow students to earn the right to operate the device
Grade Level: High
Description: Allocate a short period of time for students to teach their peers about a topic of their choice.
Grade Level: High
Description: Allow them to earn a ticket that when used will allow them to sit anywhere in the room, regardless of seating assignments
Is this a group goal or an individual goal? Why is this important? Communicate the why. Sell it to your students.
Put on your marketer hat here. This is something that should be communicated to parents as well.
How long are we monitoring this behavior? When does it start? When does it end? Does your reward have a date? Is it a one-time thing, or recurring?
Your goal is for students to have an attainable goal that isn’t too far out. In a classroom setting, it is best to have long and short-term goals. Things that can be accomplished and redeemed every day or once a week as well as larger monthly or semester goals.
For example, you may have a new line leader every day, everyone gets a chance at the treasure box on Friday and you're working towards a pizza party at the end of the month.
What is necessary to keep track of this information? Use the tools your school already has to monitor behavior and attendance.
I would suggest checking out Live School for some very helpful tools to accomplish this task. This works well as a tool to monitor as well for students and parents to see progress in behavioral goals.
Carry out the reward as you promised. Be very intentional to only reward those who have earned the reward.
This may require some logistics to achieve but the efficacy of the reward is important to your future efforts.
By using long and short-term goals you should have a system set up where every student always feels like they have a reward to be gained by meeting your classroom expectations. This is the end goal for all of us: reach all students!
Did your reward system achieve the desired results? Was the reward meaningful towards student behavior? Did your monitoring system work as intended? Did the logistics of the school event or system enhance or limit your success?
Take time to think about your process and use that information to improve future efforts.
Lastly, I would like to suggest considering using a token economy in your classroom. This is a system where students can earn “credits” to be used to “buy” things in your room. This could be tangible things like snacks, supplies, or small toys.
Think about the game room at your favorite pizza place growing up, where the better you played the games, the more tickets you could spend at the counter later. But in this case, the games are school, and you score more by meeting classroom expectations!
This is fun for students and can be accomplished without sacrificing precious instructional time. In fact, you should be gaining time as you won’t be addressing disruptive behavior at the rate you were before.
Token economies can use a physical ticket system using carnival-style tickets, or you can do this electronically through a program like LiveSchool. With LiveSchool’s points tracking system you can customize your class points system with a rubric that matches your school-wide behavior expectations. Using a program like this allows us to follow PBIS best practices by adding, subtracting, and managing behavior data instantly from anywhere in the building. You can even set up your own PBIS Store.
This also has the added benefit of allowing parents to actively monitor students' behavior so they can reinforce at home and celebrate with their children as they earn rewards through your system!
If you're working on a tight budget you should check out our list of free rewards for students. Want to improve the rewards experience for your younger students? Check out our rewards menu for elementary students. Need more help constructing your incentive program? It can be a bit overwhelming, so we created a complete guide to rewarding students so everything you need is in one convenient place.
What's the secret to keeping students engaged and on task? How do you create an environment where your students are well-mannered and efficiently working on the task at hand? What can you do to help you turn around a culture of apathy?
Student motivation is the missing ingredient, and this article is here to show you how a teacher can establish a rewards system for students that keeps them interested and engaged throughout their time in your classroom.
Classroom rewards can be very simple. You have behaviors, actions, and achievements you value in your classroom.
Your students should know what they are and how to meet them. They also know that when they do, they will receive a reward that can take many forms based on their grade level and classroom culture. It could be tangible or intangible.
They may have a monetary value, they may not. The only thing that matters is that your students value the reward. Not necessarily that the reward has a value.
You can do this with little to no budget if you're creative and do a great job selling your system to your students as something they need and want.
Most educators agree that a major factor in student achievement is morale and motivation. If the student isn’t motivated to participate, it is very unlikely they will be successful.
Some of us are intrinsically motivated. No matter what the task, we will try to do our very best. Experienced educators know that the self-motivated do exist, but they are often the exception, not the rule. So how do we reach everyone else? Consistent use of small rewards can help with morale and motivation.
Students like to see their accomplishments recognized. If they meet or exceed expectations, they want to be rewarded for it.
Adults aren’t all that different, a trait of a quality staff meeting normally has some highlights or recognition of your fellow teacher's hard work and accomplishments.
Humans like to be recognized and rewarded, and when you do so, they are more likely to do so again. We all like to know that our effort is appreciated. Keep reading for some ideas on how to reward students in your class.
Grade Level: All
Description: Allow the student to earn a ticket that can be used to opt-out of a homework assignment
Grade Level: All
Description: When earned, call home to a parent and let them know about their child’s accomplishments
Grade Level: All
Description: Keep a drawer of snacks that can be used as incentives during class
Grade Level: Elementary
Description: Fill a basket with small treats and virtual prizes. These can be donated by parents or staff. When a student has accomplished a task, let them choose something from the “treasure box”
Grade Level: Elementary
Description: Elect a line leader based on behavior goals
Grade Level: Elementary
Description: Keep a set list of jobs that students complete each week. Allow those who meet expectations to pick the jobs they want
Grade Level: Middle
Description: During reward time, allow a student to pick, teach, and lead a game that you have previously approved appropriate. This is also great during review games.
Grade Level: Middle
Description: Allow a student to earn some out of class time making rounds with the school custodian
Grade Level: Middle
Description: Allow multiple students to design and create your class bulletin board
Grade Level: Middle-High
Description: I always liked playing music during individual work periods in class, if a student has met expectations allow them to choose the genre or playlist.
Grade Level: Middle-High
Description: Allow student some floor time to tell a joke
Grade Level: Middle-High
Description: Tutor younger students
Grade Level: High
Description: If a lesson requires a camera or some special lab supplies, allow students to earn the right to operate the device
Grade Level: High
Description: Allocate a short period of time for students to teach their peers about a topic of their choice.
Grade Level: High
Description: Allow them to earn a ticket that when used will allow them to sit anywhere in the room, regardless of seating assignments
Is this a group goal or an individual goal? Why is this important? Communicate the why. Sell it to your students.
Put on your marketer hat here. This is something that should be communicated to parents as well.
How long are we monitoring this behavior? When does it start? When does it end? Does your reward have a date? Is it a one-time thing, or recurring?
Your goal is for students to have an attainable goal that isn’t too far out. In a classroom setting, it is best to have long and short-term goals. Things that can be accomplished and redeemed every day or once a week as well as larger monthly or semester goals.
For example, you may have a new line leader every day, everyone gets a chance at the treasure box on Friday and you're working towards a pizza party at the end of the month.
What is necessary to keep track of this information? Use the tools your school already has to monitor behavior and attendance.
I would suggest checking out Live School for some very helpful tools to accomplish this task. This works well as a tool to monitor as well for students and parents to see progress in behavioral goals.
Carry out the reward as you promised. Be very intentional to only reward those who have earned the reward.
This may require some logistics to achieve but the efficacy of the reward is important to your future efforts.
By using long and short-term goals you should have a system set up where every student always feels like they have a reward to be gained by meeting your classroom expectations. This is the end goal for all of us: reach all students!
Did your reward system achieve the desired results? Was the reward meaningful towards student behavior? Did your monitoring system work as intended? Did the logistics of the school event or system enhance or limit your success?
Take time to think about your process and use that information to improve future efforts.
Lastly, I would like to suggest considering using a token economy in your classroom. This is a system where students can earn “credits” to be used to “buy” things in your room. This could be tangible things like snacks, supplies, or small toys.
Think about the game room at your favorite pizza place growing up, where the better you played the games, the more tickets you could spend at the counter later. But in this case, the games are school, and you score more by meeting classroom expectations!
This is fun for students and can be accomplished without sacrificing precious instructional time. In fact, you should be gaining time as you won’t be addressing disruptive behavior at the rate you were before.
Token economies can use a physical ticket system using carnival-style tickets, or you can do this electronically through a program like LiveSchool. With LiveSchool’s points tracking system you can customize your class points system with a rubric that matches your school-wide behavior expectations. Using a program like this allows us to follow PBIS best practices by adding, subtracting, and managing behavior data instantly from anywhere in the building. You can even set up your own PBIS Store.
This also has the added benefit of allowing parents to actively monitor students' behavior so they can reinforce at home and celebrate with their children as they earn rewards through your system!
If you're working on a tight budget you should check out our list of free rewards for students. Want to improve the rewards experience for your younger students? Check out our rewards menu for elementary students. Need more help constructing your incentive program? It can be a bit overwhelming, so we created a complete guide to rewarding students so everything you need is in one convenient place.
What's the secret to keeping students engaged and on task? How do you create an environment where your students are well-mannered and efficiently working on the task at hand? What can you do to help you turn around a culture of apathy?
Student motivation is the missing ingredient, and this article is here to show you how a teacher can establish a rewards system for students that keeps them interested and engaged throughout their time in your classroom.
Classroom rewards can be very simple. You have behaviors, actions, and achievements you value in your classroom.
Your students should know what they are and how to meet them. They also know that when they do, they will receive a reward that can take many forms based on their grade level and classroom culture. It could be tangible or intangible.
They may have a monetary value, they may not. The only thing that matters is that your students value the reward. Not necessarily that the reward has a value.
You can do this with little to no budget if you're creative and do a great job selling your system to your students as something they need and want.
Most educators agree that a major factor in student achievement is morale and motivation. If the student isn’t motivated to participate, it is very unlikely they will be successful.
Some of us are intrinsically motivated. No matter what the task, we will try to do our very best. Experienced educators know that the self-motivated do exist, but they are often the exception, not the rule. So how do we reach everyone else? Consistent use of small rewards can help with morale and motivation.
Students like to see their accomplishments recognized. If they meet or exceed expectations, they want to be rewarded for it.
Adults aren’t all that different, a trait of a quality staff meeting normally has some highlights or recognition of your fellow teacher's hard work and accomplishments.
Humans like to be recognized and rewarded, and when you do so, they are more likely to do so again. We all like to know that our effort is appreciated. Keep reading for some ideas on how to reward students in your class.
Grade Level: All
Description: Allow the student to earn a ticket that can be used to opt-out of a homework assignment
Grade Level: All
Description: When earned, call home to a parent and let them know about their child’s accomplishments
Grade Level: All
Description: Keep a drawer of snacks that can be used as incentives during class
Grade Level: Elementary
Description: Fill a basket with small treats and virtual prizes. These can be donated by parents or staff. When a student has accomplished a task, let them choose something from the “treasure box”
Grade Level: Elementary
Description: Elect a line leader based on behavior goals
Grade Level: Elementary
Description: Keep a set list of jobs that students complete each week. Allow those who meet expectations to pick the jobs they want
Grade Level: Middle
Description: During reward time, allow a student to pick, teach, and lead a game that you have previously approved appropriate. This is also great during review games.
Grade Level: Middle
Description: Allow a student to earn some out of class time making rounds with the school custodian
Grade Level: Middle
Description: Allow multiple students to design and create your class bulletin board
Grade Level: Middle-High
Description: I always liked playing music during individual work periods in class, if a student has met expectations allow them to choose the genre or playlist.
Grade Level: Middle-High
Description: Allow student some floor time to tell a joke
Grade Level: Middle-High
Description: Tutor younger students
Grade Level: High
Description: If a lesson requires a camera or some special lab supplies, allow students to earn the right to operate the device
Grade Level: High
Description: Allocate a short period of time for students to teach their peers about a topic of their choice.
Grade Level: High
Description: Allow them to earn a ticket that when used will allow them to sit anywhere in the room, regardless of seating assignments
Is this a group goal or an individual goal? Why is this important? Communicate the why. Sell it to your students.
Put on your marketer hat here. This is something that should be communicated to parents as well.
How long are we monitoring this behavior? When does it start? When does it end? Does your reward have a date? Is it a one-time thing, or recurring?
Your goal is for students to have an attainable goal that isn’t too far out. In a classroom setting, it is best to have long and short-term goals. Things that can be accomplished and redeemed every day or once a week as well as larger monthly or semester goals.
For example, you may have a new line leader every day, everyone gets a chance at the treasure box on Friday and you're working towards a pizza party at the end of the month.
What is necessary to keep track of this information? Use the tools your school already has to monitor behavior and attendance.
I would suggest checking out Live School for some very helpful tools to accomplish this task. This works well as a tool to monitor as well for students and parents to see progress in behavioral goals.
Carry out the reward as you promised. Be very intentional to only reward those who have earned the reward.
This may require some logistics to achieve but the efficacy of the reward is important to your future efforts.
By using long and short-term goals you should have a system set up where every student always feels like they have a reward to be gained by meeting your classroom expectations. This is the end goal for all of us: reach all students!
Did your reward system achieve the desired results? Was the reward meaningful towards student behavior? Did your monitoring system work as intended? Did the logistics of the school event or system enhance or limit your success?
Take time to think about your process and use that information to improve future efforts.
Lastly, I would like to suggest considering using a token economy in your classroom. This is a system where students can earn “credits” to be used to “buy” things in your room. This could be tangible things like snacks, supplies, or small toys.
Think about the game room at your favorite pizza place growing up, where the better you played the games, the more tickets you could spend at the counter later. But in this case, the games are school, and you score more by meeting classroom expectations!
This is fun for students and can be accomplished without sacrificing precious instructional time. In fact, you should be gaining time as you won’t be addressing disruptive behavior at the rate you were before.
Token economies can use a physical ticket system using carnival-style tickets, or you can do this electronically through a program like LiveSchool. With LiveSchool’s points tracking system you can customize your class points system with a rubric that matches your school-wide behavior expectations. Using a program like this allows us to follow PBIS best practices by adding, subtracting, and managing behavior data instantly from anywhere in the building. You can even set up your own PBIS Store.
This also has the added benefit of allowing parents to actively monitor students' behavior so they can reinforce at home and celebrate with their children as they earn rewards through your system!
If you're working on a tight budget you should check out our list of free rewards for students. Want to improve the rewards experience for your younger students? Check out our rewards menu for elementary students. Need more help constructing your incentive program? It can be a bit overwhelming, so we created a complete guide to rewarding students so everything you need is in one convenient place.
What's the secret to keeping students engaged and on task? How do you create an environment where your students are well-mannered and efficiently working on the task at hand? What can you do to help you turn around a culture of apathy?
Student motivation is the missing ingredient, and this article is here to show you how a teacher can establish a rewards system for students that keeps them interested and engaged throughout their time in your classroom.
Classroom rewards can be very simple. You have behaviors, actions, and achievements you value in your classroom.
Your students should know what they are and how to meet them. They also know that when they do, they will receive a reward that can take many forms based on their grade level and classroom culture. It could be tangible or intangible.
They may have a monetary value, they may not. The only thing that matters is that your students value the reward. Not necessarily that the reward has a value.
You can do this with little to no budget if you're creative and do a great job selling your system to your students as something they need and want.
Most educators agree that a major factor in student achievement is morale and motivation. If the student isn’t motivated to participate, it is very unlikely they will be successful.
Some of us are intrinsically motivated. No matter what the task, we will try to do our very best. Experienced educators know that the self-motivated do exist, but they are often the exception, not the rule. So how do we reach everyone else? Consistent use of small rewards can help with morale and motivation.
Students like to see their accomplishments recognized. If they meet or exceed expectations, they want to be rewarded for it.
Adults aren’t all that different, a trait of a quality staff meeting normally has some highlights or recognition of your fellow teacher's hard work and accomplishments.
Humans like to be recognized and rewarded, and when you do so, they are more likely to do so again. We all like to know that our effort is appreciated. Keep reading for some ideas on how to reward students in your class.
Grade Level: All
Description: Allow the student to earn a ticket that can be used to opt-out of a homework assignment
Grade Level: All
Description: When earned, call home to a parent and let them know about their child’s accomplishments
Grade Level: All
Description: Keep a drawer of snacks that can be used as incentives during class
Grade Level: Elementary
Description: Fill a basket with small treats and virtual prizes. These can be donated by parents or staff. When a student has accomplished a task, let them choose something from the “treasure box”
Grade Level: Elementary
Description: Elect a line leader based on behavior goals
Grade Level: Elementary
Description: Keep a set list of jobs that students complete each week. Allow those who meet expectations to pick the jobs they want
Grade Level: Middle
Description: During reward time, allow a student to pick, teach, and lead a game that you have previously approved appropriate. This is also great during review games.
Grade Level: Middle
Description: Allow a student to earn some out of class time making rounds with the school custodian
Grade Level: Middle
Description: Allow multiple students to design and create your class bulletin board
Grade Level: Middle-High
Description: I always liked playing music during individual work periods in class, if a student has met expectations allow them to choose the genre or playlist.
Grade Level: Middle-High
Description: Allow student some floor time to tell a joke
Grade Level: Middle-High
Description: Tutor younger students
Grade Level: High
Description: If a lesson requires a camera or some special lab supplies, allow students to earn the right to operate the device
Grade Level: High
Description: Allocate a short period of time for students to teach their peers about a topic of their choice.
Grade Level: High
Description: Allow them to earn a ticket that when used will allow them to sit anywhere in the room, regardless of seating assignments
Is this a group goal or an individual goal? Why is this important? Communicate the why. Sell it to your students.
Put on your marketer hat here. This is something that should be communicated to parents as well.
How long are we monitoring this behavior? When does it start? When does it end? Does your reward have a date? Is it a one-time thing, or recurring?
Your goal is for students to have an attainable goal that isn’t too far out. In a classroom setting, it is best to have long and short-term goals. Things that can be accomplished and redeemed every day or once a week as well as larger monthly or semester goals.
For example, you may have a new line leader every day, everyone gets a chance at the treasure box on Friday and you're working towards a pizza party at the end of the month.
What is necessary to keep track of this information? Use the tools your school already has to monitor behavior and attendance.
I would suggest checking out Live School for some very helpful tools to accomplish this task. This works well as a tool to monitor as well for students and parents to see progress in behavioral goals.
Carry out the reward as you promised. Be very intentional to only reward those who have earned the reward.
This may require some logistics to achieve but the efficacy of the reward is important to your future efforts.
By using long and short-term goals you should have a system set up where every student always feels like they have a reward to be gained by meeting your classroom expectations. This is the end goal for all of us: reach all students!
Did your reward system achieve the desired results? Was the reward meaningful towards student behavior? Did your monitoring system work as intended? Did the logistics of the school event or system enhance or limit your success?
Take time to think about your process and use that information to improve future efforts.
Lastly, I would like to suggest considering using a token economy in your classroom. This is a system where students can earn “credits” to be used to “buy” things in your room. This could be tangible things like snacks, supplies, or small toys.
Think about the game room at your favorite pizza place growing up, where the better you played the games, the more tickets you could spend at the counter later. But in this case, the games are school, and you score more by meeting classroom expectations!
This is fun for students and can be accomplished without sacrificing precious instructional time. In fact, you should be gaining time as you won’t be addressing disruptive behavior at the rate you were before.
Token economies can use a physical ticket system using carnival-style tickets, or you can do this electronically through a program like LiveSchool. With LiveSchool’s points tracking system you can customize your class points system with a rubric that matches your school-wide behavior expectations. Using a program like this allows us to follow PBIS best practices by adding, subtracting, and managing behavior data instantly from anywhere in the building. You can even set up your own PBIS Store.
This also has the added benefit of allowing parents to actively monitor students' behavior so they can reinforce at home and celebrate with their children as they earn rewards through your system!
If you're working on a tight budget you should check out our list of free rewards for students. Want to improve the rewards experience for your younger students? Check out our rewards menu for elementary students. Need more help constructing your incentive program? It can be a bit overwhelming, so we created a complete guide to rewarding students so everything you need is in one convenient place.
Jordan resides in Lexington, Kentucky. He has experience in Public Education as an Administrator, Science Teacher, and as a Coach. He has extensive experience with School Discipline, PBIS, SEL, Restorative Practices, MTSS, and Trauma-Informed Care.
We have all been there. The lesson is ready to go, but student morale is low. Apathy can derail even the best-laid plans in the classroom.
What's the secret to keeping students engaged and on task? How do you create an environment where your students are well-mannered and efficiently working on the task at hand? What can you do to help you turn around a culture of apathy?
Student motivation is the missing ingredient, and this article is here to show you how a teacher can establish a rewards system for students that keeps them interested and engaged throughout their time in your classroom.
Classroom rewards can be very simple. You have behaviors, actions, and achievements you value in your classroom.
Your students should know what they are and how to meet them. They also know that when they do, they will receive a reward that can take many forms based on their grade level and classroom culture. It could be tangible or intangible.
They may have a monetary value, they may not. The only thing that matters is that your students value the reward. Not necessarily that the reward has a value.
You can do this with little to no budget if you're creative and do a great job selling your system to your students as something they need and want.
Most educators agree that a major factor in student achievement is morale and motivation. If the student isn’t motivated to participate, it is very unlikely they will be successful.
Some of us are intrinsically motivated. No matter what the task, we will try to do our very best. Experienced educators know that the self-motivated do exist, but they are often the exception, not the rule. So how do we reach everyone else? Consistent use of small rewards can help with morale and motivation.
Students like to see their accomplishments recognized. If they meet or exceed expectations, they want to be rewarded for it.
Adults aren’t all that different, a trait of a quality staff meeting normally has some highlights or recognition of your fellow teacher's hard work and accomplishments.
Humans like to be recognized and rewarded, and when you do so, they are more likely to do so again. We all like to know that our effort is appreciated. Keep reading for some ideas on how to reward students in your class.
Grade Level: All
Description: Allow the student to earn a ticket that can be used to opt-out of a homework assignment
Grade Level: All
Description: When earned, call home to a parent and let them know about their child’s accomplishments
Grade Level: All
Description: Keep a drawer of snacks that can be used as incentives during class
Grade Level: Elementary
Description: Fill a basket with small treats and virtual prizes. These can be donated by parents or staff. When a student has accomplished a task, let them choose something from the “treasure box”
Grade Level: Elementary
Description: Elect a line leader based on behavior goals
Grade Level: Elementary
Description: Keep a set list of jobs that students complete each week. Allow those who meet expectations to pick the jobs they want
Grade Level: Middle
Description: During reward time, allow a student to pick, teach, and lead a game that you have previously approved appropriate. This is also great during review games.
Grade Level: Middle
Description: Allow a student to earn some out of class time making rounds with the school custodian
Grade Level: Middle
Description: Allow multiple students to design and create your class bulletin board
Grade Level: Middle-High
Description: I always liked playing music during individual work periods in class, if a student has met expectations allow them to choose the genre or playlist.
Grade Level: Middle-High
Description: Allow student some floor time to tell a joke
Grade Level: Middle-High
Description: Tutor younger students
Grade Level: High
Description: If a lesson requires a camera or some special lab supplies, allow students to earn the right to operate the device
Grade Level: High
Description: Allocate a short period of time for students to teach their peers about a topic of their choice.
Grade Level: High
Description: Allow them to earn a ticket that when used will allow them to sit anywhere in the room, regardless of seating assignments
Is this a group goal or an individual goal? Why is this important? Communicate the why. Sell it to your students.
Put on your marketer hat here. This is something that should be communicated to parents as well.
How long are we monitoring this behavior? When does it start? When does it end? Does your reward have a date? Is it a one-time thing, or recurring?
Your goal is for students to have an attainable goal that isn’t too far out. In a classroom setting, it is best to have long and short-term goals. Things that can be accomplished and redeemed every day or once a week as well as larger monthly or semester goals.
For example, you may have a new line leader every day, everyone gets a chance at the treasure box on Friday and you're working towards a pizza party at the end of the month.
What is necessary to keep track of this information? Use the tools your school already has to monitor behavior and attendance.
I would suggest checking out Live School for some very helpful tools to accomplish this task. This works well as a tool to monitor as well for students and parents to see progress in behavioral goals.
Carry out the reward as you promised. Be very intentional to only reward those who have earned the reward.
This may require some logistics to achieve but the efficacy of the reward is important to your future efforts.
By using long and short-term goals you should have a system set up where every student always feels like they have a reward to be gained by meeting your classroom expectations. This is the end goal for all of us: reach all students!
Did your reward system achieve the desired results? Was the reward meaningful towards student behavior? Did your monitoring system work as intended? Did the logistics of the school event or system enhance or limit your success?
Take time to think about your process and use that information to improve future efforts.
Lastly, I would like to suggest considering using a token economy in your classroom. This is a system where students can earn “credits” to be used to “buy” things in your room. This could be tangible things like snacks, supplies, or small toys.
Think about the game room at your favorite pizza place growing up, where the better you played the games, the more tickets you could spend at the counter later. But in this case, the games are school, and you score more by meeting classroom expectations!
This is fun for students and can be accomplished without sacrificing precious instructional time. In fact, you should be gaining time as you won’t be addressing disruptive behavior at the rate you were before.
Token economies can use a physical ticket system using carnival-style tickets, or you can do this electronically through a program like LiveSchool. With LiveSchool’s points tracking system you can customize your class points system with a rubric that matches your school-wide behavior expectations. Using a program like this allows us to follow PBIS best practices by adding, subtracting, and managing behavior data instantly from anywhere in the building. You can even set up your own PBIS Store.
This also has the added benefit of allowing parents to actively monitor students' behavior so they can reinforce at home and celebrate with their children as they earn rewards through your system!
If you're working on a tight budget you should check out our list of free rewards for students. Want to improve the rewards experience for your younger students? Check out our rewards menu for elementary students. Need more help constructing your incentive program? It can be a bit overwhelming, so we created a complete guide to rewarding students so everything you need is in one convenient place.
We have all been there. The lesson is ready to go, but student morale is low. Apathy can derail even the best-laid plans in the classroom.
What's the secret to keeping students engaged and on task? How do you create an environment where your students are well-mannered and efficiently working on the task at hand? What can you do to help you turn around a culture of apathy?
Student motivation is the missing ingredient, and this article is here to show you how a teacher can establish a rewards system for students that keeps them interested and engaged throughout their time in your classroom.
Classroom rewards can be very simple. You have behaviors, actions, and achievements you value in your classroom.
Your students should know what they are and how to meet them. They also know that when they do, they will receive a reward that can take many forms based on their grade level and classroom culture. It could be tangible or intangible.
They may have a monetary value, they may not. The only thing that matters is that your students value the reward. Not necessarily that the reward has a value.
You can do this with little to no budget if you're creative and do a great job selling your system to your students as something they need and want.
Most educators agree that a major factor in student achievement is morale and motivation. If the student isn’t motivated to participate, it is very unlikely they will be successful.
Some of us are intrinsically motivated. No matter what the task, we will try to do our very best. Experienced educators know that the self-motivated do exist, but they are often the exception, not the rule. So how do we reach everyone else? Consistent use of small rewards can help with morale and motivation.
Students like to see their accomplishments recognized. If they meet or exceed expectations, they want to be rewarded for it.
Adults aren’t all that different, a trait of a quality staff meeting normally has some highlights or recognition of your fellow teacher's hard work and accomplishments.
Humans like to be recognized and rewarded, and when you do so, they are more likely to do so again. We all like to know that our effort is appreciated. Keep reading for some ideas on how to reward students in your class.
Grade Level: All
Description: Allow the student to earn a ticket that can be used to opt-out of a homework assignment
Grade Level: All
Description: When earned, call home to a parent and let them know about their child’s accomplishments
Grade Level: All
Description: Keep a drawer of snacks that can be used as incentives during class
Grade Level: Elementary
Description: Fill a basket with small treats and virtual prizes. These can be donated by parents or staff. When a student has accomplished a task, let them choose something from the “treasure box”
Grade Level: Elementary
Description: Elect a line leader based on behavior goals
Grade Level: Elementary
Description: Keep a set list of jobs that students complete each week. Allow those who meet expectations to pick the jobs they want
Grade Level: Middle
Description: During reward time, allow a student to pick, teach, and lead a game that you have previously approved appropriate. This is also great during review games.
Grade Level: Middle
Description: Allow a student to earn some out of class time making rounds with the school custodian
Grade Level: Middle
Description: Allow multiple students to design and create your class bulletin board
Grade Level: Middle-High
Description: I always liked playing music during individual work periods in class, if a student has met expectations allow them to choose the genre or playlist.
Grade Level: Middle-High
Description: Allow student some floor time to tell a joke
Grade Level: Middle-High
Description: Tutor younger students
Grade Level: High
Description: If a lesson requires a camera or some special lab supplies, allow students to earn the right to operate the device
Grade Level: High
Description: Allocate a short period of time for students to teach their peers about a topic of their choice.
Grade Level: High
Description: Allow them to earn a ticket that when used will allow them to sit anywhere in the room, regardless of seating assignments
Is this a group goal or an individual goal? Why is this important? Communicate the why. Sell it to your students.
Put on your marketer hat here. This is something that should be communicated to parents as well.
How long are we monitoring this behavior? When does it start? When does it end? Does your reward have a date? Is it a one-time thing, or recurring?
Your goal is for students to have an attainable goal that isn’t too far out. In a classroom setting, it is best to have long and short-term goals. Things that can be accomplished and redeemed every day or once a week as well as larger monthly or semester goals.
For example, you may have a new line leader every day, everyone gets a chance at the treasure box on Friday and you're working towards a pizza party at the end of the month.
What is necessary to keep track of this information? Use the tools your school already has to monitor behavior and attendance.
I would suggest checking out Live School for some very helpful tools to accomplish this task. This works well as a tool to monitor as well for students and parents to see progress in behavioral goals.
Carry out the reward as you promised. Be very intentional to only reward those who have earned the reward.
This may require some logistics to achieve but the efficacy of the reward is important to your future efforts.
By using long and short-term goals you should have a system set up where every student always feels like they have a reward to be gained by meeting your classroom expectations. This is the end goal for all of us: reach all students!
Did your reward system achieve the desired results? Was the reward meaningful towards student behavior? Did your monitoring system work as intended? Did the logistics of the school event or system enhance or limit your success?
Take time to think about your process and use that information to improve future efforts.
Lastly, I would like to suggest considering using a token economy in your classroom. This is a system where students can earn “credits” to be used to “buy” things in your room. This could be tangible things like snacks, supplies, or small toys.
Think about the game room at your favorite pizza place growing up, where the better you played the games, the more tickets you could spend at the counter later. But in this case, the games are school, and you score more by meeting classroom expectations!
This is fun for students and can be accomplished without sacrificing precious instructional time. In fact, you should be gaining time as you won’t be addressing disruptive behavior at the rate you were before.
Token economies can use a physical ticket system using carnival-style tickets, or you can do this electronically through a program like LiveSchool. With LiveSchool’s points tracking system you can customize your class points system with a rubric that matches your school-wide behavior expectations. Using a program like this allows us to follow PBIS best practices by adding, subtracting, and managing behavior data instantly from anywhere in the building. You can even set up your own PBIS Store.
This also has the added benefit of allowing parents to actively monitor students' behavior so they can reinforce at home and celebrate with their children as they earn rewards through your system!
If you're working on a tight budget you should check out our list of free rewards for students. Want to improve the rewards experience for your younger students? Check out our rewards menu for elementary students. Need more help constructing your incentive program? It can be a bit overwhelming, so we created a complete guide to rewarding students so everything you need is in one convenient place.
All the behavior resources you need to create the positive culture your school community deserves.
