Classroom prizes reinforce positive behavior and discourage negative ones. Here are student-approved ideas.
Incorporating prizes into your classroom doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. Here are nine simple classroom rewards that your students are sure to love.
You can never go wrong with snacks and drinks as classroom prizes. Whether it’s a bag of chips or a bottle of juice, students will love receiving tasty items in class.
When choosing snacks and drinks, be mindful of federal Smart Snack regulations which restrict certain foods from being served at school. Although there are limitations, there are still plenty of compliant options that they will enjoy.
Students of all ages appreciate certificates! Young children, preteens, and even teenagers take pride in showing off their awards to family and friends. This is a low-cost, low-prep way to show recognition and appreciation for students who exhibit positive behaviors.
The certificates can also serve as motivators to the other students in the class who want to do whatever it takes to receive one. You can easily create a certificate in Microsoft Word, Publisher, or an online design platform such as Canva.
Similar to certificates, choosing a student to highlight on the bulletin board can go a long way in encouraging students to be their best selves.
You can highlight the student of the week, the most helpful student, or the winners of any other categories by displaying them on a bulletin board inside or outside of the classroom. Your students can create “About the Student” profiles complete with their favorite motivational quotes, favorite food, and other fun favorites.
Let them take silly pictures, and display the pictures and profiles on the bulletin board. You can increase student buy-in by brainstorming categories together!
Reward your students and allow them to show their school pride by adding school merchandise to your classroom prize box. When the school’s logo is placed on items such as pens, pencils, and notebooks, they quickly transform from common school supplies to desired cheap prizes.
When it comes to school merchandise, there’s no need to stick to school supplies. You can add hoodies, water bottles, keychains, and more.
Many students love to wear hats, so why not make a hat pass one of your classroom prizes? Students who choose this prize will earn the privilege to wear their favorite hat all day at school.
Whether they wear a silly hat, a colorful hat, or a hat representing their favorite sports team, your students will enjoy this opportunity to showcase their personality and individuality.
Do you have a special chair, bean bag, or yoga ball in your class? If so, something as simple as allowing students a chance to sit in a special seat for the day can motivate them to exhibit positive behavior.
Although students of all ages will want this prize, make sure you choose seating that will not cause a distraction. While a high school student can sit on a yoga ball without distracting classmates, a kindergarten student might prefer to kick it!
Many children enjoy listening to music, but this is a privilege that they often don't get at school. By making this a classroom prize, students will feel motivated to be on their best behavior and complete their work in order to earn it.
You can either allow students to listen to their own music through their earbuds. Or if you usually play music for the students while they work, let this student be in charge of the playlist for the day. Ask them to submit their song selections in advance, so you can screen them for appropriateness. You can also provide the student with a long list of acceptable songs from multiple genres and allow them to create a playlist.
If you've spent at least one day in a classroom since 2020, you’re probably familiar with TikTok and its many trending videos. If you’re comfortable, “TikTok with the Teacher” is sure to be a hit in your classroom.
The winner of this prize will have the opportunity to do a TikTok with you. TikTok videos aren’t all about dancing to music while pointing at words. You can choose one that you would like to do, or you and the student can choose one together. It can even be educational! Spend a few minutes practicing and recording the Tik Tok, and your students will love you forever.
The possibilities are endless when you allow a student to be the teacher for the day (or class period)! You can set guidelines to ensure the student chooses activities that are related to the course content. For example, the student can decide which educational game the class will play.
Alternatively, you can let them teach the class something new. This can be a great confidence booster for the student. The other students will be eager to win this prize, so they can teach the class about something they care about. This is a great prize to give on a half-day, day before a break, or after standardized tests.
This list is only the tip of the iceberg for the kind of prizes you can have in your classroom reward system. Add to the list by asking your students for suggestions.
The best classroom prizes are the ones your students will enjoy and they still follow PBIS best practices, so consider your student's personalities as you decide which one to use in your classroom. As always, be fair and consistent when rewarding students for their behaviors. If you're experienced in classroom rewards you might also consider establishing your own PBIS Store.
Need help motivating middle school student students? Check out our guide to using student voice to create prizes for middle school students.
Incorporating prizes into your classroom doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. Here are nine simple classroom rewards that your students are sure to love.
You can never go wrong with snacks and drinks as classroom prizes. Whether it’s a bag of chips or a bottle of juice, students will love receiving tasty items in class.
When choosing snacks and drinks, be mindful of federal Smart Snack regulations which restrict certain foods from being served at school. Although there are limitations, there are still plenty of compliant options that they will enjoy.
Students of all ages appreciate certificates! Young children, preteens, and even teenagers take pride in showing off their awards to family and friends. This is a low-cost, low-prep way to show recognition and appreciation for students who exhibit positive behaviors.
The certificates can also serve as motivators to the other students in the class who want to do whatever it takes to receive one. You can easily create a certificate in Microsoft Word, Publisher, or an online design platform such as Canva.
Similar to certificates, choosing a student to highlight on the bulletin board can go a long way in encouraging students to be their best selves.
You can highlight the student of the week, the most helpful student, or the winners of any other categories by displaying them on a bulletin board inside or outside of the classroom. Your students can create “About the Student” profiles complete with their favorite motivational quotes, favorite food, and other fun favorites.
Let them take silly pictures, and display the pictures and profiles on the bulletin board. You can increase student buy-in by brainstorming categories together!
Reward your students and allow them to show their school pride by adding school merchandise to your classroom prize box. When the school’s logo is placed on items such as pens, pencils, and notebooks, they quickly transform from common school supplies to desired cheap prizes.
When it comes to school merchandise, there’s no need to stick to school supplies. You can add hoodies, water bottles, keychains, and more.
Many students love to wear hats, so why not make a hat pass one of your classroom prizes? Students who choose this prize will earn the privilege to wear their favorite hat all day at school.
Whether they wear a silly hat, a colorful hat, or a hat representing their favorite sports team, your students will enjoy this opportunity to showcase their personality and individuality.
Do you have a special chair, bean bag, or yoga ball in your class? If so, something as simple as allowing students a chance to sit in a special seat for the day can motivate them to exhibit positive behavior.
Although students of all ages will want this prize, make sure you choose seating that will not cause a distraction. While a high school student can sit on a yoga ball without distracting classmates, a kindergarten student might prefer to kick it!
Many children enjoy listening to music, but this is a privilege that they often don't get at school. By making this a classroom prize, students will feel motivated to be on their best behavior and complete their work in order to earn it.
You can either allow students to listen to their own music through their earbuds. Or if you usually play music for the students while they work, let this student be in charge of the playlist for the day. Ask them to submit their song selections in advance, so you can screen them for appropriateness. You can also provide the student with a long list of acceptable songs from multiple genres and allow them to create a playlist.
If you've spent at least one day in a classroom since 2020, you’re probably familiar with TikTok and its many trending videos. If you’re comfortable, “TikTok with the Teacher” is sure to be a hit in your classroom.
The winner of this prize will have the opportunity to do a TikTok with you. TikTok videos aren’t all about dancing to music while pointing at words. You can choose one that you would like to do, or you and the student can choose one together. It can even be educational! Spend a few minutes practicing and recording the Tik Tok, and your students will love you forever.
The possibilities are endless when you allow a student to be the teacher for the day (or class period)! You can set guidelines to ensure the student chooses activities that are related to the course content. For example, the student can decide which educational game the class will play.
Alternatively, you can let them teach the class something new. This can be a great confidence booster for the student. The other students will be eager to win this prize, so they can teach the class about something they care about. This is a great prize to give on a half-day, day before a break, or after standardized tests.
This list is only the tip of the iceberg for the kind of prizes you can have in your classroom reward system. Add to the list by asking your students for suggestions.
The best classroom prizes are the ones your students will enjoy and they still follow PBIS best practices, so consider your student's personalities as you decide which one to use in your classroom. As always, be fair and consistent when rewarding students for their behaviors. If you're experienced in classroom rewards you might also consider establishing your own PBIS Store.
Need help motivating middle school student students? Check out our guide to using student voice to create prizes for middle school students.
Incorporating prizes into your classroom doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. Here are nine simple classroom rewards that your students are sure to love.
You can never go wrong with snacks and drinks as classroom prizes. Whether it’s a bag of chips or a bottle of juice, students will love receiving tasty items in class.
When choosing snacks and drinks, be mindful of federal Smart Snack regulations which restrict certain foods from being served at school. Although there are limitations, there are still plenty of compliant options that they will enjoy.
Students of all ages appreciate certificates! Young children, preteens, and even teenagers take pride in showing off their awards to family and friends. This is a low-cost, low-prep way to show recognition and appreciation for students who exhibit positive behaviors.
The certificates can also serve as motivators to the other students in the class who want to do whatever it takes to receive one. You can easily create a certificate in Microsoft Word, Publisher, or an online design platform such as Canva.
Similar to certificates, choosing a student to highlight on the bulletin board can go a long way in encouraging students to be their best selves.
You can highlight the student of the week, the most helpful student, or the winners of any other categories by displaying them on a bulletin board inside or outside of the classroom. Your students can create “About the Student” profiles complete with their favorite motivational quotes, favorite food, and other fun favorites.
Let them take silly pictures, and display the pictures and profiles on the bulletin board. You can increase student buy-in by brainstorming categories together!
Reward your students and allow them to show their school pride by adding school merchandise to your classroom prize box. When the school’s logo is placed on items such as pens, pencils, and notebooks, they quickly transform from common school supplies to desired cheap prizes.
When it comes to school merchandise, there’s no need to stick to school supplies. You can add hoodies, water bottles, keychains, and more.
Many students love to wear hats, so why not make a hat pass one of your classroom prizes? Students who choose this prize will earn the privilege to wear their favorite hat all day at school.
Whether they wear a silly hat, a colorful hat, or a hat representing their favorite sports team, your students will enjoy this opportunity to showcase their personality and individuality.
Do you have a special chair, bean bag, or yoga ball in your class? If so, something as simple as allowing students a chance to sit in a special seat for the day can motivate them to exhibit positive behavior.
Although students of all ages will want this prize, make sure you choose seating that will not cause a distraction. While a high school student can sit on a yoga ball without distracting classmates, a kindergarten student might prefer to kick it!
Many children enjoy listening to music, but this is a privilege that they often don't get at school. By making this a classroom prize, students will feel motivated to be on their best behavior and complete their work in order to earn it.
You can either allow students to listen to their own music through their earbuds. Or if you usually play music for the students while they work, let this student be in charge of the playlist for the day. Ask them to submit their song selections in advance, so you can screen them for appropriateness. You can also provide the student with a long list of acceptable songs from multiple genres and allow them to create a playlist.
If you've spent at least one day in a classroom since 2020, you’re probably familiar with TikTok and its many trending videos. If you’re comfortable, “TikTok with the Teacher” is sure to be a hit in your classroom.
The winner of this prize will have the opportunity to do a TikTok with you. TikTok videos aren’t all about dancing to music while pointing at words. You can choose one that you would like to do, or you and the student can choose one together. It can even be educational! Spend a few minutes practicing and recording the Tik Tok, and your students will love you forever.
The possibilities are endless when you allow a student to be the teacher for the day (or class period)! You can set guidelines to ensure the student chooses activities that are related to the course content. For example, the student can decide which educational game the class will play.
Alternatively, you can let them teach the class something new. This can be a great confidence booster for the student. The other students will be eager to win this prize, so they can teach the class about something they care about. This is a great prize to give on a half-day, day before a break, or after standardized tests.
This list is only the tip of the iceberg for the kind of prizes you can have in your classroom reward system. Add to the list by asking your students for suggestions.
The best classroom prizes are the ones your students will enjoy and they still follow PBIS best practices, so consider your student's personalities as you decide which one to use in your classroom. As always, be fair and consistent when rewarding students for their behaviors. If you're experienced in classroom rewards you might also consider establishing your own PBIS Store.
Need help motivating middle school student students? Check out our guide to using student voice to create prizes for middle school students.
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.
Incorporating prizes into your classroom doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. Here are nine simple classroom rewards that your students are sure to love.
You can never go wrong with snacks and drinks as classroom prizes. Whether it’s a bag of chips or a bottle of juice, students will love receiving tasty items in class.
When choosing snacks and drinks, be mindful of federal Smart Snack regulations which restrict certain foods from being served at school. Although there are limitations, there are still plenty of compliant options that they will enjoy.
Students of all ages appreciate certificates! Young children, preteens, and even teenagers take pride in showing off their awards to family and friends. This is a low-cost, low-prep way to show recognition and appreciation for students who exhibit positive behaviors.
The certificates can also serve as motivators to the other students in the class who want to do whatever it takes to receive one. You can easily create a certificate in Microsoft Word, Publisher, or an online design platform such as Canva.
Similar to certificates, choosing a student to highlight on the bulletin board can go a long way in encouraging students to be their best selves.
You can highlight the student of the week, the most helpful student, or the winners of any other categories by displaying them on a bulletin board inside or outside of the classroom. Your students can create “About the Student” profiles complete with their favorite motivational quotes, favorite food, and other fun favorites.
Let them take silly pictures, and display the pictures and profiles on the bulletin board. You can increase student buy-in by brainstorming categories together!
Reward your students and allow them to show their school pride by adding school merchandise to your classroom prize box. When the school’s logo is placed on items such as pens, pencils, and notebooks, they quickly transform from common school supplies to desired cheap prizes.
When it comes to school merchandise, there’s no need to stick to school supplies. You can add hoodies, water bottles, keychains, and more.
Many students love to wear hats, so why not make a hat pass one of your classroom prizes? Students who choose this prize will earn the privilege to wear their favorite hat all day at school.
Whether they wear a silly hat, a colorful hat, or a hat representing their favorite sports team, your students will enjoy this opportunity to showcase their personality and individuality.
Do you have a special chair, bean bag, or yoga ball in your class? If so, something as simple as allowing students a chance to sit in a special seat for the day can motivate them to exhibit positive behavior.
Although students of all ages will want this prize, make sure you choose seating that will not cause a distraction. While a high school student can sit on a yoga ball without distracting classmates, a kindergarten student might prefer to kick it!
Many children enjoy listening to music, but this is a privilege that they often don't get at school. By making this a classroom prize, students will feel motivated to be on their best behavior and complete their work in order to earn it.
You can either allow students to listen to their own music through their earbuds. Or if you usually play music for the students while they work, let this student be in charge of the playlist for the day. Ask them to submit their song selections in advance, so you can screen them for appropriateness. You can also provide the student with a long list of acceptable songs from multiple genres and allow them to create a playlist.
If you've spent at least one day in a classroom since 2020, you’re probably familiar with TikTok and its many trending videos. If you’re comfortable, “TikTok with the Teacher” is sure to be a hit in your classroom.
The winner of this prize will have the opportunity to do a TikTok with you. TikTok videos aren’t all about dancing to music while pointing at words. You can choose one that you would like to do, or you and the student can choose one together. It can even be educational! Spend a few minutes practicing and recording the Tik Tok, and your students will love you forever.
The possibilities are endless when you allow a student to be the teacher for the day (or class period)! You can set guidelines to ensure the student chooses activities that are related to the course content. For example, the student can decide which educational game the class will play.
Alternatively, you can let them teach the class something new. This can be a great confidence booster for the student. The other students will be eager to win this prize, so they can teach the class about something they care about. This is a great prize to give on a half-day, day before a break, or after standardized tests.
This list is only the tip of the iceberg for the kind of prizes you can have in your classroom reward system. Add to the list by asking your students for suggestions.
The best classroom prizes are the ones your students will enjoy and they still follow PBIS best practices, so consider your student's personalities as you decide which one to use in your classroom. As always, be fair and consistent when rewarding students for their behaviors. If you're experienced in classroom rewards you might also consider establishing your own PBIS Store.
Need help motivating middle school student students? Check out our guide to using student voice to create prizes for middle school students.
Incorporating prizes into your classroom doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. Here are nine simple classroom rewards that your students are sure to love.
You can never go wrong with snacks and drinks as classroom prizes. Whether it’s a bag of chips or a bottle of juice, students will love receiving tasty items in class.
When choosing snacks and drinks, be mindful of federal Smart Snack regulations which restrict certain foods from being served at school. Although there are limitations, there are still plenty of compliant options that they will enjoy.
Students of all ages appreciate certificates! Young children, preteens, and even teenagers take pride in showing off their awards to family and friends. This is a low-cost, low-prep way to show recognition and appreciation for students who exhibit positive behaviors.
The certificates can also serve as motivators to the other students in the class who want to do whatever it takes to receive one. You can easily create a certificate in Microsoft Word, Publisher, or an online design platform such as Canva.
Similar to certificates, choosing a student to highlight on the bulletin board can go a long way in encouraging students to be their best selves.
You can highlight the student of the week, the most helpful student, or the winners of any other categories by displaying them on a bulletin board inside or outside of the classroom. Your students can create “About the Student” profiles complete with their favorite motivational quotes, favorite food, and other fun favorites.
Let them take silly pictures, and display the pictures and profiles on the bulletin board. You can increase student buy-in by brainstorming categories together!
Reward your students and allow them to show their school pride by adding school merchandise to your classroom prize box. When the school’s logo is placed on items such as pens, pencils, and notebooks, they quickly transform from common school supplies to desired cheap prizes.
When it comes to school merchandise, there’s no need to stick to school supplies. You can add hoodies, water bottles, keychains, and more.
Many students love to wear hats, so why not make a hat pass one of your classroom prizes? Students who choose this prize will earn the privilege to wear their favorite hat all day at school.
Whether they wear a silly hat, a colorful hat, or a hat representing their favorite sports team, your students will enjoy this opportunity to showcase their personality and individuality.
Do you have a special chair, bean bag, or yoga ball in your class? If so, something as simple as allowing students a chance to sit in a special seat for the day can motivate them to exhibit positive behavior.
Although students of all ages will want this prize, make sure you choose seating that will not cause a distraction. While a high school student can sit on a yoga ball without distracting classmates, a kindergarten student might prefer to kick it!
Many children enjoy listening to music, but this is a privilege that they often don't get at school. By making this a classroom prize, students will feel motivated to be on their best behavior and complete their work in order to earn it.
You can either allow students to listen to their own music through their earbuds. Or if you usually play music for the students while they work, let this student be in charge of the playlist for the day. Ask them to submit their song selections in advance, so you can screen them for appropriateness. You can also provide the student with a long list of acceptable songs from multiple genres and allow them to create a playlist.
If you've spent at least one day in a classroom since 2020, you’re probably familiar with TikTok and its many trending videos. If you’re comfortable, “TikTok with the Teacher” is sure to be a hit in your classroom.
The winner of this prize will have the opportunity to do a TikTok with you. TikTok videos aren’t all about dancing to music while pointing at words. You can choose one that you would like to do, or you and the student can choose one together. It can even be educational! Spend a few minutes practicing and recording the Tik Tok, and your students will love you forever.
The possibilities are endless when you allow a student to be the teacher for the day (or class period)! You can set guidelines to ensure the student chooses activities that are related to the course content. For example, the student can decide which educational game the class will play.
Alternatively, you can let them teach the class something new. This can be a great confidence booster for the student. The other students will be eager to win this prize, so they can teach the class about something they care about. This is a great prize to give on a half-day, day before a break, or after standardized tests.
This list is only the tip of the iceberg for the kind of prizes you can have in your classroom reward system. Add to the list by asking your students for suggestions.
The best classroom prizes are the ones your students will enjoy and they still follow PBIS best practices, so consider your student's personalities as you decide which one to use in your classroom. As always, be fair and consistent when rewarding students for their behaviors. If you're experienced in classroom rewards you might also consider establishing your own PBIS Store.
Need help motivating middle school student students? Check out our guide to using student voice to create prizes for middle school students.
Celebrate your students’ positive behaviors with classroom prizes! Prizes can be powerful motivators that reinforce positive behavior and discourage negative ones. Whether you use a prize box or assign prizes to specific behaviors, students will be excited about the opportunity to earn rewards in class.
Incorporating prizes into your classroom doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. Here are nine simple classroom rewards that your students are sure to love.
You can never go wrong with snacks and drinks as classroom prizes. Whether it’s a bag of chips or a bottle of juice, students will love receiving tasty items in class.
When choosing snacks and drinks, be mindful of federal Smart Snack regulations which restrict certain foods from being served at school. Although there are limitations, there are still plenty of compliant options that they will enjoy.
Students of all ages appreciate certificates! Young children, preteens, and even teenagers take pride in showing off their awards to family and friends. This is a low-cost, low-prep way to show recognition and appreciation for students who exhibit positive behaviors.
The certificates can also serve as motivators to the other students in the class who want to do whatever it takes to receive one. You can easily create a certificate in Microsoft Word, Publisher, or an online design platform such as Canva.
Similar to certificates, choosing a student to highlight on the bulletin board can go a long way in encouraging students to be their best selves.
You can highlight the student of the week, the most helpful student, or the winners of any other categories by displaying them on a bulletin board inside or outside of the classroom. Your students can create “About the Student” profiles complete with their favorite motivational quotes, favorite food, and other fun favorites.
Let them take silly pictures, and display the pictures and profiles on the bulletin board. You can increase student buy-in by brainstorming categories together!
Reward your students and allow them to show their school pride by adding school merchandise to your classroom prize box. When the school’s logo is placed on items such as pens, pencils, and notebooks, they quickly transform from common school supplies to desired cheap prizes.
When it comes to school merchandise, there’s no need to stick to school supplies. You can add hoodies, water bottles, keychains, and more.
Many students love to wear hats, so why not make a hat pass one of your classroom prizes? Students who choose this prize will earn the privilege to wear their favorite hat all day at school.
Whether they wear a silly hat, a colorful hat, or a hat representing their favorite sports team, your students will enjoy this opportunity to showcase their personality and individuality.
Do you have a special chair, bean bag, or yoga ball in your class? If so, something as simple as allowing students a chance to sit in a special seat for the day can motivate them to exhibit positive behavior.
Although students of all ages will want this prize, make sure you choose seating that will not cause a distraction. While a high school student can sit on a yoga ball without distracting classmates, a kindergarten student might prefer to kick it!
Many children enjoy listening to music, but this is a privilege that they often don't get at school. By making this a classroom prize, students will feel motivated to be on their best behavior and complete their work in order to earn it.
You can either allow students to listen to their own music through their earbuds. Or if you usually play music for the students while they work, let this student be in charge of the playlist for the day. Ask them to submit their song selections in advance, so you can screen them for appropriateness. You can also provide the student with a long list of acceptable songs from multiple genres and allow them to create a playlist.
If you've spent at least one day in a classroom since 2020, you’re probably familiar with TikTok and its many trending videos. If you’re comfortable, “TikTok with the Teacher” is sure to be a hit in your classroom.
The winner of this prize will have the opportunity to do a TikTok with you. TikTok videos aren’t all about dancing to music while pointing at words. You can choose one that you would like to do, or you and the student can choose one together. It can even be educational! Spend a few minutes practicing and recording the Tik Tok, and your students will love you forever.
The possibilities are endless when you allow a student to be the teacher for the day (or class period)! You can set guidelines to ensure the student chooses activities that are related to the course content. For example, the student can decide which educational game the class will play.
Alternatively, you can let them teach the class something new. This can be a great confidence booster for the student. The other students will be eager to win this prize, so they can teach the class about something they care about. This is a great prize to give on a half-day, day before a break, or after standardized tests.
This list is only the tip of the iceberg for the kind of prizes you can have in your classroom reward system. Add to the list by asking your students for suggestions.
The best classroom prizes are the ones your students will enjoy and they still follow PBIS best practices, so consider your student's personalities as you decide which one to use in your classroom. As always, be fair and consistent when rewarding students for their behaviors. If you're experienced in classroom rewards you might also consider establishing your own PBIS Store.
Need help motivating middle school student students? Check out our guide to using student voice to create prizes for middle school students.
Celebrate your students’ positive behaviors with classroom prizes! Prizes can be powerful motivators that reinforce positive behavior and discourage negative ones. Whether you use a prize box or assign prizes to specific behaviors, students will be excited about the opportunity to earn rewards in class.
Incorporating prizes into your classroom doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. Here are nine simple classroom rewards that your students are sure to love.
You can never go wrong with snacks and drinks as classroom prizes. Whether it’s a bag of chips or a bottle of juice, students will love receiving tasty items in class.
When choosing snacks and drinks, be mindful of federal Smart Snack regulations which restrict certain foods from being served at school. Although there are limitations, there are still plenty of compliant options that they will enjoy.
Students of all ages appreciate certificates! Young children, preteens, and even teenagers take pride in showing off their awards to family and friends. This is a low-cost, low-prep way to show recognition and appreciation for students who exhibit positive behaviors.
The certificates can also serve as motivators to the other students in the class who want to do whatever it takes to receive one. You can easily create a certificate in Microsoft Word, Publisher, or an online design platform such as Canva.
Similar to certificates, choosing a student to highlight on the bulletin board can go a long way in encouraging students to be their best selves.
You can highlight the student of the week, the most helpful student, or the winners of any other categories by displaying them on a bulletin board inside or outside of the classroom. Your students can create “About the Student” profiles complete with their favorite motivational quotes, favorite food, and other fun favorites.
Let them take silly pictures, and display the pictures and profiles on the bulletin board. You can increase student buy-in by brainstorming categories together!
Reward your students and allow them to show their school pride by adding school merchandise to your classroom prize box. When the school’s logo is placed on items such as pens, pencils, and notebooks, they quickly transform from common school supplies to desired cheap prizes.
When it comes to school merchandise, there’s no need to stick to school supplies. You can add hoodies, water bottles, keychains, and more.
Many students love to wear hats, so why not make a hat pass one of your classroom prizes? Students who choose this prize will earn the privilege to wear their favorite hat all day at school.
Whether they wear a silly hat, a colorful hat, or a hat representing their favorite sports team, your students will enjoy this opportunity to showcase their personality and individuality.
Do you have a special chair, bean bag, or yoga ball in your class? If so, something as simple as allowing students a chance to sit in a special seat for the day can motivate them to exhibit positive behavior.
Although students of all ages will want this prize, make sure you choose seating that will not cause a distraction. While a high school student can sit on a yoga ball without distracting classmates, a kindergarten student might prefer to kick it!
Many children enjoy listening to music, but this is a privilege that they often don't get at school. By making this a classroom prize, students will feel motivated to be on their best behavior and complete their work in order to earn it.
You can either allow students to listen to their own music through their earbuds. Or if you usually play music for the students while they work, let this student be in charge of the playlist for the day. Ask them to submit their song selections in advance, so you can screen them for appropriateness. You can also provide the student with a long list of acceptable songs from multiple genres and allow them to create a playlist.
If you've spent at least one day in a classroom since 2020, you’re probably familiar with TikTok and its many trending videos. If you’re comfortable, “TikTok with the Teacher” is sure to be a hit in your classroom.
The winner of this prize will have the opportunity to do a TikTok with you. TikTok videos aren’t all about dancing to music while pointing at words. You can choose one that you would like to do, or you and the student can choose one together. It can even be educational! Spend a few minutes practicing and recording the Tik Tok, and your students will love you forever.
The possibilities are endless when you allow a student to be the teacher for the day (or class period)! You can set guidelines to ensure the student chooses activities that are related to the course content. For example, the student can decide which educational game the class will play.
Alternatively, you can let them teach the class something new. This can be a great confidence booster for the student. The other students will be eager to win this prize, so they can teach the class about something they care about. This is a great prize to give on a half-day, day before a break, or after standardized tests.
This list is only the tip of the iceberg for the kind of prizes you can have in your classroom reward system. Add to the list by asking your students for suggestions.
The best classroom prizes are the ones your students will enjoy and they still follow PBIS best practices, so consider your student's personalities as you decide which one to use in your classroom. As always, be fair and consistent when rewarding students for their behaviors. If you're experienced in classroom rewards you might also consider establishing your own PBIS Store.
Need help motivating middle school student students? Check out our guide to using student voice to create prizes for middle school students.
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