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How to Create School Wide Incentives that are Educational and Fun

Create school-wide incentives that are both educational and fun. One school shares their story!
By 
The Liveschool Team
 | 
February 14, 2019

J Maines, Interim Principal, knew they needed a better solution.

There are some big problems with using paper bucks to run a PBIS program and J knew their reward system wasn’t working. He identified a few of the problems they had with paper behavior rewards:

Teachers were exasperated, and J understood why.

There were too many things getting in the way of it working properly.

J launched the behavior app strategically for maximum buy-in

J introduced LiveSchool to the most tech-savvy grades first. He knew they’d love the convenience once they gave it a shot.

Soon, word got out organically. It was only a matter of time before teachers in other grades were asking for LiveSchool. When there was enough demand, they launched the app in the entire school.

Students and parents gather at a PBIS school event
Eventually, the whole school shared one system for rewards positive behavior

A school-wide behavior rubric created common expectations.

Del Valle follows a behavior rubric called SOAR: Safety, Ownership, Achievement, and Respect. With the custom rubric feature in LiveSchool, J was able to identify specific behaviors that demonstrate each of those values. Then, if the school was having problems with kids running in the hallway, he could check the data and see that teachers weren’t giving out any positive points for hallway behavior.

Now, students are consistently rewarded.

The Insights feature reveals top performers. J can easily celebrate the teachers who give out the most positive points, and keep everyone engaged.

He can even spot trends and changes for individual students. J is able to identify students who aren’t earning many points, and use the data to make a support plan for them. And if parents question whether their student is being fully supported and recognized by specific teachers, J can reference real numbers to illustrate what’s happening in the classroom.

The school uses experiences (not just tangible rewards) as incentives.

Del Valle typically sees a rise in office referrals in February, so they decided to reverse the trend. To incentivize good behavior through the long winter months, they planned a Field Day for 4th and 5th grades. The more points each student earns, the more activities they can participate in. When students reach the maximum threshold, they get the full Field Day experience with all 20 events.

J has already seen a change in the way teachers address behavior issues in class. 

Instead of, ‘Would you please stop talking?’, it is, ‘Oh, didn’t you sign up for the relay race? Hey, make sure you’re earning your OWL bucks, so that you can go to the relay race.’

They’re able to turn an admonishment into a positive motivator for their students.

A school principal poses in front of a dinosaur exhibit
Del Valle principal poses at a dinosaur exhibit - students who earned enough Owlbucks get free admission to the museum-like display

Students get more recognition through the app than they ever did with paper dollars.

With their paper system, Del Valle teachers were giving out 3 or 4 OWL bucks every day. Now, they distribute an average of 25 points daily through the app. They’ve even seen a reduction in office referrals!

And J has seen a major transformation in the school that goes beyond the numbers. Teachers don’t have to worry about tracking points, replenishing paper bucks, or giving out points that disappear into the abyss of a backpack. They can fully commit to shaping their classroom and instruction style to recognize positive behaviors.

We’re past all that functionality. It’s all in the app. We’re on to the big things that affect instruction.

Of course, J is thrilled with the dramatic change for students as well.

That has a magical effect on kids. It’s been a silent problem in all schools, where the good kids doing the right thing don’t get as much attention as the kid who’s off-task doing the wrong thing.

The school gathers at a holiday assembly, showing staff on stage singing and students singing along
Del Valle dramatically increased the number of behavior rewards teachers give to their students.



Follow us on Twitter @whyliveschool and connect with LiveSchool Leaders all over the country!

Want incentives more specific to your grade level? Try our resources built around elementary school incentives, incentive ideas for middle school students, or incentives for high school students.

Subscribe via Email

Receive the best school culture resources monthly to inspire your planning.

How to Create School Wide Incentives that are Educational and Fun

Create school-wide incentives that are both educational and fun. One school shares their story!
By 
The Liveschool Team
 | 
February 14, 2019
Students of Del Valle Elementary in Del Valle, TX used to get OWL bucks for positive behavior. But they were impossible to track, and often didn’t even make it from printer to prize redemption.

J Maines, Interim Principal, knew they needed a better solution.

There are some big problems with using paper bucks to run a PBIS program and J knew their reward system wasn’t working. He identified a few of the problems they had with paper behavior rewards:

  • Tangible behavior bucks get lost easily. Students stuffed their OWL bucks into baggies, a back pocket, or their desk. They only received a few recognition “dollars" each day; and if one of those precious bucks should float away while boarding the bus or drown in a puddle of O.J. at lunch, that reward was lost forever.
  • Paper bucks have to be printed. School administrators end up spending time and money printing and distributing paper bucks.
  • They’re hard to track. It’s next to impossible for the school to tell if teachers are giving bucks out consistently. With little to no oversight, it’s hard to make sure students are getting recognized frequently enough to reinforce positive behavior.
  • They’re not specific to the behavior rubric. There’s no way to tell what type of behavior earned that dollar. So there’s no data to reveal which behaviors are consistently rewarded, and which are not.

Teachers were exasperated, and J understood why.

There were too many things getting in the way of it working properly.

J launched the behavior app strategically for maximum buy-in

J introduced LiveSchool to the most tech-savvy grades first. He knew they’d love the convenience once they gave it a shot.

Soon, word got out organically. It was only a matter of time before teachers in other grades were asking for LiveSchool. When there was enough demand, they launched the app in the entire school.

Students and parents gather at a PBIS school event
Eventually, the whole school shared one system for rewards positive behavior

A school-wide behavior rubric created common expectations.

Del Valle follows a behavior rubric called SOAR: Safety, Ownership, Achievement, and Respect. With the custom rubric feature in LiveSchool, J was able to identify specific behaviors that demonstrate each of those values. Then, if the school was having problems with kids running in the hallway, he could check the data and see that teachers weren’t giving out any positive points for hallway behavior.

Now, students are consistently rewarded.

The Insights feature reveals top performers. J can easily celebrate the teachers who give out the most positive points, and keep everyone engaged.

He can even spot trends and changes for individual students. J is able to identify students who aren’t earning many points, and use the data to make a support plan for them. And if parents question whether their student is being fully supported and recognized by specific teachers, J can reference real numbers to illustrate what’s happening in the classroom.

The school uses experiences (not just tangible rewards) as incentives.

Del Valle typically sees a rise in office referrals in February, so they decided to reverse the trend. To incentivize good behavior through the long winter months, they planned a Field Day for 4th and 5th grades. The more points each student earns, the more activities they can participate in. When students reach the maximum threshold, they get the full Field Day experience with all 20 events.

J has already seen a change in the way teachers address behavior issues in class. 

Instead of, ‘Would you please stop talking?’, it is, ‘Oh, didn’t you sign up for the relay race? Hey, make sure you’re earning your OWL bucks, so that you can go to the relay race.’

They’re able to turn an admonishment into a positive motivator for their students.

A school principal poses in front of a dinosaur exhibit
Del Valle principal poses at a dinosaur exhibit - students who earned enough Owlbucks get free admission to the museum-like display

Students get more recognition through the app than they ever did with paper dollars.

With their paper system, Del Valle teachers were giving out 3 or 4 OWL bucks every day. Now, they distribute an average of 25 points daily through the app. They’ve even seen a reduction in office referrals!

And J has seen a major transformation in the school that goes beyond the numbers. Teachers don’t have to worry about tracking points, replenishing paper bucks, or giving out points that disappear into the abyss of a backpack. They can fully commit to shaping their classroom and instruction style to recognize positive behaviors.

We’re past all that functionality. It’s all in the app. We’re on to the big things that affect instruction.

Of course, J is thrilled with the dramatic change for students as well.

That has a magical effect on kids. It’s been a silent problem in all schools, where the good kids doing the right thing don’t get as much attention as the kid who’s off-task doing the wrong thing.

The school gathers at a holiday assembly, showing staff on stage singing and students singing along
Del Valle dramatically increased the number of behavior rewards teachers give to their students.



Follow us on Twitter @whyliveschool and connect with LiveSchool Leaders all over the country!

Want incentives more specific to your grade level? Try our resources built around elementary school incentives, incentive ideas for middle school students, or incentives for high school students.

Let’s take this to your inbox
We’ll send you our monthly newsletter which is fully stocked with free resources like articles, videos, podcasts, reward ideas, and anything else we can think of to help you make your school awesome.
Students of Del Valle Elementary in Del Valle, TX used to get OWL bucks for positive behavior. But they were impossible to track, and often didn’t even make it from printer to prize redemption.

J Maines, Interim Principal, knew they needed a better solution.

There are some big problems with using paper bucks to run a PBIS program and J knew their reward system wasn’t working. He identified a few of the problems they had with paper behavior rewards:

  • Tangible behavior bucks get lost easily. Students stuffed their OWL bucks into baggies, a back pocket, or their desk. They only received a few recognition “dollars" each day; and if one of those precious bucks should float away while boarding the bus or drown in a puddle of O.J. at lunch, that reward was lost forever.
  • Paper bucks have to be printed. School administrators end up spending time and money printing and distributing paper bucks.
  • They’re hard to track. It’s next to impossible for the school to tell if teachers are giving bucks out consistently. With little to no oversight, it’s hard to make sure students are getting recognized frequently enough to reinforce positive behavior.
  • They’re not specific to the behavior rubric. There’s no way to tell what type of behavior earned that dollar. So there’s no data to reveal which behaviors are consistently rewarded, and which are not.

Teachers were exasperated, and J understood why.

There were too many things getting in the way of it working properly.

J launched the behavior app strategically for maximum buy-in

J introduced LiveSchool to the most tech-savvy grades first. He knew they’d love the convenience once they gave it a shot.

Soon, word got out organically. It was only a matter of time before teachers in other grades were asking for LiveSchool. When there was enough demand, they launched the app in the entire school.

Students and parents gather at a PBIS school event
Eventually, the whole school shared one system for rewards positive behavior

A school-wide behavior rubric created common expectations.

Del Valle follows a behavior rubric called SOAR: Safety, Ownership, Achievement, and Respect. With the custom rubric feature in LiveSchool, J was able to identify specific behaviors that demonstrate each of those values. Then, if the school was having problems with kids running in the hallway, he could check the data and see that teachers weren’t giving out any positive points for hallway behavior.

Now, students are consistently rewarded.

The Insights feature reveals top performers. J can easily celebrate the teachers who give out the most positive points, and keep everyone engaged.

He can even spot trends and changes for individual students. J is able to identify students who aren’t earning many points, and use the data to make a support plan for them. And if parents question whether their student is being fully supported and recognized by specific teachers, J can reference real numbers to illustrate what’s happening in the classroom.

The school uses experiences (not just tangible rewards) as incentives.

Del Valle typically sees a rise in office referrals in February, so they decided to reverse the trend. To incentivize good behavior through the long winter months, they planned a Field Day for 4th and 5th grades. The more points each student earns, the more activities they can participate in. When students reach the maximum threshold, they get the full Field Day experience with all 20 events.

J has already seen a change in the way teachers address behavior issues in class. 

Instead of, ‘Would you please stop talking?’, it is, ‘Oh, didn’t you sign up for the relay race? Hey, make sure you’re earning your OWL bucks, so that you can go to the relay race.’

They’re able to turn an admonishment into a positive motivator for their students.

A school principal poses in front of a dinosaur exhibit
Del Valle principal poses at a dinosaur exhibit - students who earned enough Owlbucks get free admission to the museum-like display

Students get more recognition through the app than they ever did with paper dollars.

With their paper system, Del Valle teachers were giving out 3 or 4 OWL bucks every day. Now, they distribute an average of 25 points daily through the app. They’ve even seen a reduction in office referrals!

And J has seen a major transformation in the school that goes beyond the numbers. Teachers don’t have to worry about tracking points, replenishing paper bucks, or giving out points that disappear into the abyss of a backpack. They can fully commit to shaping their classroom and instruction style to recognize positive behaviors.

We’re past all that functionality. It’s all in the app. We’re on to the big things that affect instruction.

Of course, J is thrilled with the dramatic change for students as well.

That has a magical effect on kids. It’s been a silent problem in all schools, where the good kids doing the right thing don’t get as much attention as the kid who’s off-task doing the wrong thing.

The school gathers at a holiday assembly, showing staff on stage singing and students singing along
Del Valle dramatically increased the number of behavior rewards teachers give to their students.



Follow us on Twitter @whyliveschool and connect with LiveSchool Leaders all over the country!

Want incentives more specific to your grade level? Try our resources built around elementary school incentives, incentive ideas for middle school students, or incentives for high school students.

J Maines, Interim Principal, knew they needed a better solution.

There are some big problems with using paper bucks to run a PBIS program and J knew their reward system wasn’t working. He identified a few of the problems they had with paper behavior rewards:

  • Tangible behavior bucks get lost easily. Students stuffed their OWL bucks into baggies, a back pocket, or their desk. They only received a few recognition “dollars" each day; and if one of those precious bucks should float away while boarding the bus or drown in a puddle of O.J. at lunch, that reward was lost forever.
  • Paper bucks have to be printed. School administrators end up spending time and money printing and distributing paper bucks.
  • They’re hard to track. It’s next to impossible for the school to tell if teachers are giving bucks out consistently. With little to no oversight, it’s hard to make sure students are getting recognized frequently enough to reinforce positive behavior.
  • They’re not specific to the behavior rubric. There’s no way to tell what type of behavior earned that dollar. So there’s no data to reveal which behaviors are consistently rewarded, and which are not.

Teachers were exasperated, and J understood why.

There were too many things getting in the way of it working properly.

J launched the behavior app strategically for maximum buy-in

J introduced LiveSchool to the most tech-savvy grades first. He knew they’d love the convenience once they gave it a shot.

Soon, word got out organically. It was only a matter of time before teachers in other grades were asking for LiveSchool. When there was enough demand, they launched the app in the entire school.

Students and parents gather at a PBIS school event
Eventually, the whole school shared one system for rewards positive behavior

A school-wide behavior rubric created common expectations.

Del Valle follows a behavior rubric called SOAR: Safety, Ownership, Achievement, and Respect. With the custom rubric feature in LiveSchool, J was able to identify specific behaviors that demonstrate each of those values. Then, if the school was having problems with kids running in the hallway, he could check the data and see that teachers weren’t giving out any positive points for hallway behavior.

Now, students are consistently rewarded.

The Insights feature reveals top performers. J can easily celebrate the teachers who give out the most positive points, and keep everyone engaged.

He can even spot trends and changes for individual students. J is able to identify students who aren’t earning many points, and use the data to make a support plan for them. And if parents question whether their student is being fully supported and recognized by specific teachers, J can reference real numbers to illustrate what’s happening in the classroom.

The school uses experiences (not just tangible rewards) as incentives.

Del Valle typically sees a rise in office referrals in February, so they decided to reverse the trend. To incentivize good behavior through the long winter months, they planned a Field Day for 4th and 5th grades. The more points each student earns, the more activities they can participate in. When students reach the maximum threshold, they get the full Field Day experience with all 20 events.

J has already seen a change in the way teachers address behavior issues in class. 

Instead of, ‘Would you please stop talking?’, it is, ‘Oh, didn’t you sign up for the relay race? Hey, make sure you’re earning your OWL bucks, so that you can go to the relay race.’

They’re able to turn an admonishment into a positive motivator for their students.

A school principal poses in front of a dinosaur exhibit
Del Valle principal poses at a dinosaur exhibit - students who earned enough Owlbucks get free admission to the museum-like display

Students get more recognition through the app than they ever did with paper dollars.

With their paper system, Del Valle teachers were giving out 3 or 4 OWL bucks every day. Now, they distribute an average of 25 points daily through the app. They’ve even seen a reduction in office referrals!

And J has seen a major transformation in the school that goes beyond the numbers. Teachers don’t have to worry about tracking points, replenishing paper bucks, or giving out points that disappear into the abyss of a backpack. They can fully commit to shaping their classroom and instruction style to recognize positive behaviors.

We’re past all that functionality. It’s all in the app. We’re on to the big things that affect instruction.

Of course, J is thrilled with the dramatic change for students as well.

That has a magical effect on kids. It’s been a silent problem in all schools, where the good kids doing the right thing don’t get as much attention as the kid who’s off-task doing the wrong thing.

The school gathers at a holiday assembly, showing staff on stage singing and students singing along
Del Valle dramatically increased the number of behavior rewards teachers give to their students.



Follow us on Twitter @whyliveschool and connect with LiveSchool Leaders all over the country!

Want incentives more specific to your grade level? Try our resources built around elementary school incentives, incentive ideas for middle school students, or incentives for high school students.

quote icon
Let’s take this to your inbox
We’ll send you our monthly newsletter which is fully stocked with free resources like articles, videos, podcasts, reward ideas, and anything else we can think of to help you make your school awesome.

J Maines, Interim Principal, knew they needed a better solution.

There are some big problems with using paper bucks to run a PBIS program and J knew their reward system wasn’t working. He identified a few of the problems they had with paper behavior rewards:

  • Tangible behavior bucks get lost easily. Students stuffed their OWL bucks into baggies, a back pocket, or their desk. They only received a few recognition “dollars" each day; and if one of those precious bucks should float away while boarding the bus or drown in a puddle of O.J. at lunch, that reward was lost forever.
  • Paper bucks have to be printed. School administrators end up spending time and money printing and distributing paper bucks.
  • They’re hard to track. It’s next to impossible for the school to tell if teachers are giving bucks out consistently. With little to no oversight, it’s hard to make sure students are getting recognized frequently enough to reinforce positive behavior.
  • They’re not specific to the behavior rubric. There’s no way to tell what type of behavior earned that dollar. So there’s no data to reveal which behaviors are consistently rewarded, and which are not.

Teachers were exasperated, and J understood why.

There were too many things getting in the way of it working properly.

J launched the behavior app strategically for maximum buy-in

J introduced LiveSchool to the most tech-savvy grades first. He knew they’d love the convenience once they gave it a shot.

Soon, word got out organically. It was only a matter of time before teachers in other grades were asking for LiveSchool. When there was enough demand, they launched the app in the entire school.

Students and parents gather at a PBIS school event
Eventually, the whole school shared one system for rewards positive behavior

A school-wide behavior rubric created common expectations.

Del Valle follows a behavior rubric called SOAR: Safety, Ownership, Achievement, and Respect. With the custom rubric feature in LiveSchool, J was able to identify specific behaviors that demonstrate each of those values. Then, if the school was having problems with kids running in the hallway, he could check the data and see that teachers weren’t giving out any positive points for hallway behavior.

Now, students are consistently rewarded.

The Insights feature reveals top performers. J can easily celebrate the teachers who give out the most positive points, and keep everyone engaged.

He can even spot trends and changes for individual students. J is able to identify students who aren’t earning many points, and use the data to make a support plan for them. And if parents question whether their student is being fully supported and recognized by specific teachers, J can reference real numbers to illustrate what’s happening in the classroom.

The school uses experiences (not just tangible rewards) as incentives.

Del Valle typically sees a rise in office referrals in February, so they decided to reverse the trend. To incentivize good behavior through the long winter months, they planned a Field Day for 4th and 5th grades. The more points each student earns, the more activities they can participate in. When students reach the maximum threshold, they get the full Field Day experience with all 20 events.

J has already seen a change in the way teachers address behavior issues in class. 

Instead of, ‘Would you please stop talking?’, it is, ‘Oh, didn’t you sign up for the relay race? Hey, make sure you’re earning your OWL bucks, so that you can go to the relay race.’

They’re able to turn an admonishment into a positive motivator for their students.

A school principal poses in front of a dinosaur exhibit
Del Valle principal poses at a dinosaur exhibit - students who earned enough Owlbucks get free admission to the museum-like display

Students get more recognition through the app than they ever did with paper dollars.

With their paper system, Del Valle teachers were giving out 3 or 4 OWL bucks every day. Now, they distribute an average of 25 points daily through the app. They’ve even seen a reduction in office referrals!

And J has seen a major transformation in the school that goes beyond the numbers. Teachers don’t have to worry about tracking points, replenishing paper bucks, or giving out points that disappear into the abyss of a backpack. They can fully commit to shaping their classroom and instruction style to recognize positive behaviors.

We’re past all that functionality. It’s all in the app. We’re on to the big things that affect instruction.

Of course, J is thrilled with the dramatic change for students as well.

That has a magical effect on kids. It’s been a silent problem in all schools, where the good kids doing the right thing don’t get as much attention as the kid who’s off-task doing the wrong thing.

The school gathers at a holiday assembly, showing staff on stage singing and students singing along
Del Valle dramatically increased the number of behavior rewards teachers give to their students.



Follow us on Twitter @whyliveschool and connect with LiveSchool Leaders all over the country!

Want incentives more specific to your grade level? Try our resources built around elementary school incentives, incentive ideas for middle school students, or incentives for high school students.

How to Create School Wide Incentives that are Educational and Fun

Create school-wide incentives that are both educational and fun. One school shares their story!
By 
The Liveschool Team
 | 
February 14, 2019

J Maines, Interim Principal, knew they needed a better solution.

There are some big problems with using paper bucks to run a PBIS program and J knew their reward system wasn’t working. He identified a few of the problems they had with paper behavior rewards:

  • Tangible behavior bucks get lost easily. Students stuffed their OWL bucks into baggies, a back pocket, or their desk. They only received a few recognition “dollars" each day; and if one of those precious bucks should float away while boarding the bus or drown in a puddle of O.J. at lunch, that reward was lost forever.
  • Paper bucks have to be printed. School administrators end up spending time and money printing and distributing paper bucks.
  • They’re hard to track. It’s next to impossible for the school to tell if teachers are giving bucks out consistently. With little to no oversight, it’s hard to make sure students are getting recognized frequently enough to reinforce positive behavior.
  • They’re not specific to the behavior rubric. There’s no way to tell what type of behavior earned that dollar. So there’s no data to reveal which behaviors are consistently rewarded, and which are not.

Teachers were exasperated, and J understood why.

There were too many things getting in the way of it working properly.

J launched the behavior app strategically for maximum buy-in

J introduced LiveSchool to the most tech-savvy grades first. He knew they’d love the convenience once they gave it a shot.

Soon, word got out organically. It was only a matter of time before teachers in other grades were asking for LiveSchool. When there was enough demand, they launched the app in the entire school.

Students and parents gather at a PBIS school event
Eventually, the whole school shared one system for rewards positive behavior

A school-wide behavior rubric created common expectations.

Del Valle follows a behavior rubric called SOAR: Safety, Ownership, Achievement, and Respect. With the custom rubric feature in LiveSchool, J was able to identify specific behaviors that demonstrate each of those values. Then, if the school was having problems with kids running in the hallway, he could check the data and see that teachers weren’t giving out any positive points for hallway behavior.

Now, students are consistently rewarded.

The Insights feature reveals top performers. J can easily celebrate the teachers who give out the most positive points, and keep everyone engaged.

He can even spot trends and changes for individual students. J is able to identify students who aren’t earning many points, and use the data to make a support plan for them. And if parents question whether their student is being fully supported and recognized by specific teachers, J can reference real numbers to illustrate what’s happening in the classroom.

The school uses experiences (not just tangible rewards) as incentives.

Del Valle typically sees a rise in office referrals in February, so they decided to reverse the trend. To incentivize good behavior through the long winter months, they planned a Field Day for 4th and 5th grades. The more points each student earns, the more activities they can participate in. When students reach the maximum threshold, they get the full Field Day experience with all 20 events.

J has already seen a change in the way teachers address behavior issues in class. 

Instead of, ‘Would you please stop talking?’, it is, ‘Oh, didn’t you sign up for the relay race? Hey, make sure you’re earning your OWL bucks, so that you can go to the relay race.’

They’re able to turn an admonishment into a positive motivator for their students.

A school principal poses in front of a dinosaur exhibit
Del Valle principal poses at a dinosaur exhibit - students who earned enough Owlbucks get free admission to the museum-like display

Students get more recognition through the app than they ever did with paper dollars.

With their paper system, Del Valle teachers were giving out 3 or 4 OWL bucks every day. Now, they distribute an average of 25 points daily through the app. They’ve even seen a reduction in office referrals!

And J has seen a major transformation in the school that goes beyond the numbers. Teachers don’t have to worry about tracking points, replenishing paper bucks, or giving out points that disappear into the abyss of a backpack. They can fully commit to shaping their classroom and instruction style to recognize positive behaviors.

We’re past all that functionality. It’s all in the app. We’re on to the big things that affect instruction.

Of course, J is thrilled with the dramatic change for students as well.

That has a magical effect on kids. It’s been a silent problem in all schools, where the good kids doing the right thing don’t get as much attention as the kid who’s off-task doing the wrong thing.

The school gathers at a holiday assembly, showing staff on stage singing and students singing along
Del Valle dramatically increased the number of behavior rewards teachers give to their students.



Follow us on Twitter @whyliveschool and connect with LiveSchool Leaders all over the country!

Want incentives more specific to your grade level? Try our resources built around elementary school incentives, incentive ideas for middle school students, or incentives for high school students.

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About the Event

J Maines, Interim Principal, knew they needed a better solution.

There are some big problems with using paper bucks to run a PBIS program and J knew their reward system wasn’t working. He identified a few of the problems they had with paper behavior rewards:

  • Tangible behavior bucks get lost easily. Students stuffed their OWL bucks into baggies, a back pocket, or their desk. They only received a few recognition “dollars" each day; and if one of those precious bucks should float away while boarding the bus or drown in a puddle of O.J. at lunch, that reward was lost forever.
  • Paper bucks have to be printed. School administrators end up spending time and money printing and distributing paper bucks.
  • They’re hard to track. It’s next to impossible for the school to tell if teachers are giving bucks out consistently. With little to no oversight, it’s hard to make sure students are getting recognized frequently enough to reinforce positive behavior.
  • They’re not specific to the behavior rubric. There’s no way to tell what type of behavior earned that dollar. So there’s no data to reveal which behaviors are consistently rewarded, and which are not.

Teachers were exasperated, and J understood why.

There were too many things getting in the way of it working properly.

J launched the behavior app strategically for maximum buy-in

J introduced LiveSchool to the most tech-savvy grades first. He knew they’d love the convenience once they gave it a shot.

Soon, word got out organically. It was only a matter of time before teachers in other grades were asking for LiveSchool. When there was enough demand, they launched the app in the entire school.

Students and parents gather at a PBIS school event
Eventually, the whole school shared one system for rewards positive behavior

A school-wide behavior rubric created common expectations.

Del Valle follows a behavior rubric called SOAR: Safety, Ownership, Achievement, and Respect. With the custom rubric feature in LiveSchool, J was able to identify specific behaviors that demonstrate each of those values. Then, if the school was having problems with kids running in the hallway, he could check the data and see that teachers weren’t giving out any positive points for hallway behavior.

Now, students are consistently rewarded.

The Insights feature reveals top performers. J can easily celebrate the teachers who give out the most positive points, and keep everyone engaged.

He can even spot trends and changes for individual students. J is able to identify students who aren’t earning many points, and use the data to make a support plan for them. And if parents question whether their student is being fully supported and recognized by specific teachers, J can reference real numbers to illustrate what’s happening in the classroom.

The school uses experiences (not just tangible rewards) as incentives.

Del Valle typically sees a rise in office referrals in February, so they decided to reverse the trend. To incentivize good behavior through the long winter months, they planned a Field Day for 4th and 5th grades. The more points each student earns, the more activities they can participate in. When students reach the maximum threshold, they get the full Field Day experience with all 20 events.

J has already seen a change in the way teachers address behavior issues in class. 

Instead of, ‘Would you please stop talking?’, it is, ‘Oh, didn’t you sign up for the relay race? Hey, make sure you’re earning your OWL bucks, so that you can go to the relay race.’

They’re able to turn an admonishment into a positive motivator for their students.

A school principal poses in front of a dinosaur exhibit
Del Valle principal poses at a dinosaur exhibit - students who earned enough Owlbucks get free admission to the museum-like display

Students get more recognition through the app than they ever did with paper dollars.

With their paper system, Del Valle teachers were giving out 3 or 4 OWL bucks every day. Now, they distribute an average of 25 points daily through the app. They’ve even seen a reduction in office referrals!

And J has seen a major transformation in the school that goes beyond the numbers. Teachers don’t have to worry about tracking points, replenishing paper bucks, or giving out points that disappear into the abyss of a backpack. They can fully commit to shaping their classroom and instruction style to recognize positive behaviors.

We’re past all that functionality. It’s all in the app. We’re on to the big things that affect instruction.

Of course, J is thrilled with the dramatic change for students as well.

That has a magical effect on kids. It’s been a silent problem in all schools, where the good kids doing the right thing don’t get as much attention as the kid who’s off-task doing the wrong thing.

The school gathers at a holiday assembly, showing staff on stage singing and students singing along
Del Valle dramatically increased the number of behavior rewards teachers give to their students.



Follow us on Twitter @whyliveschool and connect with LiveSchool Leaders all over the country!

Want incentives more specific to your grade level? Try our resources built around elementary school incentives, incentive ideas for middle school students, or incentives for high school students.

Register Now

About the Event

J Maines, Interim Principal, knew they needed a better solution.

There are some big problems with using paper bucks to run a PBIS program and J knew their reward system wasn’t working. He identified a few of the problems they had with paper behavior rewards:

  • Tangible behavior bucks get lost easily. Students stuffed their OWL bucks into baggies, a back pocket, or their desk. They only received a few recognition “dollars" each day; and if one of those precious bucks should float away while boarding the bus or drown in a puddle of O.J. at lunch, that reward was lost forever.
  • Paper bucks have to be printed. School administrators end up spending time and money printing and distributing paper bucks.
  • They’re hard to track. It’s next to impossible for the school to tell if teachers are giving bucks out consistently. With little to no oversight, it’s hard to make sure students are getting recognized frequently enough to reinforce positive behavior.
  • They’re not specific to the behavior rubric. There’s no way to tell what type of behavior earned that dollar. So there’s no data to reveal which behaviors are consistently rewarded, and which are not.

Teachers were exasperated, and J understood why.

There were too many things getting in the way of it working properly.

J launched the behavior app strategically for maximum buy-in

J introduced LiveSchool to the most tech-savvy grades first. He knew they’d love the convenience once they gave it a shot.

Soon, word got out organically. It was only a matter of time before teachers in other grades were asking for LiveSchool. When there was enough demand, they launched the app in the entire school.

Students and parents gather at a PBIS school event
Eventually, the whole school shared one system for rewards positive behavior

A school-wide behavior rubric created common expectations.

Del Valle follows a behavior rubric called SOAR: Safety, Ownership, Achievement, and Respect. With the custom rubric feature in LiveSchool, J was able to identify specific behaviors that demonstrate each of those values. Then, if the school was having problems with kids running in the hallway, he could check the data and see that teachers weren’t giving out any positive points for hallway behavior.

Now, students are consistently rewarded.

The Insights feature reveals top performers. J can easily celebrate the teachers who give out the most positive points, and keep everyone engaged.

He can even spot trends and changes for individual students. J is able to identify students who aren’t earning many points, and use the data to make a support plan for them. And if parents question whether their student is being fully supported and recognized by specific teachers, J can reference real numbers to illustrate what’s happening in the classroom.

The school uses experiences (not just tangible rewards) as incentives.

Del Valle typically sees a rise in office referrals in February, so they decided to reverse the trend. To incentivize good behavior through the long winter months, they planned a Field Day for 4th and 5th grades. The more points each student earns, the more activities they can participate in. When students reach the maximum threshold, they get the full Field Day experience with all 20 events.

J has already seen a change in the way teachers address behavior issues in class. 

Instead of, ‘Would you please stop talking?’, it is, ‘Oh, didn’t you sign up for the relay race? Hey, make sure you’re earning your OWL bucks, so that you can go to the relay race.’

They’re able to turn an admonishment into a positive motivator for their students.

A school principal poses in front of a dinosaur exhibit
Del Valle principal poses at a dinosaur exhibit - students who earned enough Owlbucks get free admission to the museum-like display

Students get more recognition through the app than they ever did with paper dollars.

With their paper system, Del Valle teachers were giving out 3 or 4 OWL bucks every day. Now, they distribute an average of 25 points daily through the app. They’ve even seen a reduction in office referrals!

And J has seen a major transformation in the school that goes beyond the numbers. Teachers don’t have to worry about tracking points, replenishing paper bucks, or giving out points that disappear into the abyss of a backpack. They can fully commit to shaping their classroom and instruction style to recognize positive behaviors.

We’re past all that functionality. It’s all in the app. We’re on to the big things that affect instruction.

Of course, J is thrilled with the dramatic change for students as well.

That has a magical effect on kids. It’s been a silent problem in all schools, where the good kids doing the right thing don’t get as much attention as the kid who’s off-task doing the wrong thing.

The school gathers at a holiday assembly, showing staff on stage singing and students singing along
Del Valle dramatically increased the number of behavior rewards teachers give to their students.



Follow us on Twitter @whyliveschool and connect with LiveSchool Leaders all over the country!

Want incentives more specific to your grade level? Try our resources built around elementary school incentives, incentive ideas for middle school students, or incentives for high school students.

Let’s take this to your inbox
We’ll send you our monthly newsletter which is fully stocked with free resources like articles, videos, podcasts, reward ideas, and anything else we can think of to help you make your school awesome.

Students of Del Valle Elementary in Del Valle, TX used to get OWL bucks for positive behavior. But they were impossible to track, and often didn’t even make it from printer to prize redemption.

J Maines, Interim Principal, knew they needed a better solution.

There are some big problems with using paper bucks to run a PBIS program and J knew their reward system wasn’t working. He identified a few of the problems they had with paper behavior rewards:

  • Tangible behavior bucks get lost easily. Students stuffed their OWL bucks into baggies, a back pocket, or their desk. They only received a few recognition “dollars" each day; and if one of those precious bucks should float away while boarding the bus or drown in a puddle of O.J. at lunch, that reward was lost forever.
  • Paper bucks have to be printed. School administrators end up spending time and money printing and distributing paper bucks.
  • They’re hard to track. It’s next to impossible for the school to tell if teachers are giving bucks out consistently. With little to no oversight, it’s hard to make sure students are getting recognized frequently enough to reinforce positive behavior.
  • They’re not specific to the behavior rubric. There’s no way to tell what type of behavior earned that dollar. So there’s no data to reveal which behaviors are consistently rewarded, and which are not.

Teachers were exasperated, and J understood why.

There were too many things getting in the way of it working properly.

J launched the behavior app strategically for maximum buy-in

J introduced LiveSchool to the most tech-savvy grades first. He knew they’d love the convenience once they gave it a shot.

Soon, word got out organically. It was only a matter of time before teachers in other grades were asking for LiveSchool. When there was enough demand, they launched the app in the entire school.

Students and parents gather at a PBIS school event
Eventually, the whole school shared one system for rewards positive behavior

A school-wide behavior rubric created common expectations.

Del Valle follows a behavior rubric called SOAR: Safety, Ownership, Achievement, and Respect. With the custom rubric feature in LiveSchool, J was able to identify specific behaviors that demonstrate each of those values. Then, if the school was having problems with kids running in the hallway, he could check the data and see that teachers weren’t giving out any positive points for hallway behavior.

Now, students are consistently rewarded.

The Insights feature reveals top performers. J can easily celebrate the teachers who give out the most positive points, and keep everyone engaged.

He can even spot trends and changes for individual students. J is able to identify students who aren’t earning many points, and use the data to make a support plan for them. And if parents question whether their student is being fully supported and recognized by specific teachers, J can reference real numbers to illustrate what’s happening in the classroom.

The school uses experiences (not just tangible rewards) as incentives.

Del Valle typically sees a rise in office referrals in February, so they decided to reverse the trend. To incentivize good behavior through the long winter months, they planned a Field Day for 4th and 5th grades. The more points each student earns, the more activities they can participate in. When students reach the maximum threshold, they get the full Field Day experience with all 20 events.

J has already seen a change in the way teachers address behavior issues in class. 

Instead of, ‘Would you please stop talking?’, it is, ‘Oh, didn’t you sign up for the relay race? Hey, make sure you’re earning your OWL bucks, so that you can go to the relay race.’

They’re able to turn an admonishment into a positive motivator for their students.

A school principal poses in front of a dinosaur exhibit
Del Valle principal poses at a dinosaur exhibit - students who earned enough Owlbucks get free admission to the museum-like display

Students get more recognition through the app than they ever did with paper dollars.

With their paper system, Del Valle teachers were giving out 3 or 4 OWL bucks every day. Now, they distribute an average of 25 points daily through the app. They’ve even seen a reduction in office referrals!

And J has seen a major transformation in the school that goes beyond the numbers. Teachers don’t have to worry about tracking points, replenishing paper bucks, or giving out points that disappear into the abyss of a backpack. They can fully commit to shaping their classroom and instruction style to recognize positive behaviors.

We’re past all that functionality. It’s all in the app. We’re on to the big things that affect instruction.

Of course, J is thrilled with the dramatic change for students as well.

That has a magical effect on kids. It’s been a silent problem in all schools, where the good kids doing the right thing don’t get as much attention as the kid who’s off-task doing the wrong thing.

The school gathers at a holiday assembly, showing staff on stage singing and students singing along
Del Valle dramatically increased the number of behavior rewards teachers give to their students.



Follow us on Twitter @whyliveschool and connect with LiveSchool Leaders all over the country!

Want incentives more specific to your grade level? Try our resources built around elementary school incentives, incentive ideas for middle school students, or incentives for high school students.

All Reward Ideas for Students

🎉
👑
🎁
Class Jobs
Grades 3-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Sweatshirt
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Extra Computer Games
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Donate $1
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
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🎉
👑
🎁
Student Messenger
Grades 3-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Partner Work
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Anime Themed Party
Grades 6-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Books
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Early Lunch Dismissal
Grades 9-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Teacher v Student Competition
Grades 6-12
School
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Podcast
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Camp Read Away
Grades K-8
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
“Let's Make A Difference Week"
Grades 9-12
Class/House
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Ice Cream Sundae Party
Grades K-12
Class/House
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Fake The Funk
Grades 9-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Passing Period Music
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free

All Reward Ideas for Elementary School Students

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🎁
Stuffed Animal in Class
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
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🎁
Silly Science Experiments
Grades K-5
Class/House
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Stickers
Grades K-5
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Donate $1
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Sweatshirt
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Holidays Around the World
Grades K-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Special Pen
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Art Contest
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Seating Choice
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Student Messenger
Grades 3-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Sports Tickets
Grades 3-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Show & Tell
Grades K-8
Student
Privilege
Free
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👑
🎁
Extra Recess
Grades K-5
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Social Media Reporter
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Snack Party
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Lunch With the Teacher
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free

All Event Ideas for Schools

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Final Fridays
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Theme Party
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STEM Field Day
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Dance Party
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Career Day
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🎨
Family Feast
💰
🎨
Music Fest
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🎨
The A-List
💰
🎨
Blood Drive
💰
🎨
Movie Night
💰
🎨
Silent Disco

All Free Reward Ideas for Schools

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Drop Lowest Quiz
🎉
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Operate Equipment.
🎉
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Homework Pass
🎉
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🎁
Teacher Serenade
🎉
👑
🎁
Meme Party
🎉
👑
🎁
Brain Break
🎉
👑
🎁
Parking Spots
🎉
👑
🎁
Talk Time
🎉
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🎁
Extra Reading Time
🎉
👑
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Play Games

All Reward Ideas for High School Students

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Game Week
Grades 9-12
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Event
Low Cost/DIY
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👑
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Game-Based Simulation Learning
Grades 9-12
Class/House
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Drop Lowest Quiz
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Digital Escape Rooms
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Privilege
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Class Pet
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Social Media Reporter
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Uber by a Principal
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Holiday Delivery
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Art Contest
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Passing Period Music
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Snack Pack
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Tech Time
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Teacher v Student Competition
Grades 6-12
School
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Anime Themed Party
Grades 6-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Certificate of Achievement
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
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Get-to-Know-You Bingo
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Free

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Design the Bulletin Board
Grades K-12
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Water Bottle Stickers
Grades 6-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Hallway High-Five
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
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🎁
Dance Party
Grades K-12
Student
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Snack Pack
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
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🎁
Talk Time
Grades 6-8
Student
Privilege
Free
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👑
🎁
Digital Escape Rooms
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Privilege
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Snack Party
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Host a Virtual Party. 🎶
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Free
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Tutor
Grades 6-8
Student
Privilege
Free
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🎁
STEM Field Day
Grades K-8
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Positive Note or Call Home
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Silly School Leader
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Read Across America
Grades K-8
School
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Certificate of Achievement
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Seating Choice
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free

All Student Reward & Incentive Ideas

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Stuffed Animal in Class
Grades K-5
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Pen Pouch
Grades K-8
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Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Toys
Grades K-8
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
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🎨
Classroom DJ
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
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🎨
Lunch With the Teacher
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Pie a Teacher
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Sweatshirt
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
💰
🎨
Color a Teacher’s Hair
Grades 9-12
Student
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Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Drop Lowest Quiz
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
TikTok with the Teacher
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Loudspeaker Shoutout
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
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Design the Bulletin Board
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
💰
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Teacher Q&A
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
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🎨
Operate Equipment.
Grades 9-12
Student
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Free
💰
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Silly School Leader
Grades 6-12
Student
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Class Jobs
Grades 3-8
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Teacher Q&A
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Morning Meeting Leader
Grades 3-8
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Donate $1
Grades 3-12
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🎉
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Brain Break
Grades K-12
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Classroom DJ
Grades K-12
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Host a Virtual Party. 🎶
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Virtual Field Trip
Grades K-12
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Extra Computer Games
Grades 3-12
Student
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Show & Tell
Grades K-8
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Social Media Reporter
Grades 3-12
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Positive Note or Call Home
Grades K-12
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Student Spotlight Board
Grades K-5
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Podcast
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Digital Escape Rooms
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Certificate of Achievement
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Virtual Talent Show. 🎤
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Let’s take this to your inbox
We’ll send you our monthly newsletter which is fully stocked with free resources like articles, videos, podcasts, reward ideas, and anything else we can think of to help you make your school awesome.

Students of Del Valle Elementary in Del Valle, TX used to get OWL bucks for positive behavior. But they were impossible to track, and often didn’t even make it from printer to prize redemption.

J Maines, Interim Principal, knew they needed a better solution.

There are some big problems with using paper bucks to run a PBIS program and J knew their reward system wasn’t working. He identified a few of the problems they had with paper behavior rewards:

  • Tangible behavior bucks get lost easily. Students stuffed their OWL bucks into baggies, a back pocket, or their desk. They only received a few recognition “dollars" each day; and if one of those precious bucks should float away while boarding the bus or drown in a puddle of O.J. at lunch, that reward was lost forever.
  • Paper bucks have to be printed. School administrators end up spending time and money printing and distributing paper bucks.
  • They’re hard to track. It’s next to impossible for the school to tell if teachers are giving bucks out consistently. With little to no oversight, it’s hard to make sure students are getting recognized frequently enough to reinforce positive behavior.
  • They’re not specific to the behavior rubric. There’s no way to tell what type of behavior earned that dollar. So there’s no data to reveal which behaviors are consistently rewarded, and which are not.

Teachers were exasperated, and J understood why.

There were too many things getting in the way of it working properly.

J launched the behavior app strategically for maximum buy-in

J introduced LiveSchool to the most tech-savvy grades first. He knew they’d love the convenience once they gave it a shot.

Soon, word got out organically. It was only a matter of time before teachers in other grades were asking for LiveSchool. When there was enough demand, they launched the app in the entire school.

Students and parents gather at a PBIS school event
Eventually, the whole school shared one system for rewards positive behavior

A school-wide behavior rubric created common expectations.

Del Valle follows a behavior rubric called SOAR: Safety, Ownership, Achievement, and Respect. With the custom rubric feature in LiveSchool, J was able to identify specific behaviors that demonstrate each of those values. Then, if the school was having problems with kids running in the hallway, he could check the data and see that teachers weren’t giving out any positive points for hallway behavior.

Now, students are consistently rewarded.

The Insights feature reveals top performers. J can easily celebrate the teachers who give out the most positive points, and keep everyone engaged.

He can even spot trends and changes for individual students. J is able to identify students who aren’t earning many points, and use the data to make a support plan for them. And if parents question whether their student is being fully supported and recognized by specific teachers, J can reference real numbers to illustrate what’s happening in the classroom.

The school uses experiences (not just tangible rewards) as incentives.

Del Valle typically sees a rise in office referrals in February, so they decided to reverse the trend. To incentivize good behavior through the long winter months, they planned a Field Day for 4th and 5th grades. The more points each student earns, the more activities they can participate in. When students reach the maximum threshold, they get the full Field Day experience with all 20 events.

J has already seen a change in the way teachers address behavior issues in class. 

Instead of, ‘Would you please stop talking?’, it is, ‘Oh, didn’t you sign up for the relay race? Hey, make sure you’re earning your OWL bucks, so that you can go to the relay race.’

They’re able to turn an admonishment into a positive motivator for their students.

A school principal poses in front of a dinosaur exhibit
Del Valle principal poses at a dinosaur exhibit - students who earned enough Owlbucks get free admission to the museum-like display

Students get more recognition through the app than they ever did with paper dollars.

With their paper system, Del Valle teachers were giving out 3 or 4 OWL bucks every day. Now, they distribute an average of 25 points daily through the app. They’ve even seen a reduction in office referrals!

And J has seen a major transformation in the school that goes beyond the numbers. Teachers don’t have to worry about tracking points, replenishing paper bucks, or giving out points that disappear into the abyss of a backpack. They can fully commit to shaping their classroom and instruction style to recognize positive behaviors.

We’re past all that functionality. It’s all in the app. We’re on to the big things that affect instruction.

Of course, J is thrilled with the dramatic change for students as well.

That has a magical effect on kids. It’s been a silent problem in all schools, where the good kids doing the right thing don’t get as much attention as the kid who’s off-task doing the wrong thing.

The school gathers at a holiday assembly, showing staff on stage singing and students singing along
Del Valle dramatically increased the number of behavior rewards teachers give to their students.



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Want incentives more specific to your grade level? Try our resources built around elementary school incentives, incentive ideas for middle school students, or incentives for high school students.

All Reward Ideas for Students

🎉
👑
🎁
Extra Reading Time
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Art Contest
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Uber by a Principal
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Get-to-Know-You Bingo
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Blood Drive
Grades 9-12
School
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Video Game Rewards
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Family Feast
Grades K-8
Class/House
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Lunch Reservations
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Classroom DJ
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Lost & Found Fashion Show
Grades 9-12
School
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
The Big Ticket
Grades 9-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Digital Escape Rooms
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Privilege
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Wild ‘N Out High School Edition
Grades 9-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Design the Bulletin Board
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Lunch Concert
Grades 6-8
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Holiday Classroom Carousel
Grades 9-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY

All Reward Ideas for Elementary School Students

🎉
👑
🎁
Snack Pack
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Attendance Popcorn Party
Grades K-12
Student
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Pie a Teacher
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Loudspeaker Shoutout
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Hallway High-Five
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Firebird of the Month
Grades K-12
Student
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Video Game Rewards
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Class Pet
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Dress Up or Down Day
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Lunch Reservations
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Line Leader
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Podcast
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Meet the Teacher
Grades K-8
School
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Certificate of Achievement
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Snowball Fights (& Popsicles!)
Grades K-8
Class/House
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Free Dress
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free

All Event Ideas for Schools

💰
🎨
Karaoke Night
💰
🎨
STEM Field Day
💰
🎨
Fake The Funk
💰
🎨
Glow Party
💰
🎨
Meme Party
💰
🎨
Decades Party
💰
🎨
Meet the Teacher
💰
🎨
Camp Read Away
💰
🎨
The A-List
💰
🎨
Silent Disco
💰
🎨
Movie Night
💰
🎨
Blood Drive

All Free Reward Ideas for Schools

🎉
👑
🎁
Special Screening
🎉
👑
🎁
Extra Reading Time
🎉
👑
🎁
Tutor
🎉
👑
🎁
Virtual Field Trip
🎉
👑
🎁
Blood Drive
🎉
👑
🎁
House Induction
🎉
👑
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Seating Choice
🎉
👑
🎁
Play Games
🎉
👑
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Homework Pass
🎉
👑
🎁
Brain Break

All Reward Ideas for High School Students

🎉
👑
🎁
Positive Note or Call Home
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Bonfire
Grades 9-12
Class/House
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Glow Party
Grades 6-12
School
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Game-Based Simulation Learning
Grades 9-12
Class/House
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Class Pet
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Lunch Reservations
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Extra Computer Games
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Loudspeaker Shoutout
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Design the Bulletin Board
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Fake The Funk
Grades 9-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Create the Seating Chart
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Silent Disco
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Homework Pass
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Lost & Found Fashion Show
Grades 9-12
School
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Host a Virtual Party. 🎶
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Meme Party
Grades 6-12
School
Event
Free

All Reward Ideas for Middle School Students

🎉
👑
🎁
Emcee the Announcements
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Extra Computer Games
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Old School Cookout
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Classroom DJ
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Hat Pass
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Art Contest
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Passing Period Music
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Teacher Q&A
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Ice Cream Sundae Party
Grades K-12
Class/House
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Lunch with an Admin
Grades K-8
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Holiday Delivery
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Be a Comedian.
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Drop Lowest Quiz
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Trunk or Treat
Grades K-8
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Vote
Grades 6-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Books
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY

All Student Reward & Incentive Ideas

💰
🎨
Talk Time
Grades 6-8
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Books
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
School Spirit Day
Grades K-12
School
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Digital Escape Rooms
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Privilege
Deluxe
💰
🎨
School Assembly
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Snacks
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Game of Thrones
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Stuffed Animal in Class
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Extra Reading Time
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Class Book
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Uber by a Principal
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Early Lunch Dismissal
Grades 9-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Donate $1
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
School Supplies & Merch
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
💰
🎨
Passing Period Music
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Sweatshirt
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe

All Virtual Reward Ideas for Schools

🎉
👑
🎁
Certificate of Achievement
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Podcast
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Teacher Q&A
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Virtual Field Trip
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Student Spotlight Board
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Morning Meeting Leader
Grades 3-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Classroom DJ
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Donate $1
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Digital Escape Rooms
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Privilege
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Social Media Reporter
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Brain Break
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Show & Tell
Grades K-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Stickers
Grades K-5
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Extra Computer Games
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Virtual Talent Show. 🎤
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Host a Virtual Party. 🎶
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Free
See all Rewards

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