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In this article, we will share some of the most common ways the LiveSchool Community has found success with running their school store.

What is a School Store? 

First and foremost, let’s get on the same page with what we mean when we say “school store.” 

In LiveSchool, students are able to earn points based on criteria that the school customizes. Any time a student receives a point from a staff member, the point is automatically deposited into the student’s bank account.

The student’s current bank account can be seen by clicking into the “Rewards” section in LiveSchool and looking at the blue bubble on the student’s button.

school store example

Note: this is different from the green bubble in “Points”.

The school is able to set up a rewards menu in LiveSchool where you can determine the items or privileges that students can then redeem with their points. In order to ensure that every student in your school has the opportunity to redeem rewards consistently, many schools choose to create a school reward store that students can shop from weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly.

Typically, we see store menus with a wide range of options from small trinkets to big opportunities like tickets to a sporting event or even being the Principal for the Day! Check out our Rewards that Rock database for 100+ ideas on what to include in your school store!

school store example

Common Ways to Run a School Store

When running a store, schools need to take into account their specific schedules, physical space, and enrollment numbers. Because these things tend to vary vastly, we see schools take different approaches to run their store.

Here are some of the most common ways our schools are finding success with running their store including the pros and cons that come with each. 

Note: some of these ideas can be used together!

Using a Cart

Schools will organize all of their tangible rewards onto a cart with wheels and take it class-to-class on a specific day and time. The people in charge of the cart will have a laptop, tablet, or phone to enter the rewards into LiveSchool and the student will receive their reward right then.

Pros:

Cons:

school store example

Using a Closet or Small Office

Similarly to the cart, schools will organize their rewards in an empty closet or room where students can come and shop. The people manning the store have a device to put the reward into LiveSchool once students make their decisions. Schools have set times when the store is open and ensure that they have workers to man it.

Pros:

Cons:

school store example

Student-Run Store

It’s becoming more and more common for us to hear that our schools are finding success with a student-run store. In these cases, the school has created a team of students that are in charge of the day-to-day operations of the store. There are a few ways to create this team - some schools do it like student council where students from each class are elected, while others have students complete a job application and interview process.

A school store can be a major undertaking. That’s why many schools are looking at ways to incorporate leadership opportunities in the form of a student-run rewards store.

Pros:

Cons:

We recommend checking out our webinar with Elizabeth Holt, Teacher at Von Tobel Middle, where she breaks down how she set up their student-run rewards store. Click here to view!

Using Google Forms and Calendar to Organize your School Store

Rather than have students line up and physically tell a store worker what they want, many schools have opted to go digital with online order forms. You can create a google form where the students enter their name, homeroom, and point balance, and then choose the rewards that they want to redeem. This form submission goes to the store leader who can create a process for how the reward will get put into LiveSchool and delivered to the student. 

Click here for an order form template!

An additional idea that we heard from Jason Haniger during an episode of our podcast, The Flywheel Effect, is to use Google Calendar to schedule the reward if it is a privilege. 

Here’s how: You create a calendar invite with the students who have redeemed the reward and staff member who is in charge. They will then be able to check their accounts to see when it’s happening.

Pros:

Cons:

Times to Run Your Store

How consistently students have access to the rewards can be a big factor to student buy-in.You want to make sure it’s often enough so that students have the opportunity to use their points and correlate that to the positive behaviors they’ve been exhibiting.

On the flip side, you need your store to be sustainable too. So, decide how often you can reliably open the store and ensure that it’s a positive experience for your students. If that’s just once a month, then start there. You can always increase the times as the year goes on.

Here are the most common times our schools run their stores:

As mentioned before, any of these ideas can be used together! Hear how Callie Daugherty at Wirt High School has set up their store this year and the success they’ve had:

@whyliveschool How do you run an effective reward system with high school students? You let them run it! Student led and managed rewards are super easy to facilitate and are more likely to be effective as the kids know what will motivate their peers and what won’t! #rewards #student #highschool #teachersoftiktok #principalsoftiktok #highschoolprincipal ♬ original sound - whyliveschool

Whether you’re new to running a school store or your school has been running one for a while now, hopefully these tips will help improve the experience for all involved. Need more information on building your own student rewards store? Check out episode 35 of our podcast. And if you’re looking for a reward system that’s focused on incentives rather than a store, check out our Point Goal Rewards!

school store example

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.
There are endless possibilities when it comes to how you can run a school store. But what we’ve learned from our customers is that in order for it to be successful… it needs to be efficient, student-focused, and sustainable.

In this article, we will share some of the most common ways the LiveSchool Community has found success with running their school store.

What is a School Store? 

First and foremost, let’s get on the same page with what we mean when we say “school store.” 

In LiveSchool, students are able to earn points based on criteria that the school customizes. Any time a student receives a point from a staff member, the point is automatically deposited into the student’s bank account.

The student’s current bank account can be seen by clicking into the “Rewards” section in LiveSchool and looking at the blue bubble on the student’s button.

school store example

Note: this is different from the green bubble in “Points”.

The school is able to set up a rewards menu in LiveSchool where you can determine the items or privileges that students can then redeem with their points. In order to ensure that every student in your school has the opportunity to redeem rewards consistently, many schools choose to create a school reward store that students can shop from weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly.

Typically, we see store menus with a wide range of options from small trinkets to big opportunities like tickets to a sporting event or even being the Principal for the Day! Check out our Rewards that Rock database for 100+ ideas on what to include in your school store!

school store example

Common Ways to Run a School Store

When running a store, schools need to take into account their specific schedules, physical space, and enrollment numbers. Because these things tend to vary vastly, we see schools take different approaches to run their store.

Here are some of the most common ways our schools are finding success with running their store including the pros and cons that come with each. 

Note: some of these ideas can be used together!

Using a Cart

Schools will organize all of their tangible rewards onto a cart with wheels and take it class-to-class on a specific day and time. The people in charge of the cart will have a laptop, tablet, or phone to enter the rewards into LiveSchool and the student will receive their reward right then.

Pros:

  • It’s compact and easily shows inventory. If you are out of an item, the student will see right away that it’s no longer available.
  • You’re only working with a class at a time so there isn’t a super long line of students waiting to order.
  • You can organize the cart generically in case you don’t always have the same items available. For example, you can make a 2-point prize section, 5-point prize, etc. This comes in handy when a school utilizes one-time donations. 
  • Many schools have delegated their store cart to PTO who stock and have parent volunteers take it from class-to-class.

Cons:

  • It can be time consuming for the people in charge since they are having to spend the majority of their day going from class-to-class (depending on how big your school is and if you don’t have parent volunteers doing it).
  • If not all of your rewards are tangible items, you will need to include a way for students to know what privileges they can redeem with their points as well. For example, have a poster that lists the privileges and cost somewhere on the cart.
school store example

Using a Closet or Small Office

Similarly to the cart, schools will organize their rewards in an empty closet or room where students can come and shop. The people manning the store have a device to put the reward into LiveSchool once students make their decisions. Schools have set times when the store is open and ensure that they have workers to man it.

Pros:

  • All of the rewards are housed in one location and they can easily manage inventory.
  • Students receive their reward right away.
  • A set schedule of open hours allows you to limit the time spent in the store

Cons:

  • Depending on when it’s open, you could have a long line of students waiting to shop.
  • If only one adult is running it, it could be unsustainable.
school store example

Student-Run Store

It’s becoming more and more common for us to hear that our schools are finding success with a student-run store. In these cases, the school has created a team of students that are in charge of the day-to-day operations of the store. There are a few ways to create this team - some schools do it like student council where students from each class are elected, while others have students complete a job application and interview process.

A school store can be a major undertaking. That’s why many schools are looking at ways to incorporate leadership opportunities in the form of a student-run rewards store.

Pros:

  • Students have ownership over the process and increased buy-in on the overall reward system.
  • The store becomes more sustainable because the amount of work is distributed across more people.

Cons:

  • Lots of systems need to be in place in order to ensure all jobs are being handled and students know what to do.
  • Inventory may be tricky depending on how you have students redeeming their reward.

We recommend checking out our webinar with Elizabeth Holt, Teacher at Von Tobel Middle, where she breaks down how she set up their student-run rewards store. Click here to view!

Using Google Forms and Calendar to Organize your School Store

Rather than have students line up and physically tell a store worker what they want, many schools have opted to go digital with online order forms. You can create a google form where the students enter their name, homeroom, and point balance, and then choose the rewards that they want to redeem. This form submission goes to the store leader who can create a process for how the reward will get put into LiveSchool and delivered to the student. 

Click here for an order form template!

An additional idea that we heard from Jason Haniger during an episode of our podcast, The Flywheel Effect, is to use Google Calendar to schedule the reward if it is a privilege. 

Here’s how: You create a calendar invite with the students who have redeemed the reward and staff member who is in charge. They will then be able to check their accounts to see when it’s happening.

Pros:

  • Students don’t have to wait in line - they can submit the order on their own time
  • You can have students fulfill the orders as well as deliver them

Cons:

  • If it’s a tangible item, won’t know until after students have ordered if you have enough inventory. One way to handle this is to have students choose a second option in the event their first choice is no longer available.

Times to Run Your Store

How consistently students have access to the rewards can be a big factor to student buy-in.You want to make sure it’s often enough so that students have the opportunity to use their points and correlate that to the positive behaviors they’ve been exhibiting.

On the flip side, you need your store to be sustainable too. So, decide how often you can reliably open the store and ensure that it’s a positive experience for your students. If that’s just once a month, then start there. You can always increase the times as the year goes on.

Here are the most common times our schools run their stores:

  • During homeroom/advisory/enrichment period
  • During lunch
  • Before or after school

As mentioned before, any of these ideas can be used together! Hear how Callie Daugherty at Wirt High School has set up their store this year and the success they’ve had:

@whyliveschool How do you run an effective reward system with high school students? You let them run it! Student led and managed rewards are super easy to facilitate and are more likely to be effective as the kids know what will motivate their peers and what won’t! #rewards #student #highschool #teachersoftiktok #principalsoftiktok #highschoolprincipal ♬ original sound - whyliveschool

Whether you’re new to running a school store or your school has been running one for a while now, hopefully these tips will help improve the experience for all involved. Need more information on building your own student rewards store? Check out episode 35 of our podcast. And if you’re looking for a reward system that’s focused on incentives rather than a store, check out our Point Goal Rewards!

school store example

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.

In this article, we will share some of the most common ways the LiveSchool Community has found success with running their school store.

What is a School Store? 

First and foremost, let’s get on the same page with what we mean when we say “school store.” 

In LiveSchool, students are able to earn points based on criteria that the school customizes. Any time a student receives a point from a staff member, the point is automatically deposited into the student’s bank account.

The student’s current bank account can be seen by clicking into the “Rewards” section in LiveSchool and looking at the blue bubble on the student’s button.

school store example

Note: this is different from the green bubble in “Points”.

The school is able to set up a rewards menu in LiveSchool where you can determine the items or privileges that students can then redeem with their points. In order to ensure that every student in your school has the opportunity to redeem rewards consistently, many schools choose to create a school reward store that students can shop from weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly.

Typically, we see store menus with a wide range of options from small trinkets to big opportunities like tickets to a sporting event or even being the Principal for the Day! Check out our Rewards that Rock database for 100+ ideas on what to include in your school store!

school store example

Common Ways to Run a School Store

When running a store, schools need to take into account their specific schedules, physical space, and enrollment numbers. Because these things tend to vary vastly, we see schools take different approaches to run their store.

Here are some of the most common ways our schools are finding success with running their store including the pros and cons that come with each. 

Note: some of these ideas can be used together!

Using a Cart

Schools will organize all of their tangible rewards onto a cart with wheels and take it class-to-class on a specific day and time. The people in charge of the cart will have a laptop, tablet, or phone to enter the rewards into LiveSchool and the student will receive their reward right then.

Pros:

  • It’s compact and easily shows inventory. If you are out of an item, the student will see right away that it’s no longer available.
  • You’re only working with a class at a time so there isn’t a super long line of students waiting to order.
  • You can organize the cart generically in case you don’t always have the same items available. For example, you can make a 2-point prize section, 5-point prize, etc. This comes in handy when a school utilizes one-time donations. 
  • Many schools have delegated their store cart to PTO who stock and have parent volunteers take it from class-to-class.

Cons:

  • It can be time consuming for the people in charge since they are having to spend the majority of their day going from class-to-class (depending on how big your school is and if you don’t have parent volunteers doing it).
  • If not all of your rewards are tangible items, you will need to include a way for students to know what privileges they can redeem with their points as well. For example, have a poster that lists the privileges and cost somewhere on the cart.
school store example

Using a Closet or Small Office

Similarly to the cart, schools will organize their rewards in an empty closet or room where students can come and shop. The people manning the store have a device to put the reward into LiveSchool once students make their decisions. Schools have set times when the store is open and ensure that they have workers to man it.

Pros:

  • All of the rewards are housed in one location and they can easily manage inventory.
  • Students receive their reward right away.
  • A set schedule of open hours allows you to limit the time spent in the store

Cons:

  • Depending on when it’s open, you could have a long line of students waiting to shop.
  • If only one adult is running it, it could be unsustainable.
school store example

Student-Run Store

It’s becoming more and more common for us to hear that our schools are finding success with a student-run store. In these cases, the school has created a team of students that are in charge of the day-to-day operations of the store. There are a few ways to create this team - some schools do it like student council where students from each class are elected, while others have students complete a job application and interview process.

A school store can be a major undertaking. That’s why many schools are looking at ways to incorporate leadership opportunities in the form of a student-run rewards store.

Pros:

  • Students have ownership over the process and increased buy-in on the overall reward system.
  • The store becomes more sustainable because the amount of work is distributed across more people.

Cons:

  • Lots of systems need to be in place in order to ensure all jobs are being handled and students know what to do.
  • Inventory may be tricky depending on how you have students redeeming their reward.

We recommend checking out our webinar with Elizabeth Holt, Teacher at Von Tobel Middle, where she breaks down how she set up their student-run rewards store. Click here to view!

Using Google Forms and Calendar to Organize your School Store

Rather than have students line up and physically tell a store worker what they want, many schools have opted to go digital with online order forms. You can create a google form where the students enter their name, homeroom, and point balance, and then choose the rewards that they want to redeem. This form submission goes to the store leader who can create a process for how the reward will get put into LiveSchool and delivered to the student. 

Click here for an order form template!

An additional idea that we heard from Jason Haniger during an episode of our podcast, The Flywheel Effect, is to use Google Calendar to schedule the reward if it is a privilege. 

Here’s how: You create a calendar invite with the students who have redeemed the reward and staff member who is in charge. They will then be able to check their accounts to see when it’s happening.

Pros:

  • Students don’t have to wait in line - they can submit the order on their own time
  • You can have students fulfill the orders as well as deliver them

Cons:

  • If it’s a tangible item, won’t know until after students have ordered if you have enough inventory. One way to handle this is to have students choose a second option in the event their first choice is no longer available.

Times to Run Your Store

How consistently students have access to the rewards can be a big factor to student buy-in.You want to make sure it’s often enough so that students have the opportunity to use their points and correlate that to the positive behaviors they’ve been exhibiting.

On the flip side, you need your store to be sustainable too. So, decide how often you can reliably open the store and ensure that it’s a positive experience for your students. If that’s just once a month, then start there. You can always increase the times as the year goes on.

Here are the most common times our schools run their stores:

  • During homeroom/advisory/enrichment period
  • During lunch
  • Before or after school

As mentioned before, any of these ideas can be used together! Hear how Callie Daugherty at Wirt High School has set up their store this year and the success they’ve had:

@whyliveschool How do you run an effective reward system with high school students? You let them run it! Student led and managed rewards are super easy to facilitate and are more likely to be effective as the kids know what will motivate their peers and what won’t! #rewards #student #highschool #teachersoftiktok #principalsoftiktok #highschoolprincipal ♬ original sound - whyliveschool

Whether you’re new to running a school store or your school has been running one for a while now, hopefully these tips will help improve the experience for all involved. Need more information on building your own student rewards store? Check out episode 35 of our podcast. And if you’re looking for a reward system that’s focused on incentives rather than a store, check out our Point Goal Rewards!

school store example

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.

About the Presenter

Hannah works with the LiveSchool team as our Product Marketing Manager. She works diligently to help teachers and administrators improve school culture and student behavior.

She understands firsthand the challenges that LiveSchool addresses because she worked for seven years as a teacher in Metro Nashville Public Schools before joining the team full-time.

In addition to supporting educators achieve their culture vision, Hannah also enjoys rooting on the Cubs, playing tennis, trivia, and traveling!

About the Event

In this article, we will share some of the most common ways the LiveSchool Community has found success with running their school store.

What is a School Store? 

First and foremost, let’s get on the same page with what we mean when we say “school store.” 

In LiveSchool, students are able to earn points based on criteria that the school customizes. Any time a student receives a point from a staff member, the point is automatically deposited into the student’s bank account.

The student’s current bank account can be seen by clicking into the “Rewards” section in LiveSchool and looking at the blue bubble on the student’s button.

school store example

Note: this is different from the green bubble in “Points”.

The school is able to set up a rewards menu in LiveSchool where you can determine the items or privileges that students can then redeem with their points. In order to ensure that every student in your school has the opportunity to redeem rewards consistently, many schools choose to create a school reward store that students can shop from weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly.

Typically, we see store menus with a wide range of options from small trinkets to big opportunities like tickets to a sporting event or even being the Principal for the Day! Check out our Rewards that Rock database for 100+ ideas on what to include in your school store!

school store example

Common Ways to Run a School Store

When running a store, schools need to take into account their specific schedules, physical space, and enrollment numbers. Because these things tend to vary vastly, we see schools take different approaches to run their store.

Here are some of the most common ways our schools are finding success with running their store including the pros and cons that come with each. 

Note: some of these ideas can be used together!

Using a Cart

Schools will organize all of their tangible rewards onto a cart with wheels and take it class-to-class on a specific day and time. The people in charge of the cart will have a laptop, tablet, or phone to enter the rewards into LiveSchool and the student will receive their reward right then.

Pros:

  • It’s compact and easily shows inventory. If you are out of an item, the student will see right away that it’s no longer available.
  • You’re only working with a class at a time so there isn’t a super long line of students waiting to order.
  • You can organize the cart generically in case you don’t always have the same items available. For example, you can make a 2-point prize section, 5-point prize, etc. This comes in handy when a school utilizes one-time donations. 
  • Many schools have delegated their store cart to PTO who stock and have parent volunteers take it from class-to-class.

Cons:

  • It can be time consuming for the people in charge since they are having to spend the majority of their day going from class-to-class (depending on how big your school is and if you don’t have parent volunteers doing it).
  • If not all of your rewards are tangible items, you will need to include a way for students to know what privileges they can redeem with their points as well. For example, have a poster that lists the privileges and cost somewhere on the cart.
school store example

Using a Closet or Small Office

Similarly to the cart, schools will organize their rewards in an empty closet or room where students can come and shop. The people manning the store have a device to put the reward into LiveSchool once students make their decisions. Schools have set times when the store is open and ensure that they have workers to man it.

Pros:

  • All of the rewards are housed in one location and they can easily manage inventory.
  • Students receive their reward right away.
  • A set schedule of open hours allows you to limit the time spent in the store

Cons:

  • Depending on when it’s open, you could have a long line of students waiting to shop.
  • If only one adult is running it, it could be unsustainable.
school store example

Student-Run Store

It’s becoming more and more common for us to hear that our schools are finding success with a student-run store. In these cases, the school has created a team of students that are in charge of the day-to-day operations of the store. There are a few ways to create this team - some schools do it like student council where students from each class are elected, while others have students complete a job application and interview process.

A school store can be a major undertaking. That’s why many schools are looking at ways to incorporate leadership opportunities in the form of a student-run rewards store.

Pros:

  • Students have ownership over the process and increased buy-in on the overall reward system.
  • The store becomes more sustainable because the amount of work is distributed across more people.

Cons:

  • Lots of systems need to be in place in order to ensure all jobs are being handled and students know what to do.
  • Inventory may be tricky depending on how you have students redeeming their reward.

We recommend checking out our webinar with Elizabeth Holt, Teacher at Von Tobel Middle, where she breaks down how she set up their student-run rewards store. Click here to view!

Using Google Forms and Calendar to Organize your School Store

Rather than have students line up and physically tell a store worker what they want, many schools have opted to go digital with online order forms. You can create a google form where the students enter their name, homeroom, and point balance, and then choose the rewards that they want to redeem. This form submission goes to the store leader who can create a process for how the reward will get put into LiveSchool and delivered to the student. 

Click here for an order form template!

An additional idea that we heard from Jason Haniger during an episode of our podcast, The Flywheel Effect, is to use Google Calendar to schedule the reward if it is a privilege. 

Here’s how: You create a calendar invite with the students who have redeemed the reward and staff member who is in charge. They will then be able to check their accounts to see when it’s happening.

Pros:

  • Students don’t have to wait in line - they can submit the order on their own time
  • You can have students fulfill the orders as well as deliver them

Cons:

  • If it’s a tangible item, won’t know until after students have ordered if you have enough inventory. One way to handle this is to have students choose a second option in the event their first choice is no longer available.

Times to Run Your Store

How consistently students have access to the rewards can be a big factor to student buy-in.You want to make sure it’s often enough so that students have the opportunity to use their points and correlate that to the positive behaviors they’ve been exhibiting.

On the flip side, you need your store to be sustainable too. So, decide how often you can reliably open the store and ensure that it’s a positive experience for your students. If that’s just once a month, then start there. You can always increase the times as the year goes on.

Here are the most common times our schools run their stores:

  • During homeroom/advisory/enrichment period
  • During lunch
  • Before or after school

As mentioned before, any of these ideas can be used together! Hear how Callie Daugherty at Wirt High School has set up their store this year and the success they’ve had:

@whyliveschool How do you run an effective reward system with high school students? You let them run it! Student led and managed rewards are super easy to facilitate and are more likely to be effective as the kids know what will motivate their peers and what won’t! #rewards #student #highschool #teachersoftiktok #principalsoftiktok #highschoolprincipal ♬ original sound - whyliveschool

Whether you’re new to running a school store or your school has been running one for a while now, hopefully these tips will help improve the experience for all involved. Need more information on building your own student rewards store? Check out episode 35 of our podcast. And if you’re looking for a reward system that’s focused on incentives rather than a store, check out our Point Goal Rewards!

school store example

Register Now

About the Event

In this article, we will share some of the most common ways the LiveSchool Community has found success with running their school store.

What is a School Store? 

First and foremost, let’s get on the same page with what we mean when we say “school store.” 

In LiveSchool, students are able to earn points based on criteria that the school customizes. Any time a student receives a point from a staff member, the point is automatically deposited into the student’s bank account.

The student’s current bank account can be seen by clicking into the “Rewards” section in LiveSchool and looking at the blue bubble on the student’s button.

school store example

Note: this is different from the green bubble in “Points”.

The school is able to set up a rewards menu in LiveSchool where you can determine the items or privileges that students can then redeem with their points. In order to ensure that every student in your school has the opportunity to redeem rewards consistently, many schools choose to create a school reward store that students can shop from weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly.

Typically, we see store menus with a wide range of options from small trinkets to big opportunities like tickets to a sporting event or even being the Principal for the Day! Check out our Rewards that Rock database for 100+ ideas on what to include in your school store!

school store example

Common Ways to Run a School Store

When running a store, schools need to take into account their specific schedules, physical space, and enrollment numbers. Because these things tend to vary vastly, we see schools take different approaches to run their store.

Here are some of the most common ways our schools are finding success with running their store including the pros and cons that come with each. 

Note: some of these ideas can be used together!

Using a Cart

Schools will organize all of their tangible rewards onto a cart with wheels and take it class-to-class on a specific day and time. The people in charge of the cart will have a laptop, tablet, or phone to enter the rewards into LiveSchool and the student will receive their reward right then.

Pros:

  • It’s compact and easily shows inventory. If you are out of an item, the student will see right away that it’s no longer available.
  • You’re only working with a class at a time so there isn’t a super long line of students waiting to order.
  • You can organize the cart generically in case you don’t always have the same items available. For example, you can make a 2-point prize section, 5-point prize, etc. This comes in handy when a school utilizes one-time donations. 
  • Many schools have delegated their store cart to PTO who stock and have parent volunteers take it from class-to-class.

Cons:

  • It can be time consuming for the people in charge since they are having to spend the majority of their day going from class-to-class (depending on how big your school is and if you don’t have parent volunteers doing it).
  • If not all of your rewards are tangible items, you will need to include a way for students to know what privileges they can redeem with their points as well. For example, have a poster that lists the privileges and cost somewhere on the cart.
school store example

Using a Closet or Small Office

Similarly to the cart, schools will organize their rewards in an empty closet or room where students can come and shop. The people manning the store have a device to put the reward into LiveSchool once students make their decisions. Schools have set times when the store is open and ensure that they have workers to man it.

Pros:

  • All of the rewards are housed in one location and they can easily manage inventory.
  • Students receive their reward right away.
  • A set schedule of open hours allows you to limit the time spent in the store

Cons:

  • Depending on when it’s open, you could have a long line of students waiting to shop.
  • If only one adult is running it, it could be unsustainable.
school store example

Student-Run Store

It’s becoming more and more common for us to hear that our schools are finding success with a student-run store. In these cases, the school has created a team of students that are in charge of the day-to-day operations of the store. There are a few ways to create this team - some schools do it like student council where students from each class are elected, while others have students complete a job application and interview process.

A school store can be a major undertaking. That’s why many schools are looking at ways to incorporate leadership opportunities in the form of a student-run rewards store.

Pros:

  • Students have ownership over the process and increased buy-in on the overall reward system.
  • The store becomes more sustainable because the amount of work is distributed across more people.

Cons:

  • Lots of systems need to be in place in order to ensure all jobs are being handled and students know what to do.
  • Inventory may be tricky depending on how you have students redeeming their reward.

We recommend checking out our webinar with Elizabeth Holt, Teacher at Von Tobel Middle, where she breaks down how she set up their student-run rewards store. Click here to view!

Using Google Forms and Calendar to Organize your School Store

Rather than have students line up and physically tell a store worker what they want, many schools have opted to go digital with online order forms. You can create a google form where the students enter their name, homeroom, and point balance, and then choose the rewards that they want to redeem. This form submission goes to the store leader who can create a process for how the reward will get put into LiveSchool and delivered to the student. 

Click here for an order form template!

An additional idea that we heard from Jason Haniger during an episode of our podcast, The Flywheel Effect, is to use Google Calendar to schedule the reward if it is a privilege. 

Here’s how: You create a calendar invite with the students who have redeemed the reward and staff member who is in charge. They will then be able to check their accounts to see when it’s happening.

Pros:

  • Students don’t have to wait in line - they can submit the order on their own time
  • You can have students fulfill the orders as well as deliver them

Cons:

  • If it’s a tangible item, won’t know until after students have ordered if you have enough inventory. One way to handle this is to have students choose a second option in the event their first choice is no longer available.

Times to Run Your Store

How consistently students have access to the rewards can be a big factor to student buy-in.You want to make sure it’s often enough so that students have the opportunity to use their points and correlate that to the positive behaviors they’ve been exhibiting.

On the flip side, you need your store to be sustainable too. So, decide how often you can reliably open the store and ensure that it’s a positive experience for your students. If that’s just once a month, then start there. You can always increase the times as the year goes on.

Here are the most common times our schools run their stores:

  • During homeroom/advisory/enrichment period
  • During lunch
  • Before or after school

As mentioned before, any of these ideas can be used together! Hear how Callie Daugherty at Wirt High School has set up their store this year and the success they’ve had:

@whyliveschool How do you run an effective reward system with high school students? You let them run it! Student led and managed rewards are super easy to facilitate and are more likely to be effective as the kids know what will motivate their peers and what won’t! #rewards #student #highschool #teachersoftiktok #principalsoftiktok #highschoolprincipal ♬ original sound - whyliveschool

Whether you’re new to running a school store or your school has been running one for a while now, hopefully these tips will help improve the experience for all involved. Need more information on building your own student rewards store? Check out episode 35 of our podcast. And if you’re looking for a reward system that’s focused on incentives rather than a store, check out our Point Goal Rewards!

school store example

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.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to how you can run a school store. But what we’ve learned from our customers is that in order for it to be successful… it needs to be efficient, student-focused, and sustainable.

In this article, we will share some of the most common ways the LiveSchool Community has found success with running their school store.

What is a School Store? 

First and foremost, let’s get on the same page with what we mean when we say “school store.” 

In LiveSchool, students are able to earn points based on criteria that the school customizes. Any time a student receives a point from a staff member, the point is automatically deposited into the student’s bank account.

The student’s current bank account can be seen by clicking into the “Rewards” section in LiveSchool and looking at the blue bubble on the student’s button.

school store example

Note: this is different from the green bubble in “Points”.

The school is able to set up a rewards menu in LiveSchool where you can determine the items or privileges that students can then redeem with their points. In order to ensure that every student in your school has the opportunity to redeem rewards consistently, many schools choose to create a school reward store that students can shop from weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly.

Typically, we see store menus with a wide range of options from small trinkets to big opportunities like tickets to a sporting event or even being the Principal for the Day! Check out our Rewards that Rock database for 100+ ideas on what to include in your school store!

school store example

Common Ways to Run a School Store

When running a store, schools need to take into account their specific schedules, physical space, and enrollment numbers. Because these things tend to vary vastly, we see schools take different approaches to run their store.

Here are some of the most common ways our schools are finding success with running their store including the pros and cons that come with each. 

Note: some of these ideas can be used together!

Using a Cart

Schools will organize all of their tangible rewards onto a cart with wheels and take it class-to-class on a specific day and time. The people in charge of the cart will have a laptop, tablet, or phone to enter the rewards into LiveSchool and the student will receive their reward right then.

Pros:

  • It’s compact and easily shows inventory. If you are out of an item, the student will see right away that it’s no longer available.
  • You’re only working with a class at a time so there isn’t a super long line of students waiting to order.
  • You can organize the cart generically in case you don’t always have the same items available. For example, you can make a 2-point prize section, 5-point prize, etc. This comes in handy when a school utilizes one-time donations. 
  • Many schools have delegated their store cart to PTO who stock and have parent volunteers take it from class-to-class.

Cons:

  • It can be time consuming for the people in charge since they are having to spend the majority of their day going from class-to-class (depending on how big your school is and if you don’t have parent volunteers doing it).
  • If not all of your rewards are tangible items, you will need to include a way for students to know what privileges they can redeem with their points as well. For example, have a poster that lists the privileges and cost somewhere on the cart.
school store example

Using a Closet or Small Office

Similarly to the cart, schools will organize their rewards in an empty closet or room where students can come and shop. The people manning the store have a device to put the reward into LiveSchool once students make their decisions. Schools have set times when the store is open and ensure that they have workers to man it.

Pros:

  • All of the rewards are housed in one location and they can easily manage inventory.
  • Students receive their reward right away.
  • A set schedule of open hours allows you to limit the time spent in the store

Cons:

  • Depending on when it’s open, you could have a long line of students waiting to shop.
  • If only one adult is running it, it could be unsustainable.
school store example

Student-Run Store

It’s becoming more and more common for us to hear that our schools are finding success with a student-run store. In these cases, the school has created a team of students that are in charge of the day-to-day operations of the store. There are a few ways to create this team - some schools do it like student council where students from each class are elected, while others have students complete a job application and interview process.

A school store can be a major undertaking. That’s why many schools are looking at ways to incorporate leadership opportunities in the form of a student-run rewards store.

Pros:

  • Students have ownership over the process and increased buy-in on the overall reward system.
  • The store becomes more sustainable because the amount of work is distributed across more people.

Cons:

  • Lots of systems need to be in place in order to ensure all jobs are being handled and students know what to do.
  • Inventory may be tricky depending on how you have students redeeming their reward.

We recommend checking out our webinar with Elizabeth Holt, Teacher at Von Tobel Middle, where she breaks down how she set up their student-run rewards store. Click here to view!

Using Google Forms and Calendar to Organize your School Store

Rather than have students line up and physically tell a store worker what they want, many schools have opted to go digital with online order forms. You can create a google form where the students enter their name, homeroom, and point balance, and then choose the rewards that they want to redeem. This form submission goes to the store leader who can create a process for how the reward will get put into LiveSchool and delivered to the student. 

Click here for an order form template!

An additional idea that we heard from Jason Haniger during an episode of our podcast, The Flywheel Effect, is to use Google Calendar to schedule the reward if it is a privilege. 

Here’s how: You create a calendar invite with the students who have redeemed the reward and staff member who is in charge. They will then be able to check their accounts to see when it’s happening.

Pros:

  • Students don’t have to wait in line - they can submit the order on their own time
  • You can have students fulfill the orders as well as deliver them

Cons:

  • If it’s a tangible item, won’t know until after students have ordered if you have enough inventory. One way to handle this is to have students choose a second option in the event their first choice is no longer available.

Times to Run Your Store

How consistently students have access to the rewards can be a big factor to student buy-in.You want to make sure it’s often enough so that students have the opportunity to use their points and correlate that to the positive behaviors they’ve been exhibiting.

On the flip side, you need your store to be sustainable too. So, decide how often you can reliably open the store and ensure that it’s a positive experience for your students. If that’s just once a month, then start there. You can always increase the times as the year goes on.

Here are the most common times our schools run their stores:

  • During homeroom/advisory/enrichment period
  • During lunch
  • Before or after school

As mentioned before, any of these ideas can be used together! Hear how Callie Daugherty at Wirt High School has set up their store this year and the success they’ve had:

@whyliveschool How do you run an effective reward system with high school students? You let them run it! Student led and managed rewards are super easy to facilitate and are more likely to be effective as the kids know what will motivate their peers and what won’t! #rewards #student #highschool #teachersoftiktok #principalsoftiktok #highschoolprincipal ♬ original sound - whyliveschool

Whether you’re new to running a school store or your school has been running one for a while now, hopefully these tips will help improve the experience for all involved. Need more information on building your own student rewards store? Check out episode 35 of our podcast. And if you’re looking for a reward system that’s focused on incentives rather than a store, check out our Point Goal Rewards!

school store example

Learn more about the author, 
Hannah Kelly
 
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.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to how you can run a school store. But what we’ve learned from our customers is that in order for it to be successful… it needs to be efficient, student-focused, and sustainable.

In this article, we will share some of the most common ways the LiveSchool Community has found success with running their school store.

What is a School Store? 

First and foremost, let’s get on the same page with what we mean when we say “school store.” 

In LiveSchool, students are able to earn points based on criteria that the school customizes. Any time a student receives a point from a staff member, the point is automatically deposited into the student’s bank account.

The student’s current bank account can be seen by clicking into the “Rewards” section in LiveSchool and looking at the blue bubble on the student’s button.

school store example

Note: this is different from the green bubble in “Points”.

The school is able to set up a rewards menu in LiveSchool where you can determine the items or privileges that students can then redeem with their points. In order to ensure that every student in your school has the opportunity to redeem rewards consistently, many schools choose to create a school reward store that students can shop from weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly.

Typically, we see store menus with a wide range of options from small trinkets to big opportunities like tickets to a sporting event or even being the Principal for the Day! Check out our Rewards that Rock database for 100+ ideas on what to include in your school store!

school store example

Common Ways to Run a School Store

When running a store, schools need to take into account their specific schedules, physical space, and enrollment numbers. Because these things tend to vary vastly, we see schools take different approaches to run their store.

Here are some of the most common ways our schools are finding success with running their store including the pros and cons that come with each. 

Note: some of these ideas can be used together!

Using a Cart

Schools will organize all of their tangible rewards onto a cart with wheels and take it class-to-class on a specific day and time. The people in charge of the cart will have a laptop, tablet, or phone to enter the rewards into LiveSchool and the student will receive their reward right then.

Pros:

  • It’s compact and easily shows inventory. If you are out of an item, the student will see right away that it’s no longer available.
  • You’re only working with a class at a time so there isn’t a super long line of students waiting to order.
  • You can organize the cart generically in case you don’t always have the same items available. For example, you can make a 2-point prize section, 5-point prize, etc. This comes in handy when a school utilizes one-time donations. 
  • Many schools have delegated their store cart to PTO who stock and have parent volunteers take it from class-to-class.

Cons:

  • It can be time consuming for the people in charge since they are having to spend the majority of their day going from class-to-class (depending on how big your school is and if you don’t have parent volunteers doing it).
  • If not all of your rewards are tangible items, you will need to include a way for students to know what privileges they can redeem with their points as well. For example, have a poster that lists the privileges and cost somewhere on the cart.
school store example

Using a Closet or Small Office

Similarly to the cart, schools will organize their rewards in an empty closet or room where students can come and shop. The people manning the store have a device to put the reward into LiveSchool once students make their decisions. Schools have set times when the store is open and ensure that they have workers to man it.

Pros:

  • All of the rewards are housed in one location and they can easily manage inventory.
  • Students receive their reward right away.
  • A set schedule of open hours allows you to limit the time spent in the store

Cons:

  • Depending on when it’s open, you could have a long line of students waiting to shop.
  • If only one adult is running it, it could be unsustainable.
school store example

Student-Run Store

It’s becoming more and more common for us to hear that our schools are finding success with a student-run store. In these cases, the school has created a team of students that are in charge of the day-to-day operations of the store. There are a few ways to create this team - some schools do it like student council where students from each class are elected, while others have students complete a job application and interview process.

A school store can be a major undertaking. That’s why many schools are looking at ways to incorporate leadership opportunities in the form of a student-run rewards store.

Pros:

  • Students have ownership over the process and increased buy-in on the overall reward system.
  • The store becomes more sustainable because the amount of work is distributed across more people.

Cons:

  • Lots of systems need to be in place in order to ensure all jobs are being handled and students know what to do.
  • Inventory may be tricky depending on how you have students redeeming their reward.

We recommend checking out our webinar with Elizabeth Holt, Teacher at Von Tobel Middle, where she breaks down how she set up their student-run rewards store. Click here to view!

Using Google Forms and Calendar to Organize your School Store

Rather than have students line up and physically tell a store worker what they want, many schools have opted to go digital with online order forms. You can create a google form where the students enter their name, homeroom, and point balance, and then choose the rewards that they want to redeem. This form submission goes to the store leader who can create a process for how the reward will get put into LiveSchool and delivered to the student. 

Click here for an order form template!

An additional idea that we heard from Jason Haniger during an episode of our podcast, The Flywheel Effect, is to use Google Calendar to schedule the reward if it is a privilege. 

Here’s how: You create a calendar invite with the students who have redeemed the reward and staff member who is in charge. They will then be able to check their accounts to see when it’s happening.

Pros:

  • Students don’t have to wait in line - they can submit the order on their own time
  • You can have students fulfill the orders as well as deliver them

Cons:

  • If it’s a tangible item, won’t know until after students have ordered if you have enough inventory. One way to handle this is to have students choose a second option in the event their first choice is no longer available.

Times to Run Your Store

How consistently students have access to the rewards can be a big factor to student buy-in.You want to make sure it’s often enough so that students have the opportunity to use their points and correlate that to the positive behaviors they’ve been exhibiting.

On the flip side, you need your store to be sustainable too. So, decide how often you can reliably open the store and ensure that it’s a positive experience for your students. If that’s just once a month, then start there. You can always increase the times as the year goes on.

Here are the most common times our schools run their stores:

  • During homeroom/advisory/enrichment period
  • During lunch
  • Before or after school

As mentioned before, any of these ideas can be used together! Hear how Callie Daugherty at Wirt High School has set up their store this year and the success they’ve had:

@whyliveschool How do you run an effective reward system with high school students? You let them run it! Student led and managed rewards are super easy to facilitate and are more likely to be effective as the kids know what will motivate their peers and what won’t! #rewards #student #highschool #teachersoftiktok #principalsoftiktok #highschoolprincipal ♬ original sound - whyliveschool

Whether you’re new to running a school store or your school has been running one for a while now, hopefully these tips will help improve the experience for all involved. Need more information on building your own student rewards store? Check out episode 35 of our podcast. And if you’re looking for a reward system that’s focused on incentives rather than a store, check out our Point Goal Rewards!

school store example

Learn more about the author, 
Hannah Kelly
 

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