Read through this list for reward ideas that will motivate your students.
Academic Activities
- Go to the library to select a book
- Help a classmate with an academic assignment
- Help the teacher to present a lesson (e.g., by completing sample math problem on blackboard, reading a section of text aloud, assisting cooperative learning groups on an activity)
- Invite an adult "reading buddy" of student's choice to classroom to read with student
- Listen to books-on-tape
- Play academic computer games
- Read a book of his/her choice
- Read a story aloud to younger children
- Read aloud to the class
- Select a class learning activity from a list of choices
- Select a friend as a "study buddy" on an in-class work assignment
- Select friends to sit with to complete a cooperative learning activity
- Spend time (with appropriate supervision) on the Internet at academic sites
Helping Roles
- 'Adopt' a younger student and earn (through good behavior) daily visits to check in with that student as an older mentor
- Be appointed timekeeper for an activity: announce a 5-minute warning near end of activity and announce when activity is over
- Be given responsibility for assigning other students in the class to helping roles, chores, or tasks
- Complete chores or helpful activities around the classroom
- Deliver school-wide announcements
- Help the custodian
- Help the library media specialist
- Help a specials teacher (e.g., art, music, gym)
- Take a note to the main office
- Work at the school store
Praise/Recognition
- Be awarded a trophy, medal, or other honor for good behavior/caring attitude
- Be praised on school-wide announcements for good behavior or caring attitude
- Be praised privately by the teacher or other adult
- Design--or post work on--a class or hall bulletin board
- Get a silent "thumbs up" or other sign from teacher indicating praise and approval
- Have the teacher call the student's parent/guardian to give positive feedback about the student
- Have the teacher write a positive note to the student's parent/guardian
- Post drawings or other artwork in a public place
- Post writings in a public place
- Receive a "good job" note from the teacher
Prizes/Privileges/Rewards
- Allow student to call parent(s)
- Be allowed to sit, stand, or lie down anywhere in the classroom (short of distracting other children) during story time or independent seat work
- Be dismissed from school 2 minutes early
- Be given a 'raffle ticket' that the student writes name on and throws into a fishbowl for prize drawings
- Be permitted to sit in a reserved section of the lunchroom
- Be sent to recess 2 minutes earlier than the rest of the class
- Draw a prize from the class 'prize box'
- Earn behavior-points or -tokens to be redeemed for prizes or privileges
- Have first choice in selecting work materials (e.g., scissors, crayons, paper) and/or seating assignments
- Have lunch in the classroom with the teacher
- IOU redeemable for credit on one wrong item on a future in-class quiz or homework assignment
- Receive a coupon to be redeemed at a later time for a preferred activity
- Receive a sticker
- Receive candy, gum, or other edible treats
- Receive pass to "Get out of one homework assignment of your choice"
- Select a class fun activity from a list of choices
- Select the pizza toppings for a class pizza party
- Sit near the teacher
- Take the lead position in line
- Tell a joke or riddle to the class
Recreation
- Be selected by the teacher to accompany another student to a fun activity
- Get extra gym time with another class
- Get extra recess time with another class
- Listen to music
- Play a game with a friend
- Play non-academic computer games
- Select fun activity from "Activity Shelf" (stocked with play materials, games)
- Spend time (with appropriate supervision) on the Internet at recreational sites
- Watch part or all of a video (preselected by the teacher and cleared with the student's parent)
- Work on a jigsaw or other puzzle
- Write or draw on blackboard/whiteboard/easel paper