How to Reward Your Class Almost for Free

Sadly, our students often hear they aren’t smart enough, they’re not special, they can’t… But, we have the opportunity to lift them up with encouragement.

It doesn’t take a lot to encourage our students. Praise is free, and rewards can be free or cheap too. It’s mostly about acknowledging the growth and accomplishments of each child, so they know we notice them and value their effort.

Developing a classroom environment that encourages & celebrates each child’s success is just as important as creating a rigorous one. There are so many ways to celebrate and reward both individual kids and whole classrooms. Classroom rewards don’t even have to cost teachers a penny. Here are 60 ideas for fun free and cheap classroom rewards including simple no-cost ideas and non-food choices. From award certificates to candy there are ideas to fit any classroom system. #classroomrewards #awards

Early in my career, I realized just how much some of our students need us to acknowledge them.

My new student was counting up each addition problem from across the room. I could hear her across the room. She was eager, bright-eyed, and bouncing around her chair as if it were a trampoline.

She had just transferred in from another district. Her file arrived along with her.

Reading the file, my eyes widened. My heart broke. And, my cheeks reddened with anger as I read the one solitary line under student strengths.

“There are none.”

N-O-T possible!

EVERY child is special. Each child is unique. Every single child has some wonderful quality worth celebrating.

It’s our job as teachers to help children discover and develop the strengths they don’t even know they have.

Developing a classroom environment that encourages and celebrates each child’s successes is just as important, if not more important, than creating a rigorous one. Rewards and praise are ways to do that.

There are so many easy ways to celebrate our students and our classrooms. Classroom rewards can be free or cheap.

You’ve probably already thought of the classic teacher go-to rewards: a homework pass, extra recess, or an extra cool sticker. But, to keep things fresh, we need to branch out. Other rewards might include:

Be the teacher’s helper
Play a school-appropriate game online
Call home to brag about the child’s awesome job (This is best done in front of the child.)
Pick a joke to read to the class
Wear slippers to class
Blow bubbles at recess
Invite an adult to read to the class
Take a special good news note to the office
Use special work supplies (pens, markers, stickers, stamps, etc.)
Play a board game with a friend
Play a game on the iPad
Pick music to listen to during class
Listen to a book on CD
Help the media specialist
Chew gum or eat candy in class
Draw on the board
Invite a friend from another room for lunch
Draw or paint in class
Pick a book to read to a younger class
Help a special area teacher with a younger class
Get a homework pass
Bring a stuffed animal to class
Choose a brain break for the class
Pick a classroom job
Pick a friend to work with for an assignment
Take an extra awesome note home
Be the line leader or pick your spot in line
Bring something in for show and tell
Teach the class about a hobby or interest
Skip an assignment (or do only odd or even numbers)

Award certificates are another great way to recognize your students’ hard work.

Kids love them.
They’re easy.
Kids can show them off.
Parents notice them.

I like to give award certificates at the end of the semester, the year, or really any old time the kids do something awesome.

But, let’s be real. Buying packs of awards at the store adds up quickly, and thinking of enough awards to give everyone something that fits them and then creating the awards is time-consuming. #NoTimeforThat!

⭐ That’s why I created this pack of student awards. Print them on colored paper and add the names. That’s it. ⭐

Plus, with nearly 100 awards, there is something positive for everyone. #EveryChildIsSpecial

With nearly 100 different awards, you're sure to find the perfect award to reward each of your students for their unique gifts. These awards are ready to go. Simply pick the awards, print the certificates, and fill in the names and dates. Your classroom awards will be done in no time at all.

While we always want to encourage each individual student, it’s also important to have classroom-wide goals and reward teamwork.

Classroom rewards encourage team spirit and encourage students to support one another.

Whether you choose to use marbles in a jar, class points, or whatever goal-setting system, you’re going to need ideas for rewards or incentives. These are some of my favorite classroom reward ideas.

Dress-up day
Invite another class to eat in your room
Do a STEM activity
Have a show-and-tell day
Have a dance party
Do fun Friday activities
Take a night off of homework
Have a no-shoe day and wear slippers in class
Do a science experiment
Invite a guest speaker to come to class
Let everyone pick their seat for a day
Play board games
Have extra library time
Watch a movie
Play a review game
Have an extra brain break
Invite the principal to lunch
Wear hats all-day
Hold a classroom talent show
Have a popcorn or hot chocolate party
Have class outside
Play learning games online
Play minute to win it games
Have a crazy hair day
Break out some favorite center activities and have extra center time

However you recognize your student, please remember when it comes to celebrating our students’ positive qualities, “There are none” is not an option.

EVERY child is special. Every child is unique. And, EVERY SINGLE CHILD has some wonderful quality worth celebrating.

Get ALL of the reward ideas in an easy-to-print PDF, plus 3 editable awards here.