I am always asked, “What are some good incentives for students?” Great question! Then it’s often followed by, “and it has to be cheap!” That’s when my printable classroom reward coupons were born.
Classroom reward coupons can easily be added to ANY management system you have in place or replace what you are already using! Who doesn’t like that??? Here are a few ideas on how you can apply reward incentives in the classroom:
👍 Use a stop light system? Allow this to be your reward for all greens.
👍 Use Class-Dojo? Allow this to be a reward when they reach a certain amount of points.
👍 Want to use classroom coupons exclusively? Pass these out for good behavior, catch ya being good rewards, or table points!
This is EXACTLY why I LOVE these because they are so versatile! Say buh-bye treasure box days and spending money filling it! Using classroom coupons for good behavior has had the same benefits as spending all that money at the store.
Now we all know we need something EASY, that students can be in charge of at any grade level. As teachers, we have enough on our plates. I have a system that will allow the students to take charge with very little work from me as a teacher.
Keep reading to find out how I set-up and manage this easy-peasy system!
1. CLASSROOM REWARD COUPONS SET-UP
- I suggest printing on card stock and laminating for durability. This will help you use your reward coupons year after year. I have been using mine for 4 years now!
- I teach 2nd grade. 2nd graders all the way down to Kindergarteners are visual learners. Therefore, my set-up includes baseball sheets that students can SEE the actual coupon. Each section has multiple copies of the classroom reward coupons printables. They are then all placed in a 3-ring binder.
- For older students, you have more options. You may house them in a file card organizer or find a drawer holder to house all your tickets. You might even be able to just have them paper clipped together and have students just take one. Base it off of your needs, but the binder system I use would also work for you 🙂
- Place your classroom reward coupons in an easy accessible location. I also keep the old school Vis-a-vis pens in a pencil pouch inside the binder (more on why these specific pens later). I keep mine in my writing center because there is room there for my banker and purchaser.
- Students will also need a way to store their classroom reward coupons. Library card pockets, pencil pouches/boxes, late work bins and mailboxes are all options. Find what works for you! I use their pencil pouches that we use for Pencil Wars. Students are all about that pouch!
2. APPLYING YOUR REWARD INCENTIVES IN THE CLASSROOM
- Earned 3 tallies on a chart for the day- get a coupon
- Showed a growth mindset – get a coupon
- Get an A on a test – get a coupon
- And MANY more ways!!!!!
- Students earn Dojo points for anything from completing classwork to winning a game to manners.
- Students trade in those Dojo points for classroom money. This is where my change came from a standard token economy. The “shopping” from a prize box took FOREVER! Can you feel me??? Now my students take their money and cash them in for the classroom coupons. Each coupon costs $20 but this would adjust to how often you give points. This has saved SO MUCH TIME since students pretty much already know what coupon they want. You would be surprised that they are very much creatures of habit!
3. THEY EARNED THE CLASSROOM REWARD COUPONS, NOW WHAT?
Have you used classroom coupons in your classroom? How have they worked for you? What is your set-up like? Share your knowledge below!
Looking for other back to school essentials? Read about how to make pencils last all year here. Or important procedures and routines to have in place before the start of school.