When it comes to behavior management, I like to break it down into three different categories: whole group rewards, small group rewards, and individual rewards. With individual rewards, I don’t like to spend money on a bunch of candy or dollar store toys. I use student reward coupons.

Learn exactly how I introduce these in my first week of school plans. This is a free google docs where I have typed up everything I do the first week of school and you can tweak things to your needs. Get your free copy here. It also comes with my Back to School Checklist to help you save time and brain power this back to school season!

These are rewards that students earn from individual good behavior. I give each student a punch card.

When a student is on task or following expectations, I give them a punch on their punch card. When they fill up their punch card, they get to choose from one of the student reward coupons. Most of these are simple things students can do in the classroom, and students get so excited for them! Best part about them, they don’t cost the teacher much money at all!

Here are some student reward coupon ideas you can use in your classroom.

Student Reward Coupons

Choose Any Morning Tub: We use morning tubs as morning work in my classroom. I assign each group one each day. There is a rotation going. But if a student chooses this student reward coupon, they can pick any morning tub. This can also work if you have centers assigned in your classroom. These student reward coupons are editable, so make ones that fit your classroom. Find them here.

Go Noodle Chooser: My students love to shout out what GoNoodle they want me to choose for our brain break. But if students choose this student reward coupon, they can choose the Go Noodles for the day.

Sit on a Chair During Floor Time: Sometimes when students get to do something the rest of the class can’t, it makes them feel so special. So when students are at the carpet, have it be a reward to sit in a chair during this time.

Get a Treat: I swear eating a piece of candy at school is way cooler than eating a piece of candy at home for students. So have a simple treat as an option for individual student rewards.

Eat Lunch in the Classroom: Students love something different, and they love one-on-one time with their teacher. Let them eat lunch in the classroom with you. Maybe they can even bring a friend to join them.

Teacher Helper: Students love to help in the classroom. When I drop something, I have 5 kids rush up to grab it for me. When students choose Teacher Helper as a reward, let them turn on and off the lights for you, or run things down to the office. Wherever you need, let them do it!

Bring a Stuffed Animal to School: Let this student bring a stuffed animal to school. They can even keep it on their desk.

Get a Note from the Teacher: Write a special note to students. They will be so happy when they get to read about much their teacher appreciates and values them.

Draw on the Board: Usually I do not let students have access to drawing on my whiteboard. But designate a little space where this student can draw on the white board. They keep their drawing up for the day. 

Extra Tech Time: Whatever tech time looks like in your classroom, let that student get 10-15 extra minutes on it. 

Choose the Book for Read Aloud: I always read a picture book to my students after recess, I usually pick the book from our classroom library. For this student reward coupon, I can have a student pick out the read aloud book.

Line Up to Leave First: There is something about being the first in line that kids love… Especially when it’s at the end of the day and they are the first to head out to the buses!

Move Your Desk: Have the student move their desk to a new place for the day.

Sit in The Teacher’s Chair: Using your chair, instead of their own, is so fun for students.

Bring a Show and Tell Item: My students are always asking if they can share something with the whole class. So it’s a treat when they get to bring something from home to share with the class.

I keep all of the student reward coupons in a treasure chest. Then it seems extra fun for students when they fill out their punch card to pick out a coupon.

Good behavior is not the only way students can earn punches for their punch cards. I also give out punches when students complete fast finisher worksheets. This helps motivate students to work hard even when they have finished their work.

I set out Math Fact Riddles and Math Fact I Spy Worksheets each week. Students know where to find them so they can do it during their free time. They also know where to turn them in. At the end of the week, I will call for punch cards of those who did the worksheets.

Find the Math Fact Riddles I use here and the Math Fact I Spy Worksheets here.

I hope you have been able to see how individual student rewards can help in your elementary classroom. My students work hard because they are so excited to look at the different student reward coupons that are available to them. Have more ideas for individual rewards? No worries, these student reward coupons are editable. So you can make your own as well! Find these student reward coupons here.

Looking for more help with classroom management? Read this blog post here: Meaningful Classroom Management Techniques