35 Free & Fun Classroom Rewards (Plus Printable Coupons!)

My daughter LOVED the little treasure box toys she came home with every week in kindergarten. I appreciated her teacher for going the extra mile and having a dedicated treasure box time each Friday afternoon for kids to earn their toys. However, as a third grade teacher, I didn’t want to spend even more of my own money on toys. I relied on my coupon system for free classroom rewards, and they really loved it!

You don’t have to spend your hard earned money on classroom rewards, because kids love earning special privileges in class.

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How do you reward positive classroom behavior?

I used a coupon system, in conjunction with Class Dojo.

Every time a student earned 10 points, they were allowed to choose a coupon from my binder. I bought a pretty binder on Amazon, because I couldn’t resist. Then, I added these pocket sleeves to the binder for coupon display. That way, students could quickly choose one at the end of class.

I had a rule that if you reached 10 Dojo points during my lesson, you could choose your coupon during clean up time, in the last three minutes of class.

Once they chose a coupon, I would zero out their points, which allowed them to start over.

Students were responsible for keeping up with their coupon. If they lost the coupon, I didn’t allow them to replace it. Honestly, students earned them so often that it wasn’t much of an issue. Most of them had two or three tucked away, waiting for the right day to use them.

At the start of every class, while going over the objectives, I’d ask students if anyone wanted to redeem coupons that day.

When a student redeems a coupon, they put it in a bucket, so they can be sorted by a student helper and put back into the binder where they belonged. Obviously, I laminated them for durability. Still, about once a quarter, I’d need to bring and cut new ones. It was a pretty low maintenance routine!

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Here’s why I think it worked well for me:

• The coupons were free.
• I let students use their coupons quickly. I didn’t make them wait long to use something they rightly earned.
• I only made up rewards that worked well for me.
• I had a specific time of the class period for choosing coupons and redeeming them. It wasn’t a free-for-all.
• I made it fairly easy to earn a coupon. 10 Dojo points isn’t that hard to get in my classroom.
• I switched up the coupons pretty often. When I felt like kids were getting bored, I’d print different ones and rotate them out.
• One of my coupons is to be the Dojo Master, so I would let kids earn the right to give out Dojo points to the hardest workers during independent time, or to the group showing the best teamwork. They really did a great job of not just giving points to their besties. They took the responsibility seriously. It kept me from having to constantly give out points.
• I never took away a Dojo point, because I felt like one bad decision didn’t negate the good ones that came before it. I had consequences in my class, but they weren’t connected to Dojo points or coupons.

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Do rewards work in the classroom?

They sure worked well in my class! I think if you use classroom rewards really well at the beginning and middle of the year, kids need them less as the year progresses.

I found that by late February, I used the coupons less, students didn’t mind, and they remained motivated to work. It established a really fun, respectful environment in the classroom. But we didn’t NEED the coupons to act right as they got more comfortable with my expectations over time.

Some teachers maintain that kids shouldn’t be rewarded for expected behavior. I respectfully disagree. Everyone likes to be acknowledged for hard work. If your boss compliments you, gives you a raise, or offers a free day off work, doesn’t that feel great? I think we should help kids feel better so they DO better.

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What are some good no cost classroom rewards?

Here are my favorite free classroom rewards. Click to the next section to score my free printable!

1. Show and Tell Time – I can bring something (not living) to class and share about it at a time of my teacher’s choosing.
2. Chrome Book – I can play on a Chromebook for 15 minutes during one of our center times.
3. Positive Text Home – My teacher will text my parents something really nice (and true) about me TODAY.
4. Teacher’s Helper – I’ll be my teacher’s number 1 helper for the day!
5. Use a Pen! – I can write with a pen for the whole class period today.
6. Author of the Day – I will be chosen for Author’s Chair this week.
7. Dojo Master – I will be responsible for dojo points to the hardest workers during stations.
8. The Secret Admirer – I can skip an activity today and instead write a kindness letter to a friend SECRETLY. I will turn it in to my teacher and she will deliver it anonymously.
9. Stinky Feet Treat – I get to take off my shoes today!
10. Drawing Pass – I will skip an activity and draw silently instead.
11. Seat Swap – Switch seats with a classmate for the day. You choose your spot!
12. Dance Party – When you turn in this coupon, you’ll gift your entire class with a 3 minute dance party! You choose the day – your teacher chooses the time.
13. Wear A Crown – You get to be king or queen for the day! Not really – but at least you can wear a crown 🙂
14. Line Leader – Today, you get to lead the pack! Onward!
15. Bring a Stuffed Animal – Awww! Cuddle time with your best furry friend.
16. Homework Pass – You get to skip tonight’s homework, my friend!
17. Smartboard Doodler – You get to skip an assignment and doodle on the Smartboard instead!
18. DJ for the Day – Choose one of your teacher’s pre-selected playlists to listen to as a class while we work.
19. Bookworm – Skip today’s assignment and read a book instead!
20. Book Club Leader – Take some time out of class to lead a “book club.” Tell the class about your favorite books and make recommendations.
21. Cringe! – Make the teacher do 30 seconds of super embarrassing dancing to a school-appropriate song.
22. Hat Day! – Bring a hat to school and wear it during my class.
23. Share a Snack for Two – Bring a yummy snack from home – with enough for a friend, too!
24. Art Showcase – Bring your best artwork from home to display in the hallway!
25. Library Outing – Leave class for 10 minutes to visit the library.
26. Share a Snack for Two – Bring a yummy snack from home – with enough for a friend, too!
27. Art Showcase – Bring your best artwork from home to display in the hallway!
28. Puzzle Time – Partner with a friend for 15 minutes of class to do a puzzle.
29. Wacky Walk – You’ve earned the right to walk OUT of the line. Today, walk however you want to – and not in line with everyone else!
30. Chalk the Walk at Recess – Take our class set of chalk and decorate the school sidewalk. Be appropriate!
31. Yum! Gum! – You get to chew gum in class today, so bring some of the good stuff from home.
32. Dough Break – Have some solo play-doh time. I bet it makes you smile! Make us something cool.
33. Art for Kids Hub – Take time out of class to do an Art for Kids Hub, and then we’ll showcase it in my room!
34. The Poet – Bring a favorite silly poem to school and read it for the class.
35. Hug Your Old Teacher – Make a quick trip down the hall to your old teacher and give her a big old hug.

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Free, Printable Classroom Reward Coupons

There’s nothing fancy about this set, but I do love to print them on super bright card stock. After that, I laminate and cut them so the coupons can be redeemed and reissued without them falling apart. Finally, I have a student helper load them into the coupon binder shown above.

All 35 of the rewards above are included in this set. You will be asked to make a copy, and then you can edit freely!

I hope these classroom reward ideas and coupons help you this year!