100 Free or Inexpensive Rewards for Individual Students

Elementary Level

1. Assist the custodian
2. Assist with morning announcements over the PA system
3. Be a helper in another classroom
4. Be featured on a photo recognition board
5. Be recognized during announcements
6. Be the first one in the lunch line
7. Be the leader of a class game
8. Be the line leader or the caboose
9. Be the scout (Person who goes ahead of class to tell the special teacher they are on the way)
10. Be the teacher's helper for the day
11. Borrow the principal’s chair for the day
12. Buzz cut a design in an agreeable male’s head
13. Choose a book for the teacher to read aloud to the class
14. Choose any class job for the week
15. Choose music for the class to hear
16. Choose the game during physical education
17. Choose which homework problem the teacher will give the answer to for a freebie
18. Cut the principal’s tie off and have your picture featured on a bulletin board with the neck part of the tie as the frame. Keep the tip for a souvenir.
19. Dance to favorite music in the classroom
20. Design a class/school bulletin board
21. Design and make a bulletin board
22. Do half of an assignment
23. Draw on the chalkboard
24. Draw on a small white board at desk
25. Draw pictures on the chalkboard while the teacher reads to the class (illustrating the story being read)
26. Duct tape the principal to the wall during lunch or an assembly
27. Earn a free pass to a school event or game
28. Earn a gift certificate to the school store or book fair
29. Earn a pass to the zoo, aquarium, or museum
30. Earn a trophy, plaque, ribbon or certificate
31. Earn an item such as a Frisbee, hula hoop, jump rope, paddleball or sidewalk chalk, which promote physical activity
32. Earn extra computer time
33. Earn extra credit
34. Earn free tutoring time from the teacher (spelling secrets, math secrets, writing secrets)
35. Earn play money to be used for privileges
36. Earn points for good behavior to “buy” unique rewards (e.g. Autographed items with special meaning or lunch with the teacher)
37. Earn the privilege of emailing a parent at work telling of accomplishments
38. Eat lunch outdoors with the class
39. Eat lunch with a teacher or principal
40. Eat lunch with an invited adult (grandparent, aunt, uncle)
41. Eat with a friend in the classroom (with the teacher)
42. Enjoy a positive visit with the principal
43. Enjoy class outdoors for the whole class
44. Enter a drawing for donated prizes among students who meet certain grade standards
45. Get “free choice” time at the end of the day
46. Get a “no homework” pass
47. Get a drink from the cold water fountain (There is always one fountain that is better)
48. Get a flash cards set printed from a computer
49. Get a video store or movie theatre coupon
50. Get extra art time
51. Go on a walking field trip (earn privilege for whole class)
52. Go to the library to select a book to read
53. Have a drawing lesson
54. Have a free serving of milk
55. Have a teacher read a special book to the entire class
56. Have an extra recess
57. Have teacher share a special skill (e.g. Sing)
58. Have the teacher make a positive phone call home
59. Help in a lower level class
60. Keep a stuffed animal at desk
61. Learn how to do something special on the computer- like graphics or adding sound
62. Learn how to draw something that looks hard, but with help is easy
63. Listen to music while working
64. Listen with a headset to a book on audiotape
65. Make deliveries to the office
66. Name put on scrolling marquee with a specific message “Emily Jones says smile and eat your veggies.”
67. Operate the remote for a PowerPoint lesson
68. Pick a game at recess that everyone plays including the teacher
69. Play a computer game
70. Play a favorite game or puzzle
71. Read a book to the class
72. Read morning announcements
73. Read outdoors
74. Read to a younger class
75. Receive a “mystery pack” (gift-wrapped items such as a notepad, folder, puzzle, sports cards, etc.)
76. Receive a 5-minute chat break at the end of the class or at the end of the day
77. Receive a note of recognition from the teacher or principal
78. Receive a plant, seeds and a pot for growing
79. Receive art supplies, coloring books, glitter, bookmarks, rulers, stencils, stamps, pens, pencils, erasers and other school supplies
80. Receive verbal praise
81. Select a paper back book to take home to read from the teacher’s personal library
82. Sit at the teacher's desk for the day or a set amount of time
83. Sit next to the teacher during story time
84. Sit with a friend at lunch, assembly, etc.
85. Take a free homework pass
86. Take a trip to the treasure box (non-food items such as water bottles, stickers, key chains, temporary tattoos, yo-yo’s, bubbles, spider rings, charms and pencil toppers)
87. Take care of the class animal
88. Take class animal home for school vacation time
89. Take home a class game for a night
90. Teach the class a favorite game
91. Teach the class a math lesson
92. Use colored chalk
93. Use the teacher's chair
94. Walk with a teacher during lunch
95. Watch a video instead of recess
96. Work as the Principal apprentice for 20 minutes
97. Work in the lunchroom
98. Write with a marker for the day
99. Write with a special pen for the day

100. Write with a special pencil for the day

60 Free or Inexpensive Rewards for Individual Students

Secondary Level

1. Adult volunteers to write a job recommendation for the student

2. All school party on the weekend with different venues for all interests: (students with zero ODR’s get to come) Have parents sponsor and chaperone:

a. Dance area

b. Basketball area

c. Game board area

d. Conversation pit

e. Graffiti wall (piece of sheetrock painted white with sharpies of various colors)

f. Karaoke area

g. Computer animation area

3. Assisting Coach for any sport

4. Assisting PTO to develop ways to reward teachers who go out of their way to help students

5. Chance to go to grade school and teach students about a topic of interest

6. Choosing to do a PowerPoint for the class on a particular subject of interest

7. Choosing what assignment the class does for homework

8. Designing theme for school dance, ice cream social, game night

9. Dress as the school mascot during a game

10. Earning the chance to be the water/towel person at a sporting event

11. Earning the chance to do stagecraft for any school performance (lights, stage design, props)

12. Earning the chance to scoreboard assist at a game

13. Eating lunch with a preferred adult

14. Free entrance to a dance

15. Free entrance to a football, basketball, etc. game

16. Free library pass to research a topic of interest

17. Getting a postcard in the mail telling parents what teachers admire most about their child

18. Getting to apprentice at one of the business partners with the school (grocery store, bank, etc.) on the weekend.

19. Getting to buzz cut a design in the principal’s hair (custodian’s hair)

20. Getting to cut the principal’s tie off (use loop to frame student’s face on a bulletin board of fame)

21. Getting to duct tape the principal to the wall

22. Getting to scoop food at the cafeteria for a lunch period (social opportunity)

23. Getting to shoot a video about the school’s expectations to show on CC TV

24. Hall pass to leave class 5 minutes early and go by the coldest water fountain

25. Help from an adult of choice on a class they are struggling with (Free tutoring)

26. Homework free night

27. Learning how to do something of interest on the computer (animation, graphics, CAD)

28. Learning how to play chess

29. Learning how to play sports even if they didn’t make the team

30. Learning how to run the light board or sound booth for a school performance

31. Let student make a bulletin board in the front hall highlighting an event of choice

32. Make the morning announcements

33. Office aid for a period

34. Opportunity to be part of a brainstorming adult team at the school

35. Opportunity to eat lunch outdoors at a special table

36. Opportunity to eat lunch with a parent or grandparent at a special table

37. Opportunity to introduce the players over the PA during a home game

38. Opportunity to shadow business owner for a day- credit for writing about the experience

39. Opportunity to shadow the principal for an hour or the day

40. Opportunity to take care of lab animals in Science class

41. Opportunity to wear jeans instead of school uniform for a day

42. Principal grills hotdogs for students who have 0 tardies in the month & this student helps

43. Privilege of leaving book in class overnight instead of having to lug to locker

44. Privilege of seeing embarrassing photo of adult that no one else sees (Senior Portrait)

45. Reserved seating at a school play for student and five friends

46. Send home a postcard about positive things the student has done this week

47. Serve as a student ambassador if visitors come to the school

48. Serving as a “page” for a local politician for the day

49. Serving as a door greeter for a parent night at school with a badge of honor to wear

50. Singing karaoke during lunch (approved songs)

51. Sit at score table in basketball game

52. Sit in score box at a football game

53. Sitting in the teacher’s chair for the period

54. Special parking preference for a day

55. Special recognition at any school event- Guest DJ one song at dance etc.

56. Special seating at lunch table with friends

57. Student gets to pick which problem the teacher will make a freebie answer on homework

58. Student plans spirit week activity for one of the days (hat day, sunglasses etc.)

59. Teacher aid for special needs classroom

60. Teaching special needs student how to play a game

35 Free or Inexpensive Rewards for Adults in the Building

1. Adult gets to pick what the topic for a faculty meeting is going to be
2. Adult gets to rent the principal’s chair for the day
3. At Family Math Night all the adults are highlighted in a video montage
4. Bulletin board highlighting staff of the day showing treasures provided by their family (surprise) If you have about 90 staff members one every other day would work
5. Dim the lights in the staff lounge and get a volunteer masseuse to come provide 5 minute neck rubs during planning periods- Play restful music
6. Donut day- These donuts are in honor of Peggy’s contribution to the PTO
7. During morning announcements highlight something that an adult in the building did and tell why
8. Duty free lunch period
9. Find a beauty school and get someone to volunteer to come in and do 5 minute manicures
10. Flowers on the desk from someone’s garden (with permission)
11. Get a donation of a shopping cart to keep at the school for adults bringing in huge loads of supplies
12. Golden plunger award from custodian for classroom that was the cleanest
13. Golden spatula award from cafeteria staff for most polite class of the week
14. GOOSE- Get Out Of School Early- No staying for the 30 after
15. Have the principal make up a rap song about being cool in school and perform it on the CCTV for the school- Staff of the Day get to be background dancers
16. Limo ride to school and home for staff of the day- This sounds weird but funeral parlors will sometimes provide this service for free if they aren’t using the cars that day- Don’t Tell rule applies
17. Mini-fridge for a week in the adults’ office area filled with his or her favorite drink
18. Once a month host an ice cream social with a “sister”- “brother” school. Alternate schools each month and let teachers tour getting ideas from each other on lesson plans, bulletin boards, etc. I Spy something great I’d like to duplicate
19. Permission to leave the building at lunch time for lunch off campus
20. Plan a big faculty meeting or inservice at someone’s house – with a pool and a grill instead of sitting on the little dot seats in the cafeteria
21. Principal and staff member trade jobs for a day
22. Postcard sent home detailing something admired in the adult
23. Preferred parking space
24. Principal institutes a pineapple upside down day- Everyone comes in and is assigned a different job for half a day- Everyone has to have their job description or lesson plans written down step by step
25. Principal kidnaps a class after PE or recess and take them somewhere else. Send a messenger to the teacher telling him or her to put their feet up for 20 minutes. Teach a lesson to the class on something of interest to you- American History- Art etc.
26. Principal leaves love notes on adults’ desks – not the 6:00 news kind- the kudos kind
27. Principal takes over morning or afternoon duty for an adult in the building
28. Principal writes lesson plans for teacher for one period
29. PTO designs 4 strokes for every poke lanyard for all adults in the building
30. PTO takes turns baking a casserole once a week for an adult “gotcha” receiver
31. Scrape ice off windshield of Staff of the Day’s car
32. Sneak into the school over the weekend and write a note on each classroom white board telling them to “Have a Great Week”
33. Special table outdoors for teachers to enjoy sunshine during lunch
34. Surprise an adult in the building by letting two or three students wash their car- be careful on this one though- There are also services that come on sight and wash cars for a fee- possibly PTO could sponsor
35. Valet parking for a day