5 Class Reward System Ideas - Joys Classroom Studio

Blog Post Title: 5 Class Reward System Ideas

Are you searching for whole class reward system ideas that help you motivate and reward your class all while setting a classroom goal? A classroom goal that will focus on the whole class and have students working as a team? One where you can help motivate and reward your class by making goals and rewarding goals that are met. Try these 5 whole class reward system ideas that follow that are both positive for students and teachers! But first let’s start with whole class goal setting!

Whole Class Goal Setting

What is whole class goal setting? How does whole class goal setting connect with a whole class reward system? Well, it begins with setting a classroom goal with your students. Perhaps students need to work on transitions between lessons, lining up quietly, or working independently. Decide as a class what area to work on and then create a goal!

Start small with creating one classroom goal first and then add other goals once students are beginning to make progress. Help students understand that as a class they will be working as a team. Stress the importance of teamwork and how it is needed to meet their classroom goal. Rewards will be used to help students stay motivated to reach the classroom goal!

Teamwork

How can you get students to work as a team especially throughout the school year? I have guided students into working as a team while setting a classroom goal for the whole class. I’ve done this by using the same ideas and strategies I’ve used from individual goal setting.

The strategies I have used to do individual goal setting with students are (1) conference with students, (2) help students create their goal, (3) help students choose action steps, (4) monitor students progress, and (5) celebrate! To read more about how I do individual goal setting conferences with students, read my blog “Why Focused Goal Setting With Your Students Is Powerful”.

Using the same ideas from above you can guide your class into working as a team while creating a goal. Here are some steps I have used with my classes over the years. (1) Create a goal with your class and post the goal in the front of the classroom. You can put this on the board or post a goal setting paper. (2) Determine a time frame with your students on how long they will work together on that goal. (3) Use class reward system ideas to help students work as a team, monitor and track their goal, pick one system at a time. (4) Celebrate!

pictures of classroom goal papers for autumn, winter, spring, and summer

5 Whole Class Reward System Ideas

Here are my top 5 favorite whole class reward systems that I’ve had success using with my students!

1. Marble Jar

Place a clear plastic container in front of the classroom. Discuss with students the ways the class can earn a marble in the jar. You can tie this in with their classroom goal. Reward positive behavior by placing marbles in the jar each time they meet expectations. Once the jar is filled students receive a reward!

2. Classroom Economy System

This reward system can be used with an economics standard in social studies and a money standard in math. You can make this very simple or very complex. I would suggest starting off simple because it can get pretty confusing if its too complex! Make it your own, so its something you and your students enjoy doing!

I am just going to focus on the basics here. (1) Determine how students are going to earn money. This could be through class jobs, positive behaviors, and/or positive grades. You choose what will work best in your classroom and with your students. (2) Create a chart that allows students to see how they can earn and spend money. Tie this in with students’ classroom goal by having each student earn a specific amount each time they work toward the goal. (3) Will you use play money, stamps or tickets to represent the amount students are earning or spending? (4) How can you and your students keep track of money earned or spent? (5) How and when will students use their reward money they’ve earned in a class store?

3. Class Points

With class points you can set a goal with students on how many points they would like to earn by the end of the day, week or month. Talk with students about how they earn points. Once this is established give out positive points according to the guidelines you made with your students. To help students work as a team to complete their classroom goal, have them earn double points when they earn points relating to the class goal. Lastly, when students have met the class goal, celebrate! A variation of this would be to play teacher points vs. class points and make it a friendly competition between you and your students, who will get the most points first!

4. Paper Chain Links

After creating a classroom goal with students, cut out paper chain links and add a link each time the class makes a step toward their goal. Hang the paper chain link in the front of the classroom so students can help monitor their progress.

photos of seasonal paper chain links class reward system idea

5. Reward Letters

Post a letter each time your class makes an action step toward their goal. When they have completely spelled out the reward word they are rewarded with what they have spelled. For example, if they spelled Free Time they would get free time as their reward!

Photo of reward letters for class reward system ideas. The letters spell party.

Low-Cost Reward Ideas

Now that students have met their goal it’s time to celebrate! I like to choose between no cost and low cost ways to celebrate! Here are some ideas I like to use: Free Time, Extra Recess, Sit with a friend in class, Sit with a friend at lunch, No Homework Pass, Extra Computer Time, Fun Friday, Movie, Treat, and Popcorn Party.

Observe what your students like to do at recess or any free minutes they have at school, this will give you ideas about what they enjoy doing. Be creative in coming up with your ideas! There are many whole class reward system ideas that you could use in your classroom. Take some time and experiment to see which ones work best for you and your students.

The ones I have mentioned here in this blog post are some of my favorite whole class reward system ideas. I have used these ideas multiple times throughout my years of teaching. Overall, I have found much success with students when creating a class goal with them, having them work as a team to reach that goal, and using a class reward system to help motivate and reward them. I have created a whole class goal setting reward system product that can be found here in my TPT store, it includes whole class goal setting papers, paper chain links, and reward letters for each season.