Managing a class of students can be incredibly difficult. Everyone in that class has their own personality and agenda, both of which mean that normally it is hard to keep all of them on a singular track without them getting bored and wandering off.
Some students love to get stuck into problems, while others find it tedious. Some students love to create objects, pictures, or sounds, but others struggle to envision how their art will take shape.
With all the different abilities and loves of your students, when they all work together on something, it will not only make your heart soar, but everyone deserves a reward.
The concern is that everyone in your class will like a different reward, similarly to how they all love different subjects.
As such, how do you tailor a reward to 30 different people? How do you make it, so everyone will love it.
In this article, we will explore different class reward systems and how you can make the best one ever!
What Should Class Rewards Do?
Class rewards are basically mini-treats for each student as part of an assignment. They are designed to encourage creativity, imagination, and effort.
It is hoped that by giving out little treats for completing tasks, students will actually want to complete the task.
If you give them too many small rewards, then they won’t care about the project at all, resulting in wasted time and energy.
On the other hand, if you don’t give any rewards at all, then they might feel cheated.
The key is finding the right balance between giving enough small rewards and being able to offer just the right amount.
There are two main types of class reward: tangible and intangible.
Tangible class rewards are those that have an obvious physical form, such as candy bars, stickers, etc. Intangible class rewards are those that cannot be seen, but still have some sort of value.
These include things like certificates, diplomas, gold stars, or trophies.
Both tangible and intangible rewards can be given out multiple times throughout the course of a semester.
Class rewards should always be used as a tool to motivate students towards success. This means that you shouldn’t use them as a punishment, or to stop them from doing bad behavior.
You also shouldn’t use them to force them to finish assignments. Instead, you should use class rewards as a way to help your students learn through experience.
Students who receive tangible rewards will generally enjoy spending time with them.
However, students who receive intangible rewards tend to appreciate them more than those who receive tangible ones.
Even though they cannot see the intangible items, these students know that they were meant to help them grow and succeed.
How to Choose the Perfect Class Reward?
First, you need to decide what kind of class reward you would like to use.
Are you looking for something fun and entertaining, or are you looking for something educational and useful? Some teachers may prefer tangible rewards over intangible ones, because it makes it easier for students to understand why they are receiving a certain award.
For example, most kids probably enjoy eating chocolate cake, but few will appreciate the fact that it was made with real eggs, flour, sugar, and butter. That’s where tangible class rewards come into play.
It is important to keep in mind that you should only use class rewards in moderation.
Too much of anything can be harmful. Class rewards should not replace good grades, school spirit, hard work, and responsibility.
However, they can definitely supplement these qualities. Just remember that there is no “perfect” number of class rewards to give, and that every teacher has his or her own style.
Second, you need to find a way to distribute class rewards efficiently.
There are several ways to do this, including having a class party, inviting friends and family members to watch, handing out rewards on paper instead of online, sending emails to parents, or even putting up posters around campus.
Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, which is why it is essential to figure out how to make the process go smoothly.
Third, you need to make sure that the distribution process doesn’t create a lot of confusion among your students.
Kids don’t like surprises, so they will likely get upset when they realize that they didn’t earn their class reward after all.
To avoid this situation, you should explain the rules clearly before distributing the rewards.
Also, try not to announce the reward until everyone knows exactly what it is going to be.
Fourth, you need to make the rewards look nice. If you give your students something ugly or tacky, they will think that you aren’t trying very hard.
Make sure that the rewards you give out are easy to carry around, and that they fit well in student backpacks.
It is also helpful if you have stickers or magnets available for students who want to decorate their backpack with them.
Finally, you need to make your students feel special. Class rewards should never be used just to gain favor with students.
They should be given out based on merit, and not on popularity. When you give out class rewards, you need to let your students know that you care about them, and that you value their efforts.
Some of the Best Whole Class Rewards!
Now you have a step by step system in place for avoiding whole class reward blunders, it’s time to look at some good rewards to give to your students for their hard work and diligence in your classroom.
Coupons
You could offer free admission to a movie theater, free ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s, or a coupon for an hour of computer time at your local library.
These types of rewards will help your students build positive relationships with each other, as well as with people outside of school.
Gift Certificates
This is another great type of class reward to use. You could buy a gift certificate to a restaurant, clothing store, or entertainment venue.
The possibilities are endless, but you should choose a place that your students won’t be too familiar with.
Movie Tickets
This one is more appropriate for older students, but younger students can still benefit greatly from watching movies together.
You could rent a DVD, or you could invite a friend over and watch a movie at home together.
Either way, this reward would allow you to spend some quality time with your students, while providing them with a fun and memorable experience.
Free Food
Another one of my favorite rewards is giving students free food.
Whether it is pizza, tacos, or cookies, you can provide your students with delicious meals by buying a large quantity of food and then dividing it into individual portions.
Of course, you’ll want to make sure that you’re getting enough food for everyone, but I guarantee that your students will love the meal you serve up.
Library Books
One of the easiest ways to get kids excited about reading is to give them books.
A simple way to do this is to simply go through your classroom book collection and pull out ones that haven’t been read yet. Then, ask students which books they’d like to borrow.
Discounts
Discounts can sometimes be a bit tricky because you risk turning off your students. However, there are several ways to implement discounts without being offensive.
For example, you could hand out discount coupons for items at stores such as Target, Walmart, Best Buy, or Macy’s. Or, you could give students five dollars off their next purchase at Starbucks or McDonald’s.
Free Time
Sometimes, the best whole class rewards are the simplest. All you need to do is give your students ten minutes extra per day.
If you have any activities planned during those ten minutes, then you can also include those activities in your whole class rewards.
Thank You Cards
Last, but certainly not least, thank you cards are one of the best whole class awards ideas.
It may seem a little cheesy, but thank you cards are a nice touch for teachers who appreciate all of their hard work.
Plus, you get to say “Thank you” to your entire student body in one fell swoop. What’s better than that?
Conclusion
There are many whole class rewards that students will absolutely adore, and the reason is that they are normally simple.
Having more free time or free food will be welcomed by almost anyone, and will be especially beloved by students, who are trapped between constant classes and routine exams.
Having a whole class reward system in place – with a step by step written down for good measure – allows you to reward your students easily and help you avoid making social or educational faux pas that could land you in hot water.
Hi, my name is Helena Waters and I was a teacher for 40 years before retiring last year.
During my time as a teacher I dedicated the majority of it to making classrooms as fun as possible, with educational parties, fun activities, and low cost entertainment that made the children excited about learning.
I taught children of all ages, from preschoolers to high school students. Now, with the pandemic having uprooted everything that children once knew about school and learning, I think that the need for my ideas is bigger than ever.
That is why I created School Sparks, a place in which I can write down and share all of my ideas on how to get students excited about going to school again. I hope that you’ll find some useful within a school setting, even at home too!
