Hey teachers! I’m looking for some fresh ideas to motivate my elementary class. The usual stickers and candy aren’t cutting it anymore. What rewards have you found work well to keep kids engaged and excited about learning? Trying to find a mix of individual and group incentives that won’t break the bank. Any suggestions would be really helpful!
I remember when my kids were in elementary school. Their teachers used a mix of rewards that really seemed to work. One cool idea was a ‘job board’ in the classroom. Kids who finished their work or behaved well got to pick special classroom jobs. My son loved being the class librarian for a week!
Another hit was the treasure box. It wasn’t anything fancy, just small dollar store items, but the kids got so excited to pick something out. The teacher only opened it on Fridays, which built up anticipation all week.
For group rewards, they had a marble jar. When the class did well, they earned marbles. Once it was full, they got a class party or movie day. It was great seeing the kids work together towards a common goal. 
These rewards didn’t cost much, but they made a big difference in keeping the kids motivated and excited about school.
In our house, we’ve found that small, meaningful rewards can really boost motivation. Our kids love earning special privileges, like picking the movie for family night or choosing what’s for dinner.
We also use a points system where they can save up for bigger rewards. It’s been great for teaching delayed gratification. They get so excited watching their points grow!
Another thing that works well is acknowledging their efforts with specific praise. When they work hard on something, we make a big deal out of it. It’s amazing how much that encouragement motivates them to keep trying.
These little things have made a big difference in keeping our kids excited about learning and trying new things at home and school.
Extra recess time worked well in my kid’s class.
The teacher also lets students earn ‘classroom cash’ to spend on small prizes or privileges.
My daughter loves being the class helper for a day when she reaches her goals.
In our home, we’ve had success with a ‘chore challenge’ board. Each task has points, and my kid can choose which ones to tackle. At the end of the week, the points turn into screen time or a small treat.
We also do ‘mystery rewards’ where completing chores earns a chance to pick from a jar of fun surprises. Could be anything from staying up 30 minutes later to picking the next family outing.
These approaches have made chores feel more like games than work. It’s been interesting to see how my child’s attitude towards helping out has shifted over time.
I’ve been wondering about this too! My 5-year-old is just starting to help around the house.
We tried a sticker chart, but it lost its appeal after a week. Now I’m experimenting with a ‘job jar’ where my kid picks a chore each day. It’s hit or miss.
I’m curious about what others have tried in elementary school. Did your kids respond well to classroom rewards? How did it affect their motivation at home?
Right now, we’re using small rewards like extra storytime. But I worry about relying on rewards long-term. Has anyone found a good balance between rewards and building intrinsic motivation?