139 Ideas for Positive Reinforcement for Your Students
There’s literally no surprise to see me talking about positive reinforcement.
For years, I’ve talked about how it’s so much more effective than punishment or arbitrary rewards, but during a FREE recent masterclass I hosted, one of the participants asked how to get people on board with positive reinforcement when they think they either don’t work or send the wrong message.
Insert face palm emoji here!
Listen, here’s the thing, rewarding the wrong behavior will always send a signal that you don’t want, but there is no evidence that strategically and consistently reinforcing the right behavior will cause kids to become lazy or entitled. In instances where kids are attempting to manipulate the system of gaining rewards with minimal effort or output, there is usually a breakdown in one or more of the following areas.
Limited or strained relationship between student and adult
Inconsistent use of reinforcement
Insufficient attention given to emotionally processing the reinforcement
So as a reminder, let’s go over the basics of a good positive reinforcement system.
Identify off task/maladaptive behaviors to be eliminated; paying attention to unmet needs
Identify AND teach on task replacement behaviors
Consistently reinforce on task behaviors with a variety of means (verbal, tangible, etc.)
To make this process really effective it’s critical that you choose positive reinforcement options that connect to specific needs within the student. So knowing the function of the behavior, either sensory, escape, attachment or attainment, has to be a part of the process. If you just throw random prizes at a kid, they will work for the prize, but ultimately you want the prize to be how they feel. That’s were the work comes in. Processing emotions and giving time for reflection rarely happens when kids are working for a stickers on a chart.
The reinforcement is a tool you’re using to teach the skills AND increase emotional intelligence.
So, let’s get to the good stuff, shall we?
As you’re going through the list below, be mindful of the time you have to work with a student. Smaller rewards for shorter time spans and larger rewards may need a couple sessions to earn. Always include a combination of verbal reinforcement, using your eye contact, physical presence and nonverbal cues like a thumbs up ow wink to keep kids on the right track. You’d be surprised just how often a gentle redirecting glance can eliminate the need for verbal correction which triggers a downward spiral. I also like to incorporate the kids Love Language whenever I can. Completing the online or print version of the quiz is a super easy intervention for a counseling lesson or session too.
Your best method of positive reinforcement will always be specific to your student so it’s a good idea to have a bank that you regularly choose or allow students to choose from. You can have these be individually attained or build community by having small group or whole class participation. This list is by no means all inclusive, but it does have some ideas that I think are pretty fresh and exciting. I have marked those I think would easily work for digital spaces with an *. Most of these can work for any age, by changing how long they work for the reinforcement or the size of the reward. Let me know if you have some you’d love to add to the list too!
Sound off in the comments and let me know which one you’ll be trying next.
*$5 fast food gift card
Family Night Bag- create a few board game bags, with popcorn or candy or a gift card to the Redbox
*Do-over pass for a test or behavior, a chance to make it right without consequence
*5-minute stand up-be the class clown
Admission to a dance
Admission to volunteering field trip
Classroom or small group water balloon fight
*Advance Peek at an Upcoming Assignment
*Afternoon movie
*Answer Only Even or Odd Problems on an Assignment
*Answer Only Even or Odd Problems on a test
*Artwork on classroom display
*Artwork on digital display, like in the newsletter or on your social media profile
*Assignment reviewer
Assist coach at a sport’s game
Basketball pick-up game during class
Be a mentor
*Be the Class DJ at a Digital Dance Party Event
Be the messenger
Beanboozled Challenge
*Bingo
Bookmark
*Brain break choice
Breakfast treat
Bring a drink
Calculator
Calming Kit
Candy bar
*Canvas Painting Party
Chalk the Walk
*Change a Short Answer Question to Multiple Choice
*Change Teacher’s Email Signature
*Charades
Charging Pass
Chef for Pop-Up Cafe
Choose a story to be read
*Choose a virtual field trip
Choose Principal’s Hair Style
Choose Teacher’s Hair Style
*Choose Video Conferencing Virtual Background
*Choose What Type of Dance the Teacher has to do in a Post
Choose your seat
Class Dance Party
Class DJ
*Classroom photo of the Week
Colored pencils
*Independent study of your choice
Computer/iPad time
Cookie
*Cooking lesson
Cool Shades During Class
Co-Teach, all day
Cotton Candy party
Craft
Create a class handshake
Decorate a Ceiling Tile
*Digital Pie in the Face for a Teacher or Admin
*Disney World Virtual Trip
*Donate $1 to charity
*Donate $5 to charity
*Door Dash Lunch Surprise
Dress as your favorite character
Dress Code Theme for the Day
*Drop lowest test / quiz grade
Duct tape principal to a wall
Duct tape teacher to a wall
*Early release to lunch
*Erase a tardy
Eraser
*Escape Room
*Essay discount
Extended hallway passing time
*Extra credit opportunity
Extra library visit
*Extra time for an assignment
*Facebook post dedicated to you
*Family Movie Night
Fidget Spinner Time
First in lunch line
First-class dining in the cafeteria
*Flipgrid Video Share
Free tutoring in a subject
Game with counselor/admin
*GoNoodle Exercise Class
Grab Bag
*Hall of Fame / Wall of Fame
*Have a Snack with a Teacher Virtually
*Homework assignment cut in half
*Introduce Family Pet
*JibJab Video
*Just call me (teacher’s first name)!
*Karaoke time
Laptop Sticker
*LEGO Building Challenge
*Live Animal Cam Break Time
*Lunch with an adult of your choice
*Lunch with school officer
Miniature Art Set
*Morning/afternoon announcements
*Nap time
*Netflix movie break
*Online Drawing Class
*Origami lesson
*Padlet Wall Share Out
Participate in a Raffle for a Digital Gift Card
Pen/marker usage
Phone call from principal
Photo Pass
*Pick your words for Mad Libs
*Play an Online Game with a Teacher or Another Staff Member
Positive Quote of the Day
Pick the principal's ugly tie
*Read to younger student(s)
Recess with a friend
*Renamed King/Queen (first name)
*Re-take test / quiz
*School-appropriate Youtube video
*Short Film Movie Break
*Shout Out in Morning Video Announcement
*Show & Tell
*Skip a class assignment
*Social Media Shout Out
*Spirit Week
Spoon Balancing Challenge
*Student teacher competition
*Superintendent Shout Out
*Talent show
*Teacher Lip Sync Battle
Teacher or Admin Shaves his Beard
Teacher’s Got Talent
*Tell Us a Joke
*Test Points
*Tik Tok Dance Party
*Virtual Brag Tags or change the zoom name
*Virtual Scavenger Hunt
Wear your Favorite Color Day!
*Welcome Greeting
*Writing on display
*Xbox Live points