Suggestions for Recognition/Incentives at Elementary School Level

• Gotcha Tickets are given out by all staff throughout the school for
  students noted for following our Steps to Success. Every other week we draw two names and those children earn an extra recess and a treat for their classes. They wear a badge all day saying "I followed the Steps to Success."
• In each classroom teachers collect Gotcha tickets and do drawings for incentives including "Front of the Line Passes" for lunch, preferred
  seating in the room, small prizes, or first to do some activities.
• For certain stretches of the year, we will do a booster activity where
  some of us will go to each classroom in a week and draw two or three names from the tickets and allow those students to select a prize, such as small beanie babies or trolls for some of the bigger ones, to pencils, treats, pads of paper, etc. These are generally donated prizes.
• Many teachers use a jar for their group incentive in the classroom.
  They put some type of item in the jar when children are working well, on a goal, etc. The item may be beans, or marbles, or something that
  allows a teacher to put in a small handful when the children are doing
  well. When the jar gets full the teacher provides a group incentive
  such as a fun film, extra game, party, or treat.
• Some teachers tell their students that if they receive a compliment
  from someone else in the school they earn a link on a chain or a mark on a chart. The compliment may be for walking quietly down the hall or good behavior in the lunchroom, etc. A certain number of compliments may earn a group reward.
• Some teachers ask other staff members to watch their class when they have a substitute teacher. Then we can add popcorn to a container to add to a popcorn party when the teacher returns.
• Some teachers set class goals and have the students rate themselves after each section of the date, with a 1, 2, or 3 or smile, straight line or frown on a face. No real reward other than the process of getting feedback.
• Front of line pass for lunch for student and buddy.
• Free answer for quiz/test
• Fishing trip with staff member
• Two referrals = Adventureland, students raise $ OR 3 referrals = skating, bowling (quarterly) an Adventureland (year end)
• Weekly - free pizza lunch with 2 friends ($5 pizza from pop fund)
• Individual attention to all students
• Mystery student: Select a 'mystery student' for the day (do not tell the students who it is). Watch the student through the day for showing the expected behaviors we have taught. If the student does well, at the end of the day, tell the class and reward the class with 3 tickets with that student's name on them. If the student does not do well, do not tell the class who it was, just state that they did not earn the tickets and will get a chance another day. Keep track of who you choose, so all students get turns. Repeat some students so the class can't figure out who is next or whose turn it is. If students do not make it for 2 days - then select one that you are confident will (otherwise it may lose motivation). If "specials" teachers wish to do this - fine! Do this for the class period and maybe give 1 ticket.
• Annual celebration for the whole school