I am brainstorming some for our new principal. He is eager to move away from the pizza party type of rewards, but is looking for ideas for alternatives. I found one link in the resource section, but it wasn't active any more. Am I missing a more current one?
Here are a few I came up with. I'd love some other ideas if you have them.
- pajama day for the class
- video
- dance party in the gym
- extra recess with new/fun toys bought with the money they'd have spent on pizza.
Oh, here's one I found:
http://www.chccs.k12.nc.us/StudentServices/HealthServices/ConstructiveClassroom.pdf (http://www.chccs.k12.nc.us/StudentServices/HealthServices/ConstructiveClassroom.pdf)
http://www.healthyactiveklamath.org/images/Non_Food_Rewards_Book.pdf (http://www.healthyactiveklamath.org/images/Non_Food_Rewards_Book.pdf)
Extra recess and or computer time
In the gym have relay races w the teachers
Trip to park for (school provided) picnic lunch
school store- kids are given tiger bucks and can "purchace" items (silly shoelace, sparkely pencil)
Special privleges- office runner, read to little kid etc
A competition between classes- can even be used for education as we can graph it in the hall- for best lunch behavior/attendance etc
A couple of years ago, for a fundraiser, our gym teacher let the class that raised the most shave his head. He got on stage in front of the school, had the winning class come up and they took turns, each with one swipe (each child got a couple of turns). He wore his hair the way it ended up for the rest of the day (then finished shaving it after school that night).
If two classes are being rewarded, there's a kickball game between the two (or basketball, or whatever other sport the kids like).
Or prime seating at school assemblies. I know there is one class in our school this year that won the right to the most coveted seats at every assembly for the rest of the year.
A special class project-- art, or a field trip.
Homework passes: get to skip doing 1 assignment or get to turn it in 1 day later
Opportunity to check out an extra book from the library
At my school, if we raise enough $ in fundraisers, then the principal and assistant principal eat lunch on the roof. The whole school gathers to watch them. Obviously we have a flat roof.
Our preschoolers love pajama days. They have a 'gumball machine'. It's a drawing of a machine, and the teacher draws on gumballs for good behaviors, helping out, etc. Once they fill up the machine, they get a pajama Friday.
Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to pass them on.
I don't have time right now to find it, but Loudoun County, Virginia's food allergy policy has WONDERFUL grade-level appropriate ideas. Pages of them. google it.
Pajama day, backwards day (wear clothes backwards), hat day, tie day, crazy hair day, crazy sock day......
Depends how old they are. When DD was in lower elementary they earned "bucks" that they could spend on toys from the treasure box or save up for something bigger. They could even combine with other kids to buy something together.
There was a long list of things they could buy including lunch with the teacher (a reward at that age!), receive a letter fromt the teacher, movie night at school, sit at the teacher's desk, have a guest come in to read a story, play a game - I can't remember them all. It takes some imagination but the kids loved it.
Thanks again, everyone. I sent my email today so hopefully I'll hear back soon. Macabre, what a great resource the plan from Loudoun County is!