Printable student certificates and good behavior awards
Reward certificates for students are a simple way to say "I saw what you did." But a certificate is worth exactly as much as the reason written on it. These free printables give you room to write the one thing your child did this week.
Download the charts
One-page PDFs with a blank name line. Pick paper and ink once, every button changes.
Certificate of Awesome
Landscape certificate with a name line, reason line, date and signature.
Download letter PDF
The two certificates
This page gives you two printable awards. One is a student certificate for school or homework. The other is a good behavior award for the moments that matter at home or in class.
Both are landscape one-page PDFs. Each has a blank name line, a long reason line, and a place for a signature and date. You get a color version and an ink saving black outline version, in letter and A4.
Print at 100 percent, not fit to page. The reason line is long on purpose. It is the whole point of the award.
The guide Should students be rewarded for good behavior? goes deeper on the same idea.
Writing the reason
A certificate that says "Great job" gets taped to the fridge and forgotten. A certificate that says "You raised your hand three times in a row without calling out" gets read aloud at dinner.
Name one thing the child did this week. Not a personality trait. Not a vague compliment. A single, concrete action.
Here are some swaps to try.
| Instead of | Write |
|---|---|
| Good behavior | Kept hands to self during circle time |
| Great work | Finished the math page without giving up |
| Nice job | Put the blocks away when asked first time |
| Superstar | Let a friend go first on the slide |
| Awesome | Remembered to bring the folder home |
| Well done | Said please and thank you all day |
Read the reason out loud when you give the certificate. The child hears the specific thing they did. That is what makes the award real.
When to give a certificate
Give a certificate at the end of a behavior chart, at the end of a week, or for a true first. A first time with hands up all day is a big deal. A first time getting ready without a reminder is too.
Do not give one to every student every Friday just to hand them out. That trains kids to expect a paper for nothing. The certificate has to mean something.
Aim for at least one certificate per child per semester. That is enough to keep it special without making it rare beyond reach.
Printing them so they look real
Print the color version on certificate paper with a subtle border. A gold seal sticker in the corner makes it feel oficial. Use a pen for the signature, not a printed font.
For the ink saving version, print on colored paper like pale yellow or light blue. The black outline pops and the color does the work.
If you are making a stack for your classroom, keep a folder of blank copies ready. Browse the classroom hub for more tools like reward coupons and reward systems.
Certificates at home
These same awards work at home. When your child finsihes a full star chart or a color-coded behavior chart, print a certificate and have a little ceremony at dinner.
Let the child pick the color version or the ink saving one. Let them choose who signs it. That small choice makes the award theirs.
Pair the certificate with a reward from the reward ideas page. The paper is the memory. The reward is the fun.
More classroom charts
Every page hands out its own chart. All classroom.
Classroom behavior charts
Whole-class + individual charts
Free printableStudent behavior reflection sheets and reports
Reflection sheets by grade
Free printableClassroom reward coupons (printable)
Coupon sheets
Free printableClassroom birthday chart (printable 12-month chart and board ideas)
12-month birthday chart, 4 and 6 lines
Free printableClassroom reward systems, charts and ideas
Class points chart
Free printableGuides for the classroom
Short guides that end at a chart you can print tonight.
Print it, then stick it to the fridge
Sticker paper that fits every chart on this site, and the bits that keep a chart up all week. Links go to Amazon and we may earn a commission.
Goes with the classroom charts
Pocket charts, sticker rolls, certificate paper and dry-erase pockets for a room of 25.
Questions parents ask
Are the student certificates free to print?
Yes. Both the student certificate and the good behavior award are free to download as PDFs. You get color and ink saving versions in letter and A4. Print as many as you need for your class or family.
What should I write on a good behavior certificate?
Write one specific thing the child did this week. Instead of "good behavior," try "kept hands to self during story time" or "helped a friend tie shoes." The more specific, the more the child feels seen.
How often should students get certificates?
Give them at the end of a chart, a week, or a meaningful first. Avoid handing them out every Friday to everyone. Aim for at least one per child per semester so the award stays special.
What paper should I print certificates on?
Use a heavier paper like 65 lb or 80 lb cardstock. Certificate paper with a subtle border works well. For the ink saving version, print on colored cardstock to make it look intentional.