Printable classroom reward coupons

The coupon sheets

This page hands out one set of printables: a sheet of classroom reward coupons and a blank reward coupon sheet. The ready-made sheet has line leader, sit with a friend, homework pass, music choice, and extra recess minutes. The blank sheet lets you write your own privileges, so it works for any grade.

Both sheets are one-page PDFs in letter and A4, with a color version and an ink saving version. Print at 100 percent, not fit to page. Cut along the lines and keep the coupons in an envelope.

• Line leader
• Sit with a friend
• Homework pass
• Music choice
• Extra recess minutes
• Blank sheet for your own ideas

The blank sheet is the one to keep on hand. When a child asks for a privilege you didn't plan for, write it on a blank coupon and hand it over.

Why a coupon beats a sticker

A sticker is a reward the teacher hands out. A coupon is a reward the child chooses the timing of. That choice is the whole trick. A child who holds a coupon in a pocket for a week is thinking about it, planning the best day to use it.

The trade-in ritual matters too. The child walks to your desk, hands over the coupon, and names the privilege. It is a small ceremony, and it makes the reward feel earned. For more on this idea, see positive reinforcement examples.

Coupon ideas for the classroom

The best coupons are privileges that cost you nothing and feel like a treat to a child. Here are 14 that work well in most classrooms. Pick the ones that fit your rules and your space.

• Line leader for the day
• Sit in the teacher's chair
• Take your shoes off at your desk
• Sit anywhere for one lesson
• Pick the music during work time
• Read one page to the class
• Bring one small toy to school
• No-homework night
• Lunch with the teacher
• Pick the game at recess
• Use the special pen for a day
• Be the class helper for a day
• Choose a partner for a project
• Extra computer time

For more ideas, look at the reward ideas page. You can also pair coupons with a star chart for a longer term goal.

Rules that keep coupons working

Coupons work best when the rules are clear and consistent. Write the rules on the board or on a poster. Review them once, then stick to them. Here are six rules that keep coupons from causing chaos.

• One coupon per week per child max
• Cash it on a day the child picks
• No taking coupons back
• Expire at the end of the month
• A coupon for the whole class sometimes
• No trading coupons between kids

The expiry rule matters. It keeps the stack moving and gives a natural deadline. The whole class coupon, like extra recess minutes, builds group spirit. For more on classroom systems, see reward systems.

Coupons at home

The blank coupon sheet works just as well on a chore chart at home. Write a privilege like stay up 15 minutes later or pick the family movie. The child chooses the night to cash it in, which makes it feel like their plan, not yours.

Pair home coupons with a chore chart rewards system. The coupon is the payoff, and the chart is the track. You can also use the the behavior charts tracking sheets to mark progress before the coupon gets cashed.