10 Ideas for Whole Class Rewards for Your Secondary Students

Teaching in a middle school creates interesting challenges.  I always struggle with finding rewards and incentives that are age-appropriate for them.  Middle schoolers are stuck in an awkward place where they are still young at heart, but most of them are trying to look and act like high school students.  In a time where research shows that PBIS is the best method for classroom management and to create a positive whole-school community, it is imperative to find whole class rewards that motivate your class.

Flexible Seating Options

We would all love to implement flexible seating options into our secondary classrooms.  But, often our biggest fear is the classroom management complications that may arise from it.  You can bring the concept of flexible seating into your classroom and explain to your class that to earn it they need to reach a certain goal.  If you have not already purchased your flexible seating options, you can even give the class some input into what they will be.  Give them some ideas that you are comfortable buying and let them decide.

Homework Passes

From the dawn of man…or just the beginning of school… kids hate homework!  I have mixed emotions about giving individual students homework passes.  But, you can offer an incentive to your class of a homework-free night for the whole class!  Give them a goal, and if they reach it, you give them a night of no homework.  This is only good if you are someone that consistently gives homework.  There are teachers that I work with that do not typically give homework and this would not be as motivating or effective for them.

Music

Most kids love music.  Reward them for good behavior with a day where you will play a music station of their choice during their independent or partner work time.  You do not want to play music during a time when you are talking because it is going to distract the students from your lecture but if you have independent work time built into a lesson or times when they’ll be working in partners or small groups, play music for them.  You want to have the child-friendly settings turned on with whatever media player you are using.

Choose Their Seats

A great reward for secondary students is letting them pick where they sit.  When you select this reward, make sure the students know that their behavior will determine whether or not they get this option again so that they are not too out of control.  But often they are so excited about the reward that they are on their best behavior.  Sitting near their friends can be distracting, so make sure you choose an appropriate lesson to do this during.  Maybe a time when they’re doing partner work so that they will be allowed to talk to their friends.

Game Time

Students still love playing games.  Have some games in your classroom and have the students earn a day where they get to play games, or half a class, or whatever time period that you feel is appropriate.  Students will love the socialization and the break from academics that this provides.  You can even find games that align with your content area so they are still learning in some way.  This is especially easy if you teach math, there are so many games out there that involve math operations.

Movie Time

If your principal allows it, have the students earn a movie.  Again, allowing them a choice is even more of a reward.  Have a list of 5-10 previewed movies and when they earn the reward they get to select what movie they watch.  At my school, we are allowed to show movies, but they have to be approved ahead of time by administration so if you tell what your principal your plan, maybe they could approve the entire list so the students can choose.

YouTube

Allow the students to take a break from academics and watch a video.  Are there any school appropriate videos that they think are fun and would want to share with their peers.  Have them submit a list of videos ahead of time so that you can preview them.  Allow the students to take a break from the stress of school and watch some entertaining videos on YouTube when they have earned it.

Go Outside

If the weather allows, bring the students outside for some free time.  You can bring some games or sports equipment for them to play with if they’d like to.  This is great for secondary level students because in most schools they no longer get recess.  This gives them some time to work off some of their energy and get moving around before they have to go back to class.

Phone Day

If your administration allows it, have a day, or a time in the day, where the students are allowed to use their phones.  Because of social media, you may have to have some strict rules about them not allowing to use certain apps or take pictures of their peers.  But, with the right guidelines, this would motivate students to reach this incentive.

Take a Long Lunch

At my school, lunch is 25 minutes.  No one eats comfortably in 25 minutes!  By the time they get down to the cafe, all of the students get through the lunch line, and they begin eating… it is almost time to clean up.  Allow your class to earn a long lunch!  This gives them a little more free time during the day to see their friends and relax.

Also, check out:

What to Do When You’re About to Lose Your Cool!

Classroom Management Tips for Your Middle School Classroom