In Lieu of Stickers - Other Ways to Reward Kids

Sometimes I get tired of handing out stickers. I know the kids like something new, especially if it's something they can show off to the other students. Here are two other ways I reward children.

Using a Vis-a-Vis marker, I draw happy faces on the backs of their hands. (I use the Vis-a-Vis because it washes off with soap.) Sometimes I'll change up each face to give every student individuality, making some faces wink, stick out their tongue, have hair, wear a hat, have two front teeth, etc.

 

 

I've also invested in two lip balms - one in strawberry, and one in dulce de leche, or something the boys won't mind wearing (I'm out of chocolate, but it's quite popular.)

 

Each child who deserves the reward gets the back of one hand smeared with the balm.

 

Trust me, you'll catch them smelling their hands the rest of the day!

Sticker Award Charts

One thing I've learned after years of spending my hard-earned money on classroom materials is how to cut corners.

I award stickers to my students for several things:
*good behavior
*homework turned in on time
*good manners
*random acts of kindness
*anything I feel that merits

Instead of buying pre-made charts (which you can do), I made a template and run my charts on used tag or cover stock that are blank on one side.  I use stamps this year to add "flavor", but in the past I've also let the child cut a picture out of a magazine and glue it on.  Or draw a picture. 

Basically, the only thing I've bought are the stickers themselves, and again the dollar discount stores allow you to buy a gazillion itty-bitty stickers relatively cheap.  Also, don't forget that stores discount their seasonal/holiday stickers right after the holiday, so you can stock up for the following year.

Oh!  And once a child fills their sticker chart?  I have a box of toys/suckers/balloons/goodies where they can pick their prize.  And then I put up a new chart so they can start all over again.