Positive Reinforcement Teaching Resources
Bring a positive reinforcement element to your classroom management strategies with teacher-created printable and digital teaching resources. Explore classroom reward systems and charts, behavior punch cards, student certificates and more resources designed by our teacher team to reward students for what they do well.
Positive reinforcement resources include gamification, material rewards and classroom economy reinforcers to move the needle away from negative reinforcement and help you build a more positive classroom environment and improve student behavior.
Curious about how to implement positive reinforcement strategies in your classroom? Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including positive reinforcement examples, ideas for good reinforcers and tips on strategies that will work in an elementary or middle school classroom!
What Is Positive Reinforcement?
Positive reinforcement is a teaching strategy that is commonly used in elementary schools to promote positive behavior among students. Whether your school uses the popular PBIS set-up, or some other framework, the basic idea behind this strategy is that positive behaviors can be reinforced by rewarding them, which in turn makes them more likely to be repeated in the future. It makes sense, doesn't it? And there's plenty of research to back this up, too!
In practice, positive behavior reinforcement involves identifying specific behaviors that you would like to encourage in your students — everything from listening quietly during class to following directions to being kind to classmates — and then providing positive feedback and rewards when those behaviors are demonstrated.
Positive Reinforcement Examples to Use in the Classroom
Let's plumb a little deeper with some simple positive reinforcement examples that can work in the classroom. Your reinforcement of good behaviors can take the form of rewarding students with something tangible, but you can also do myriad things that don't require giving anything away.
- Print "brag tags" or brag bracelets from our collection for students to wear their positive feedback.
- Label clothespins with "caught doing x behavior," and clip them to students' bags or cubbies as a way to show you've noticed their good behavior and an encouragement to keep it up!
- Allow students to earn something special like spending time at your "lunch bunch" or taking the classroom pet home for a weekend (with parents' permission, of course!).
- Publicly praise students in front of their peers. Yes, it can really be that simple, but be sure not to lavish all your praise on individual students.
- Award students with "bad day" cards to use when they're having a bad day as a way to take it easy for the day. Hey, we all have bad days!
- Offers students a 10-minute break to draw or read as a form of positive reinforcement.
- Reward students who are caught "being kind" with a chance to play with a special toy.
- Allow students to earn a day with no shoes or wearing a hat in the classroom.
Over time, this positive feedback and reinforcement can help to create a culture of positive behavior in the classroom, making it more likely that students will continue to behave in positive ways.
Brag tags are fun positive reinforcement example that works well with students.
More Positive Reinforcement Strategies That Work With Students
Looking for some specific strategies you can add to your teacher toolbox? Here are some simple — but effective — ways to focus on the positive!
Verbal Praise
It doesn't get simpler than verbal praise to reinforce positive behavior. When a student exhibits a positive behavior, be it following directions or helping a peer, simply acknowledge and praise them for it. A "Great job, you followed directions perfectly!" can go a long way.
Stickers and Tokens
Kids have loved stickers since they were invented, and doling them out as a means of rewarding positive behavior is a simple strategy to implement in the classroom. You can also try offering some sort of token — perhaps a classroom "buck" and allow students to trade in their stickers or tokens for prizes or other rewards. This strategy is especially effective for younger students who may be motivated by tangible rewards.
Consistency
It may not feel like a "strategy" per se, but consistency is key when using positive reinforcement. Teach Starter Senior Resource Producer Randi Smith spent 16 years in elementary and middle school classrooms, and she offers this important advice:
"Apply the same rules and rewards consistently across all students. Otherwise, it leads to confusion and diminishes the effectiveness and novelty factor of positive reinforcement."
Positive Notes Home
A positive note home to a student's parents or guardians to let them know about their child's positive behavior can be especially valuable because it not only reinforces that positive behavior but also lets parents know that their child is doing well in school.
Peer Praise
Build your classroom community by encouraging students to praise each other for positive behavior. You can have students share positive comments about their peers during class meetings or at the end of the day.
Whole Class Incentives
You don't have to stick to one-offs and rewarding individual students. Classroom incentives are a great strategy to reinforce positive behavior for the whole class. Your class can work together towards earning a special reward for everyone, such as a pizza party or a movie day, when a certain number of positive behaviors are exhibited. This strategy encourages kids to work together and support each other in exhibiting positive behavior.
One Final Note on Positive Reinforcement in the Classroom
Your students are individuals, and that comes into play in positive reinforcement strategies too — what works with one student may not work with another.
"Some kids respond to treats, some to verbal praise, and some students absolutely glow when they find out you're willing to make a positive parent phone call," Smith advises other teachers. "Use different reinforcers!"
- Plus Plan
Mystery Prize Picker - Interactive Behavior Rewards
Reward your students with special surprises by using our interactive behavior reward picker!
- Plus Plan
Virtual Classroom Management - Interactive Reward Charts
Track and reward extraordinary class behavior with a set of fun digital reward tracking slides.
- Plus Plan
Behavior Intervention Cheat Sheet
Keep a Behavior Intervention Cheat Sheet at your fingertips to help manage classroom behaviors quickly and easily.
- Plus Plan
Behavior Bucks Classroom Reward System
Encourage good behavior choices by awarding your students with Behavior Bucks to purchase prizes from the classroom store!
- Plus Plan
Digital Reward Chart – Marble Jar
Celebrate classroom successes with a fully digital marble jar classroom reward chart.
- Plus Plan
Behavior Sticker Charts - Stars
Reward positive behavior with printable sticker charts!
- Free Plan
Our Class Got a Compliment! - Class Reward Chart
Motivate your students to keep up the good work with this classroom reward chart.
- Plus Plan
Classroom Reward Coupons - Primary Grades
Increase student motivation with this set of 25 coupons to use as a classroom reward system.
- Plus Plan
Goal Setting Thermometer Template
Set and track individual and whole-class goals with a printable goal-setting thermometer template.
- Plus Plan
I Need a Break! Card Templates
Help your students regulate their emotions by presenting them with an ‘I Need a Break!’ card for a few minutes of downtime.
- Plus Plan
Star of the Week Poster Templates
Celebrate successful students with printable Star of the Week Poster Templates!
- Plus Plan
Printable No Homework Passes
Reward students with a No Homework Pass using our printable homework pass templates.
- Plus Plan
Identifying the Parts an Earthworm Worksheet
Read, learn and label the parts of a worm with a set of printable animal features worksheets.
- Plus Plan
Positive Self-Talk Poster: Talking to Myself
Highlight the benefits of positive self talk and having a growth mindset with this classroom poster.
- Plus Plan
Last Day of School Printable Bookmarks
Send your students off for the summer with one of our end-of-year bookmarks to color.
- Plus Plan
Superhero Reward Charts
Motivate and reward students in the classroom with a set of superhero themed desk charts.
- Plus Plan
Behavior Reward System - Token Charts
Celebrate classroom successes with a set of fun-themed classroom reward charts.
- Free Plan
Slicing Up Good Choices! Class Reward Tracker
Encourage teamwork and positive behavior in your classroom with a new pizza- themed classroom reward system.
- Plus Plan
Caught Being Good! Class Reward System
Reward and track positive classroom behavior with a printable “Caught Being Good” ticket system.
- Plus Plan
Out of this World Behavior - Class Reward
Motivate and reward positive classroom behavior with a reward chart that is out of this world!
- Plus Plan
Classroom Store Kit
Set up a classroom economy and open your very own Classroom Store with a printable classroom store starter kit.
- Plus Plan
Superstar Supply Box – Behavior Incentive
Promote and acknowledge positive behavior with a superstar supply box template and accompanying poster.
- Plus Plan
Critters with Character - Classroom Behavior System
Tame your ‘wild’ classroom behavior with an animal-themed classroom management system.
- Plus Plan
Digital Mystery Rewards – Interactive Resource
Use this fun and exciting set of digital mystery rewards to promote positive behavior in your classroom.
- Plus Plan
Picture Reveal - Reward Chart Printable
Encourage your students to follow classroom rules and procedures with fun whole-class behavior reward charts.
- Plus Plan
Whole-Class Reward Tracker - Digital Reward Charts
Celebrate classroom successes with a set of fully digital classroom reward charts.
- Plus Plan
What Are Desk Pets? Introduction Slide Deck
Introduce your students to your Desk Pet Classroom Reward System with an engaging slide deck.
- Plus Plan
Race in Space! Positive Reinforcement System
Track and reward positive behavior with a fun space-themed positive reinforcement system.
- Plus Plan
Desk Pet Application
Encourage students to boost their behavior by implementing a Desk Pet Adoption Drive in your classroom, starting with an application!
- Plus Plan
Desk Pet Adoption Certificate
Boost student behavior using Desk pets, starting with a printable Desk Pet Adoption Certificate.
- Plus Plan
Desk Pet Habitat Templates
Encourage positive behavior with printable Desk Pet Habitats for your students to spend their Desk Pet Dollars on!
- Plus Plan
Behavior Sticker Charts
Reward positive behavior for individual students with editable and printable behavior reward charts.