11 Ideas for Rewarding Your Distance Learning Class

Rewards have been a long-standing part of teachers’ classroom behavior management plans, however, pizza, donut, and ice cream parties, or choosing from a prize box obviously don’t really work logistically these days.

Here are a few ideas on how to keep your reward system going in an online setting:

1. Virtual lunch with teacher (or Principal)

Use this time to build or maintain your relationship. Learn about how students are spending their time–favorite music, video games, or hobbies. Share age-appropriate updates on how you are adjusting to more time at home. Bonus: If your budget allows, this reward can include food delivered to the student! Or instead, you could do a snack or drink break instead of an entire lunch for a quick treat.

2. Digital dance party

Your class can work together toward an online dance session of any length. Let students pick the music and take turns showing off dance moves or teaching other kids how they’re done.

3. Positive email to parents

Easy and free! Share why you are celebrating your class and encourage them to join in on congratulating their child.

4. Free assignment or reduced assignment

Pick or let students vote on an assignment and allow them to do half of it.

5. Show and tell

A whole class show-and-tell virtual meeting might take a really long time. Perhaps spread this out over a week and have a few kids share each day.

6. Dress up day

Another idea to include the entire class. Students and teachers dress up in an agreed upon theme or era. Encourage students to only use what they have in their home and watch the creativity come to life!

7. Choose teacher (or principal) hair style

Students will LOVE picking out a stylish or silly hairstyle for you or their principal to try out.

8. Virtual field trip

These are great for whole-class rewards. There are tons of terrific virtual “field trips” you can take with your class, from zoos and aquariums to national parks and even space!

9. Virtual theme day

Your whole class can work together to earn a virtual theme day. Students (and teachers) dress up and use props or even digital backgrounds to help celebrate all sorts of fun ideas. A few we love: Favorite Book Day, Travel Day, Pajama Day, or Throwback Day (i.e. 1980s).

10. Send an eBook

Make a list of ebooks kids can choose from as rewards for extra-special accomplishments. (There are plenty of good options out there for a few dollars or less.) Amazon makes it easy to send ebooks as gifts, and recipients can read them on any device.

11. Mystery Reader

Invite a special guest and they would come into the virtual meeting with their video off (and name changed!). Students would get to ask yes or no questions before they revealed who they were and then read a book!

No matter what rewards you end up choosing, the most important thing is to continue to find ways to have fun and motivate students. Just like in the physical classroom, students will need extra encouragement to stay on track with their learning goals. Incentives are a wonderful way to create a classroom community and keep students engaged.