Finding rewards for older students can be challenging, especially when the students are older. (Although a surprising number of them ask for coloring pages.)
While second graders would sell their soul for a pencil or sticker (metaphorically speaking, of course), older students just don’t seem to care.
This doesn’t mean you should give up on finding rewards for your older students! On the contrary, upper elementary and middle school rewards can be some of the most fun – for students and teachers alike.
Reward coupons can help your classroom management by giving students something to work for. They’re also a great talking point when you contact parents.
Here are 31 of the best rewards for students in grades 4-8. (And when I say “best,” I mean I’ve tested them with my students. Not only are they student-approved, they’re also free!)
Side note: I’ve sorted the rewards into categories: music, seating, homework, and more, so you can find what fits your class best.
(And if you’re looking for effective classroom management strategies to use with your older students, be sure to check out this blog post.)
The Best Reward Coupons for Students in Grades 4-8
🎵 Music & Mood Rewards: These give students a little extra autonomy over the classroom environment.
- Class DJ — Let a student pick the music for work time (songs must be school appropriate, of course).
- Music Pass — Give a student permission to listen to quiet music with headphones during independent work time.
🪑 Seating & Space Rewards: These rewards give students some control over where or how they work.
- Seat Swap — A student can swap seats with someone else for the day (teacher approval required).
- Teacher’s Chair — Let a student use your chair for the day.
- Seating Choice — Choose everyone’s seat for the day.
- Alternative Classroom Pass — Have class somewhere other than the regular room, like the library, hallway, or gym (teacher approval required).
- Outdoor Class Pass — Have class outside, weather permitting.
- Quiet Focus Pass — Work independently in a quiet area for one class period.
📚 Homework & Assignment Rewards: Rewards related to assignments, grades, and deadlines.
- No Homework Pass — Skip one night’s homework.
- Half Homework Pass — Complete only half of one night’s homework.
- Late Work Pass — Turn in an assignment late with no penalty.
- Assignment Swap — Trade one short assignment for an alternate task chosen by the teacher.
- Automatic Full Credit Pass — One homework assignment automatically receives full credit (as long as it’s completed and turned in).
- Erase a Grade — Remove one missing homework grade.
Teacher tip: Make these rewards extra fun by giving them magical names. “Late work pass” becomes “Yesterday’s Echo.” Instead of “outdoor class pass,” call it “Weather Charm.”
🧠 Test & Grades Rewards: Rewards that help students with assessments.
- Extra Hint Pass — Teacher gives one hint on a test.
- Double Hint Pass — Teacher gives two hints on a test.
- Swap Pass — Trade one question for another of equal value.
- Answer Peek Pass — Look at the answer key for 10 seconds.
- Question Review Pass — Teacher will check answers to three questions.
- Expert Help Pass — Ask a classmate two yes/no questions (teacher rules apply).
- Error Review Pass — Teacher will go over one problem and identify all mistakes.
- Extra Credit — Earn extra credit points on a test or assignment (+1, +2, or +3 points).
- Sample Answer Pass — View one example or sample answer before starting work.
- Extra Credit Problem Pass — Teacher gives an extra credit problem worth up to 5 points.
- Grade Removal Pass — Remove your lowest grade from the gradebook (teacher approval required).
Teacher tip: Plan what you’re willing to let students use rewards on before giving them out. Maybe they can’t use a “no homework pass” on a reading log, or they’re not allowed to get an “extra hint” on a spelling test.
🎟️Privilege & Choice Rewards: Rewards giving students choice or special treatment.
- Partner Choice — Choose your partner or small group for one assignment.
- Privilege Choice Pass — Choose any one small privilege for the day.
- Hat Pass — Wear your favorite hat in class (teacher approval required).
- Stuffed Animal Pass — Bring one small stuffed animal to class for the day.
🌟 Recognition & Motivation Rewards: Rewards that give positive recognition or extra motivation.
- Positive Note Home Pass — Teacher sends a positive note or message home.
- Classroom Recognition Pass — Teacher gives a shout-out or recognition to you in class.
After years in the classroom, I’ve learned that the best rewards don’t come from the dollar store (or a bag of chips).
Finding rewards for students, even if they’re older, just takes a little bit of imagination. Think about the questions they’re always asking you or the privileges they beg for, then turn those into reward coupons!
If you want a set of 40 done-for-you magical rewards (with fun names like “Cloak of Recognition” and “Temporal Vortex”), check out these coupons to add a little magic to your classroom today!
And if your classroom would benefit from some free resources (like even more ideas for student rewards, RESPECT posters, or a full classroom management plan), check out this page!
FAQs about Rewards for Older Students
Free rewards for older students include classroom privileges like choosing seating arrangements, becoming a class DJ, homework passes, or extra hints on assignments. The best rewards match students’ interests and give them meaningful choices. For example, “Music Pass” or “Seat Swap” coupons give autonomy while fostering positive classroom behavior.
Give your reward coupons creative, memorable names — such as “Weather Charm” for an outdoor class or “Cloak of Recognition” for a positive shout-out. Personalizing rewards makes them more exciting and helps students connect emotionally with the incentive, increasing motivation and participation.
Reward systems for older students encourage self-motivation, improve classroom behavior, and strengthen teacher-student relationships. They give students clear goals to work toward, create a positive classroom culture, and can save teachers time by reducing disruptions.
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