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Coupons for kids: a classroom management strategy that is SMART! Read tips for implementing a class coupon reward system.
Coupons for Kids: The Smart Classroom Management Strategy
I have been teaching young children for 10 years and in that time I have tried A LOT of classroom management strategies, but never coupons for kids. But out of everything I have tried, classroom management strategies that are POSITIVE and ones that run themselves (after initial teaching and practicing).
Today, I am here to share with you my absolute favorite classroom management strategies that I discovered a few years ago and have used ever since: Class Coupons as a classroom management strategy. Coupons for kids is an effective and positive method that works! 
HOW GIVING COUPONS FOR KIDS MOTIVATES
WHY AND WHERE I HEARD ABOUT COUPONS FOR KIDS
COUPONS FOR KIDS STORAGE SOLUTIONS
You could even try something different and organize coupons in little drawers. You can find a similar container with drawers similar to THIS one.
FUN CHOICES FOR COUPONS
SEE COUPONS FOR KIDS IN ACTION
Coupons for Kids Resources
Free Coupons Sample
Grab the exclusive FREE 10 NEW coupon sample to match the full Class Coupon pack by clicking the image below.
Class Coupons Pack
The Ultimate Classroom Management Toolkit
Find all your classroom management essentials, including Class Coupons, with the Class Management bundle. It includes 8 engaging resources that kids will love!
Other Great Classroom Management Ideas
Classroom Management Strategies
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Wow Elyse these are so cute!!
Thanks so much Mandi! I adore them too!!
Do you print more than one coupon and hand them out to the kids? Where do the students store their coupons? When they want to use a coupon what do you do with them? Do you mark it so they can’t use it again, do you throw it out (its laminated so I wouldn’t do that), or put it back in the pile?
I am a deaf and hard of hearing teacher and will have my first classroom next year. I really like the idea of coupons, especially since my students are 3-5 grade and the treasure box is what we use for the PK-2 graders.
I print about 10 of each and laminate them. I let them keep their coupons in their desks in a spot that they can see. When they want to use one, they hand it back into the coupon box. I don’t keep track as to who has used what as that adds more unnecessary work onto the teacher. Hope that helps!
What font is that? The colorful one? I’ve been seeing it a lot lately but I cannot find the name.
It’s a KG font available on TpT! I changed the colors for each letter too.
This sounds like a great idea worth trying. Thanks for sharing.
You’re very welcome!
Thank you for this wonderful idea! I would love to use it! But one question, what if the child misuse the coupon? For example, sit with a friend. The child sits with the friend that he/she likes during work time but took long time to complete the work and kept talking to that friend during work time. What would you do?
Hi Oon! I totally hear your concern and well this is a reality with any management strategy. I think the expectations need to be made clear well ahead of using the coupons and a discussion needs to happen about what happens if they are misused. I find that kids are so excited about this special privilege that they behave really well. But adjust accordingly! Good luck!
This is great! One question, when do you let the kids redeem the coupons? If I give many out in one day, they will redeem many. Do you have kids redeem two coupons a week or during snack only? Or should I just be mindful of how often and how many I give out?
I love this idea. I think it is so cute. I’m being moved from K to 3rd and trying to see what I want to do for classroom management. Our school uses Paw prints where students can turn them in for school wide fun activities. Most activities are 30+ Paw prints so we are constantly handing them out to well behaved students students on task and working hard. Do you hand multiple coupons out per day per student? Sometimes when students are on task and being a good helper etc I give multiple paw prints, is this something you do? I can’t imagine handing out 3 coupons to maybe 10 kids in one day and the next they are all wearing sunglasses all day and walking around with stuffed animals. Or am I missing something?
No, I do not give out that many each day. Maybe a child can hope to receive 1 or 2 a day max but some days they don’t get any. I like these coupons to be those extra special things they earn through repeated hard word, trying really hard, team points awards, or star of the day sort of things. But that being said, it is completely up to you how you use them. They are incredibly versatile so would work with your paw print system. Could you let kids turn in 10 paw prints for 1 coupon maybe? Just a thought 🙂
Thank you so much for this fabulous idea! I already purchased the coupons, printed and laminated them. Unfortunately, I’m unable to locate the box that you store them in. Can you please tell me the dimensions so I can search for a similar one. I’m so excited to begin using this system in my classroom!
Hi Lisa, I cannot find the box I used anymore as well but when I was at Michael’s recently I saw similar ones that would work there. I also have started using a box with little drawers that slide open. That seems to work well also. All the best in your search!
Hello! When you give out coupons for good behavior, do you choose what coupon to give to the students or do they get to choose?
I absolutely let them choose. It’s part of the fun! 🙂
Okay thank you! I will be a first year teacher next school year and will be teaching first grade. So this sounds like a awesome reward system.
Love the idea! Just a quick question….I see where you said they store them in their desks once they earn a coupon. My question/s is, do you let them redeem them whenever they want to? Do you do it once a week? Do you ever have any issues with the children accumulating a lot before they use them?
Thanks
One more question (sorry, my brain is working overtime)….when do you reward them? For example, do you let them go to the drawer as soon as you catch them doing something awesome, do they earn something throughout the day and then go trade it in at the end of the day for the coupon of their choice, etc.
Thanks again
Hi Angie! I let them cash them in the morning usually when we are doing morning work or when there is a break – recess, lunch, free time, etc. I have only ever had a few students that liked to accumulate them. I gave them a timeframe to use them in and some decided to use multiple in a day. They choose them again at different types…end of the day, during a break, when I catch them doing something awesome in front of the group. The best thing about these coupons is how versatile they are! Use them as you see best fit for your class.
Adore these but the link to the Free Sample Coupons is broken! I am a first year teacher and I am STOKED to use these with my kids.
Sorry about that! I’m in the process of fixing it! In the meantime, you can access it here: https://proudtobeprimary.lpages.co/free-coupon-sample/
Hi! Can you please give the measurements of your coupons? I am hoping they will fit into a 9 pocket baseball card collector page…
Thank You, Sue
Hi Sue! Yes, these would fit in a baseball card protector page! You can also change the size that you print in your printer settings.
I teach pre-k and so we don’t have individual desks. How would you recommend these be stored? I don’t want them going into backpacks because they’ll never come back haha
Hi Abby! I would suggest using whatever current method you use for organizing your student’s materials. If your students have individual boxes with their names on them, use those. If you don’t have anything like that, then maybe a pocket folder with names on tabs where kids can store and access their coupons.