How to Easily Create a Custom Reward Chart

Ready-to-use reward charts can be very helpful for classroom management, but they often need a few tweaks in order to make them as effective as possible. In this post, I’m going to share how you can easily create a custom reward chart for your students without having to start from scratch!

The Benefits of a Customized Reward System

It might take a few extra steps to create a custom reward system for your class, but it’s worth the effort! Here are just a few of the benefits of using a reward chart that’s been customized for your classroom:

• Target Specific Behavior: When you customize your own reward system, you can get very specific in the behavior that you’re targeting instead of relying on the generic goals of a print-and-use system.
• Provide Motivating Rewards: One of my favorite features of a custom reward chart is that you can adjust the rewards to something that will truly motivate your class.
• Increase Student Buy-In: Students are more likely to stay engaged in the reward system when it has been tailored to them.

How to Create a Custom Reward Chart

Creating a customized reward system for your class doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. In fact, I’ve broken it down into five easy steps! With these tips and resources, you’ll be able to have an effective reward system up and running in no time at all!

1. Choose a Format

The first step in creating a custom reward chart begins with choosing a format that works best for your students. Reward charts come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s important to make sure that you’re choosing one that will resonate with your students.

For en example, my Build-a-Reward system includes two different formats. In the first option, students will put together a character or object one piece at a time. For example, they might build a flower one piece at a time. This format is often popular with students, because they like to see the picture come to life one piece at a time.

The other Build-a-Reward option gives students the chance to build a scene as they earn pieces of the reward. For example, a student might build a bowl of cereal by adding the colorful marshmallows one at a time.

2. Select a Theme

Once you’ve decided on a format that will work best for your students, it’s time to select a theme that matches the interests of your class. These could be seasonal themes that coordinate to the calendar month you’re in, since those themes are often on your students’ minds already.

You can also select reward themes that are of special interest to students in your class. For example, your class might be obsessed with robots because of a new movie that just came out. You can capitalize on that interest through your choice of reward chart theme!

3. Customize the Goal

Before you can start using the reward system, you need to select a specific goal for students to work toward. With a print-and-go reward system, you might discover that the wording on the goal cards doesn’t sound like something you say in your classroom. This is when customization can come in handy!

You can choose a picture card that matches the goal you have in mind, then adjust the wording to match what you say in your classroom. This consistency can go a long way in helping your students exhibit the target behavior.

4. Customize the Reward

In addition to editing the goal cards, it’s also important to customize the rewards that you use for your behavior system. You want the reward to be something that your students can easily recognize, which can improve buy-in. You also want the reward to be something that you can actually provide when students earn it. 

For example, you might not be able to have students eat lunch in the classroom as a reward, so that picture card wouldn’t be relevant to your class. However, your students know you will occasionally eat lunch in the cafeteria with them on a “Fun Friday”. So, you could adjust that particular picture card to say “Fun Friday” and create a custom reward that will be more motivating to your students!

5. Display and Use

The final step in creating a custom reward chart is to display it in a way that works best for your daily routine. Some teachers choose to display their reward system in a pocket chart near the carpet. Other teachers choose to create a bulletin board just for their reward system. You know yourself and your students best, so you can use that knowledge to create a reward chart display that will work for your classroom.

No matter what you decide, be sure to display your reward chart in a place that will remind you to use it! Whether it’s near the door or at the front of the classroom, you can choose a location that will keep your behavior goals at the top of mind.

Editable Reward Chart Bundle

I have put together a bundle of themed Build-a-Reward charts that will keep your classroom running more smoothly all year long! With well over 50 reward charts to choose from, you’re bound to find themes that will motivate your class to work toward the behavior goal.

These low-prep behavior charts are easy to customize so you can use goals and rewards that best meet the needs of your class. If you’d like to take a closer look at everything included in this bundle, you can find it in the Teaching Exceptional Kinders shop or in my TPT store.

Save These Tips for Custom Reward Charts

Be sure to save this post so you can come back to it later! Just add the pin below to your favorite Pinterest board of teaching ideas. You’ll be able to quickly find these tips for custom reward charts when you’re looking for a way to improve behavior in your classroom.