Token Boards and Reward Menus: 60 Free or Cheap Reward Ideas for Behavior, Grades K to 5

Token boards get a bad name because they are often used badly: too many tokens, a reward the kid does not care about, and no plan to fade it. Done right, they are one of the simplest tools you have.

What's included:

• A one page guide to making token systems work

• 3 token, 5 token, and 10 token boards

• A reward menu for younger students

• A reward menu for teens that does not look babyish

• 60 free or cheap reward ideas

How I'd use it:

Start with a short board so the student earns fast, then stretch it out. Let the kid pick from the menu before they start working, not after. The 60 ideas list is the page I hear people print for their whole team. Most of it costs nothing.

The reward menus are printable as they are or easy to tweak with your own choices. The teen menu leans on time, choice, and privileges, because that is what older kids work for. Pair any of these with clear praise every time a token goes on, so the praise starts to do the work and the board can fade. If a board stops working, it is usually because the reward got old or the wait got too long. Fix those two things before you toss it.

Who it's for: Teachers, paras, and families. Grades PreK 12.

What you download: one printable PDF, 3 pages, US Letter.

Made by Jeremy D. Gooch, special education teacher and transition coordinator. Drafting and layout had AI assistance; every page was checked by me.