One of the hardest things about being a teacher is trying to find a cheap positive rewards for students. We all know the usual easy reward is to buy candy. What a kid will do for a jolly rancher is sometimes amazing. Students like everyone else can be influences to change their actions based on short term anticipated rewards or consequences. At the beginning of the year when I decided on a reward system I try to give a lot of rewards. When all the students get excited right away it is great to help keep attention knowing that that reward is attainable. Non food rewards Ron Clark writes in his book of using buttons. On said buttons he has written, "Ask me how I did on Mrs/Mr _____'s test." the idea is that as more people ask them they get more excited about their accomplishment and achievement. They get praise from not just their one teacher but many teachers. The one con I can see with this would be keeping track of buttons. As a middle school teacher I would need to make a lot of buttons. Also, holes in shirts can be a complaint by parents, I always try to do something that parents will enjoy and not complain about.Photo Recognition board- you can take each students photo on the first day or ask students to bring in a photo they enjoy that can be posted. After tests and quizzes think how fun it would be to come see your face placed on the board for the day. Middle students are very into themselves. (pause for shock) They get a kick out of seeing themselves everywhere. Test and quizzes champions - if students receive a sticker on a test or quiz they get to sign a specific canvas that will stay on the wall for 2 years. I have seen kids scan old canvases just to see others autographs. They get to choose a pen color, but there is a size limit for each signature. They all want to try a cool handwriting and come back to visit the canvas the next year just to see it hanging there. Parents especially loved coming into my classroom to see their child's name associated with being a champion. Token, ticket or dollar rewards - This can be a everyday system where students can receive points, tokens, tickets, "dollars" or some other printed reward. You can give them the rewards for paying attention, quietly working, great quiz or test scores, maybe a struggling student can get a reward for turning in so many homework assignments in a row. anytime that they do something you can give a positive reward. I used to make my students immediately write their names on the item so that they could not share or trade them. They had to keep track of tickets and could turn them in for extra credit, in exchange for homework assignments, or some other positive free reward, some schools have rewards at lunch or recess, those are always an option!**Best of the Day award - for every class that students are participating, engaging or working efficiently in I would write down names of students who were doing exceptionally well. At the end of class I would pull a name out of a jar for who was out Best of the Day award winner. They got an entry in a school wide raffle but you could have easy little prizes for everyone or extra points towards homework. Whatever works.Feel free to comment with other great ideas. I love rewarding on a budget!