15 easy, low-prep ways to encourage students to come to school!
Elementary School
1. Mystery Monday: Every student who is present is entered into a quick drawing for a small prize, classroom privilege, or mystery reward.
2. Attendance Hero: Celebrate students with perfect or improved attendance for the week by letting them wear a special badge, crown, or “Attendance Hero” sticker.
3. Extra Recess Challenge: If the entire class reaches a weekly attendance goal, reward them with 10–15 extra minutes of recess.
4. Class Celebration Jar: Each day the class reaches its attendance goal, add a pom-pom, marble, or other item to a jar. When it is full, celebrate with a dance party, game time, or special activity.
5. Morning VIP: Choose one student who has demonstrated great attendance to be the Morning VIP—line leader, teacher helper, morning announcer, or classroom greeter.
Middle School
1. Attendance Streak Challenge: Track consecutive days with strong class attendance. Reaching a milestone can earn a homework pass, extra free time, or a classroom game.
2. Beat the Teacher: Set a class attendance goal and challenge students to reach it. If they win, the teacher has to complete a fun, harmless challenge chosen from a pre-approved list.
3. Friday Music Request: Students who meet an attendance goal for the week can vote for appropriate music to play during independent work or dismissal.
4. Advisory Attendance Competition: Create a friendly competition between classes or advisory groups. The group with the best attendance earns bragging rights, a trophy, or a small privilege.
5. Golden Seat: Students with consistent attendance are entered into a drawing to sit in a special classroom seat for the day—such as the teacher’s chair, a comfy chair, or another designated VIP spot.
High School
1. Attendance Raffle: Each week, students who meet the attendance goal earn an entry into a drawing for simple prizes such as snacks, school supplies, parking perks, or gift cards.
2. Late Pass Reward: Students who meet a predetermined attendance goal can earn a limited late pass or another school-approved privilege.
3. Choice Time: When the class reaches its attendance goal, offer students a few minutes of choice time, music during independent work, or a preferred classroom activity.
4. Priority Privilege: Students with strong attendance can receive priority for a classroom privilege, such as choosing presentation order, selecting partners, or choosing their seat for a day.
5. Monthly Attendance Challenge: Set a monthly attendance goal and celebrate students who meet it with a larger incentive such as a snack celebration, outdoor lunch, game time, or recognition on a classroom bulletin board. ⸻ 
Quick Tip for Educators The most effective attendance incentives are often simple, consistent, and focused on celebration rather than expensive prizes. Consider recognizing improved attendance and attendance streaks, not just perfect attendance, so more students have an opportunity to succeed. Also, these ideas are easily tweaked to become classroom behavior incentives as well!
Submitted by: TN Educator Collective
