How to Make a Printable Award

Recognize hard work using printable awards.

Many people, both children and adults, are motivated by positive incentives. Positive incentives can include praise as well as tangible items like awards, medals and trophies. Printable awards and certificates can be created easily to reward positive work, effort, behavior and other traits that a teacher, parent or employer desires to cultivate. Recognition using printable awards rather than just praise or prizes gives the receiver something that will serve as a reminder of past achievements and as a motivator to continue the actions or behavior that inspired the award initially. According to CHAMPs, the most beneficial awards for the recipient will be those that are honestly earned and personalized that reward learning a new skill or behavior, a behavior that requires effort, or a behavior that the makes the recipient proud.

Things You'll Need

• Paint
• Editing software
• Clip art
• Computer
• Printer
• Card stock
• Colored printing paper
• Printing paper with border
• Markers
• Stickers
• Laminating sheet
• Frame

Instructions

Create a Printable Award Template

1. Determine the orientation of the printable award. Will the shape be portrait (longer) or landscape (wider)? Set the blank document or new file to the appropriate orientation before starting to create the printable award.

2. Set the page attributes for the printable award's final size. In some programs, like Paint, it will be necessary to manually set the correct size for the award to match the final printing size. For example, if working in Paint, set a landscape printable award to either 11 by 8.5 or 10 by 7.5 to allow ample room for margins to prevent cutting off on a standard-size printing paper.

3. Select a border for the printable award. In some programs, clip art borders will be an available option. Other programs provide a toolbar with buttons that will allow a page border to be adjusted or created. In Paint, simple borders can be created by using the rectangle or rounded rectangle.

4. Add clip art, pictures or shapes to give the printable award "pizazz." Add an inspirational and motivating quote to the printable award using a text box. Or consider placing the same quote or several quotes along the border in small text.

5. Save the printable award template that you created using File -> Save as.

Customize the Printable Award Template

1. 

   Add the lines needed for the date, award recipient's name, name of the award and issuer of the award to the printable award template that you created or downloaded. Printable award templates can be downloaded at heatherinks.com/education for free. Download by right-clicking on the template desired and selecting "Save image as."

   In the classroom environment, printable awards can be expanded and customized past the traditional perfect attendance or highest achiever awards to include more creative and motivating personal praise like "most determined student," "cheerful disposition," and "improving an entire letter grade." By issuing awards for improving an entire letter grade, many students will be able to honestly earn this reward and be motivated to continue improving since their efforts from D to C or C to B or B to A were recognized.

2. Set the printing preferences to match the page orientation for the printable award. Usually the printing orientation can be set through File -> Page Set or under Printing Preferences, usually found under Print -> Properties -> Layout -> Orientation.

3. Save the printable award in a recognizable file on your computer. "Printable Awards" could be the folder name. Print the number of awards desired or a master copy for printing multiple copies on a copy machine.

4. Fill in the blanks left on the printable award. They might include the lines for the date, award name, recipient name and the award issuer. Consider adding a well-selected handwritten quote, scripture or positive comment to the award.

5. Add seals or stickers to the printable award to further customize. Stickers can add extra sparkle and additional encouraging words or a special effect like scratch and sniff or glow in the dark.

Tips & Warnings

• Award recipients will treasure and appreciate hand-signed awards more than a computer signature or stamp. Take the extra effort to sign the award to show the award recipient your sincere appreciation. Consider filling out the printable awards using markers, either fine tip or large tip, to add more color to the award and highlight the recipient name and award title more boldly. Considering laminating the printable award to improve its durability and make it waterproof. Considering framing the printable awards for special award ceremonies or significant contributions to add professionalism.

• Give only printable awards that are sincere, accurate, earned and deserved. Giving unearned awards can damage the recipient's character and encourage negative traits and behaviors like apathy and laziness.

References

• Stetson University Management Information Systems Courses; 2000-2001
• Stetson University School of Education
• CHAMPs A Proactive and Positive Approach to Classroom Management; Randy Sprick, Micky Garrison, and Lisa Howard; 1998; pg 214-215

Resources

• Free Printable Awards