Star Of The Week

[MrsWhirling]

Do you have this at your school. Do you know what constitutes the 'star of the week'?

[Wellthen]

A child that has done something well that week. "well' relates to the child so there are different standards for different children. Its a way for the school to promote and celebrate things we think are important - hard work, determination, kindness, creativity.

Every child is expected to get one so it isn't really a genuine 'prize' which I think is understood by parents and most older children. However I'm not sure they get the purpose state above.

[FernGullysWoollyPully]

Yes, we have it. As Wellthen says, every child is expected to get it. It's not done on merit at our school, by that I mean, the children, especially in lower years, don't need to have done anything spectacular to achieve star of the week. They have a chart system; gold star, silver, bronze and red. The children who receive the award are expected to stay in the star (or at the top end of the chart) all week, but even the children with more...questionable behaviour will receive the award.

[spanieleyes]

We have one parent who has, in all seriousness, told the Head her daughter should be star of the week every week as she is perfect!!

[ChocolateBreakfastBalls]

Yes. To be star of the week in my sons school you have to be a little shit on a regular basis and make little to no progress. You then have one good lesson and wahey! Job done, star of the week has been achieved because you were slightly less of a shit that day.

[MimsyBorogroves]

They have star of the day at DS's school. One boy in his class had it every day for a fortnight recently. DS, average, not particularly forthright in putting his opinions forward in class etc has had it once this year.

Much like the same boy has managed to achieve "platinum" on his sticker chart by January every single year since Reception, around the same time the rest of the class are still languishing around silver, get all of the starring roles in the showcases and plays and be chosen to speak in the services. Sometimes it's difficult not to be bitter.

[PlayingHouse]

I've decided that constant good behaviour always goes unnoticed.

DD1 was moaning yesterday because she is never picked for anything. It's hard to tell her that it's done fairly when I know her good behaviour is ignored and those that are rarely good are once again choosen for being good for 2 minutes.

I would like to know the reasoning behind it.

The other week, dd1 came home and said everyone has sat around in a circle and listened to the naughtiest boy in class explain how he plays an instrument. Teachers and TA's were stood listening. This is in the middle of YR2 SATS month. When my daughter asked if she could talk about something the next day she was told there isn't time for that in the middle of SATS

I'm hoping juniors will ignore her less.

[MrsWhirling]

Thanks all. I ask because DD7 has had a strange yr2 where she has been in trouble a couple of times and her teacher has spoken to me about her not paying attention in class. This has never happened before in nursery, reception and yr1. Anyway, it occurred to me that this year she has not been star of the week at all, not even once. I was thinking of asking her teacher but felt a bit unsure. It also goes so way towards my suspicions that he doesn't like her very much .

[MilkRunningOutAgain]

Luckily my DD's excellent teacher has been fair in awarding star of the week to everyone this academic year, and DD been happy with the system in place in her class. This has not been the case every year!

[BertrandRussell]

Why would you get Star of the Week for something you find really easy?

[Itshouldntmatter]

Because all children need positive reinforcement, and not just those who struggle or do really well.

[letsghostdance]

I just have a class list and plan to give all of the children it at least once. It's no secret that teachers usually have one child in their class that they find difficult to build a relationship and get on with, but for me that's certainly never affected anything like pupil of the week. Each child in my class will get it once this year. I've only got one left to get it, but I also have a couple who have had it twice because those children have done some brilliant things.

[BertrandRussell]

Of course they do. But I find the "it's not fair, my Jane's really good all th time and never getx the Star and John's good for one day and gets it" really frustrating. Jane doesn't have any difficulty behaving well, so doesn't need to be rewarded for it. john might really struggle and a day's good behaviour could be a much more significant achievement than a whole term for Jane. And Jane will get daily low level positive reinforcement, while John will spend most of his time getting told off, or stopped from doing things.

But I agree that teachers should find ways to reward the Janes in the class as well.

[Mandzi34]

Yes, we had this. The teachers were extremely fair in their choices and everyone appeared to get a turn, however in Year 1 the teacher had 'star of the day' so ample opportunities for the entire class yet my daughter didn't get it once! Teacher, two years on doesn't even remember her name! Says it all! She's a hard working girl, quite shy who was never a problem in the class. Seems you have to cause trouble to get noticed!

[mrz]

We don't have it but I think it's pointless if you award it because everyone gets a turn.

We do have "star" awards at the beginning of each term fir the child who has tried their best.

[Hoppinggreen]

Everyone gets a turn at DD's school - including the child who had left 3 weeks earlier!!

[TwigletPiglets]

In all honestly it is the irritating task which plagues most teacher's Friday mornings in most schools.
The teacher will probably look down a class list where they have ticked who has already had it, out of who is left they will then rack their brains as to who has done something above expectations that week...

If your DC has missed out it is most likely they simply are not very 'in your face' with their achievements or aren't the naughty child who for once has behaved most of the week.

I do think everyone should get a turn though - especially at primary. Every child at some point will do something which deserves it.

At the end of the day, it is nothing work stressing over but irritating when your child doesn't get it until later on.. worse if never but they are more than likely to get it in the next year and it will feel good when they do get it.

I'd try to avoid being that parent that goes in about it

[ThatsNotEvenAWord]

Of course they do. But I find the "it's not fair, my Jane's really good all th time and never getx the Star and John's good for one day and gets it" really frustrating. Jane doesn't have any difficulty behaving well, so doesn't need to be rewarded for it. john might really struggle and a day's good behaviour could be a much more significant achievement than a whole term for Jane. And Jane will get daily low level positive reinforcement, while John will spend most of his time getting told off, or stopped from doing things.

Couldn't have put this better. (I'm a teacher and I work through a list btw.)

[fairyfuckwings]

My daughter is in year 2 and she's absolutely thrilled when she gets star of the week. I know that everyone gets a turn but she hasn't twigged as they do tie it in with some achievement. My daughter git hers for doing well in maths and was chuffed to bits. It's a good reward though as they are allowed to wear their own clothes on Friday and the get to have their lunch first and sit at a special table with all the other "stars" - which means more playtime!

[MsDragons]

Dd2's school have a target for the week, and star of the week goes to a child who has done something towards that target. So if the target is being kind to others then a child who helped a friend who fell over might get it, or the target might be perseverance so you would get it if you tried really hard at something. Dd2 likes it because there's always a reason why someone is star of the week. It's a lot better than when dd1 was in reception and it was a vague behaviour related thing that she never got because she was always well behaved.

dd2's had it twice in reception, both times the target has been about doing something you find difficult, and she finds it really difficult to speak to people so standing up and saying a line in family assembly deserved some recognition.

[fairyfuckwings]

Other "achievements" have been "being kind to others " which was nice and "queuing up nicely" which was a bit "meh ". I did think surely she'd done something in the whole year that was more noteworthy than her ability to stand in a queue!

[reni1]

One child who regularly bites and hits others got it for not biting or hitting anybody for a week. Which is of course great, waiting to see if it has a lasting effect. No idea if the star of the week is a useful tool, I find it causes grief.

[yomellamoHelly]

Not sure. Dd got it for trying hard that particular week. Think they try and make sure everyone gets it over the course of the school year.