Star Learner great idear but can be a pain as well....

[Jules808]

Hi, Is anyone else fed up with the "Star Learner" yellow jumpers. I only say this as it would appear that my son is the only person in his class to have never gotten to wear this jumper since it started over a year and one whole term ago. Some kids get it every term and it just makes my son upset and he takes it out on me when he gets home. I have text the school to find out what the policy is to be told that "Children get the yellow jumper when they have earned it and if they haven't earned it then they will not get it." Also told that they "don't all get a turn." It just upsets me now that his friends go round and have this in his face for a whole week and at one time i used to say well done to them and how proud they must be but now i just want to say something else. Its great that they are so pleased but when they have had it 5 to 6 times and have to show me i feel like they are rubbing salt into mine and my sons face and cannot say anything in case i upset them or my son. Am i the only one who feels this way.... On top of this my son is seeing someone (school arranged) to help with his "confidence" and "self esteem".... Sorry rant over....

[BottleOfJameson]

Could your DS perhaps ask the teacher what he can do to get the yellow jumper? It's harsh if he's the only one who hasn't had it, I would have DS ask what he needs to work on to get it. (I'm working under the assumption that he's bothered about this - not just you).

[Haworthia]

I’ve never heard of it!

I think it’s great to reward attainment, but keep it to a certificate and not a jumper!

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

A special jumper? All I've ever seen is a certificate... Or at a push a badge.

That seems over the top and while everyone can't win everything, it can be damaging to those who work hard but are not top at anything.

[drtachyon]

Star of the Week schemes can be an absolute minefield.

I remember when DS1 was in Reception, it was almost the end of the year before he got it for the first time. It was a very small class as well, so most of his classmates had been Star of the a Week twice before he got it once. Although the kids just got a little badge for a week rather than an in your face yellow jumper.
And even then, his teacher said to me that he didn’t really deserve to be the Star of the Week, but she thought he needed a boost
Fortunately it never bothered DS1 so I never brought the subject up with the school.

Did the school say what the criteria was for being the “Star Learner”? Doing well in lessons, good effort, good behaviour?

All I can suggest is having a word with his teacher, explain how he’s upset and demoralised about the situation, and asking what he needs to work on to get it.

[LetItGoToRuin]

I agree with others that these sorts of rewards can be a bit of a nightmare. One approach is for the teacher to make sure everyone gets it once per year, which is probably a good idea in Reception but does make it a bit meaningless. Another approach is for the teacher to give it to the person that they consider really has earned it that week, which can mean that the shy kids or the consistent hard workers or the ones that always behave well tend to miss out.

In most cases I’d say it’s a useful lesson for a child in accepting that life’s not always fair, but If your DS is already receiving additional support to help with his confidence and self-esteem, AND if your DS is personally struggling with the impact of others receiving the yellow jumper, I think it’d be worth you following up with the teacher again to see if they can have a chat with his support person, to see whether this can be addressed with him in some way.

[Jules808]

Thanks for suggestions etc. He does get upset about the whole thing and unfortunately gets reactive with me. He thinks its unfair. I am not sure if one of the other kids is also being unkind about it to upset my son (he says its unfair and then does not want to talk about it and then starts hitting and kicking things to get rid of his fustration and then cries and i end up comforting him). I think i will wait a week or so and then think about asking his teacher what he has to do to get it.

[Jules808]

Thanks for all suggestions. I have now spoken to one of his current class assistants who agreed with me and was very good about the whole thing. She has said she will see what she can do. So feeling better now and keeping quiet to my son as do not want him to know that i have complained. One of the other parents saw that i was having this conversation and asked if everything was ok so i mentioned it to them and they were horrified and said they thought all kids got a turn (their other half is a teacher at another school). Fingers now crossed that he gets it by the end of the summer term....