sticker charts for the 'naughty' kid. WWYD differently?

[juniper904]

What are your thoughts on disruptive kids getting a sticker chart in class?

If it works its a good idea. It focuses on the positive behaviour and encourages then to repeat it. I would suggest having limited targets that must be met do get a sticker. Why do ask?

If it helps them then I would think it was fine, especially if that then meant classroom life was better for all the children in the class.

We've used them in class when they have been recommended by the educational specialists involved.

'Disruptive kids' is a very broad term- sticker charts (used correctly) will work for some children, but not for others. It depends on why and how they are disruptive.

But that's not what you mean, is it?

As a start they can be helpful.

But you defining them as 'the naughty child' suggests it's more than just a one off/first time they've tackled it.

What ages are you talking about?

Probably not so effective on a strapping 14 YO

Personally, I'd prefer an individual target book - with a couple of accountable targets, repeated daily. It's more private and can also go home for comments.

I must say that I haven't met many children who react favourably to sticker charts for a long time. They are also very public.

One of my dcs is the naughty kid. He doesn't have a sticker chart but he does have a jar of sweets in the teacher's cupboard. If you feel this is somehow unfair on you or tour child, I'll be only too happy to give you the sweets and the sen that necessitates them.

Define 'disruptive'

So you would basically be rewarding the 'naughty' children for doing what the others do anyway? I think to have a reward system in place for just a small group of the class could cause more problems than it would solve

lock them in a cupboard.....
I mean seriously..

as someone posted
"define naughty child"

Disruptive.

Shouts out. Punches people. Laughs when others get hurt. Laughs when others talk as part of the class. Swears. Calls people names. Steals from the teacher. Steals from other children. Shouts back at the teacher. Shouts over the TA. Shouts back at the headteacher. Refuses to do any work he doesn't like. Kicks chairs. Throws books. Makes other children cry.

Disruptive, no?

Yes sirzy but those children who find it hard to sit still for more than 5 minutes, not lash out when they get cross, do writing/maths/reading when they're told to need positive reinforcement when they DO do those things. Children who don't get the reward charts are so more accepting than the parents of the 'well behaved' children

That's a very detailed description of the DC juniper, did you see it yourself or is it from your DC? (not saying your DC can't describe what happened)

I agree with the poster earlier who said that things should be more private and personalised than one group being so publically praised. That is atomatically making them even more different to their peers.

Ah, that sort of child. Would you like him to be flogged? Sent to a detention room? No, you'd be much more comfortable is he got packed off to a PRU or special school so that you could forget about non-standard children and get on with your perfect lives.

I expect the teacher is giving out stickers as they have a positive effect on the child's behaviour. Most adults don't give out stickers for fun. I expect the teacher has thought about it and has considerably more experience of this child's classroom behaviour than you, unless you hide under your dcs desk to shield them from other kids in case they catch sen

"Probably not so effective on a strapping 14 YO"

You'd be surprised

"So you would basically be rewarding the 'naughty' children for doing what the others do anyway?"

Yes. When it is more difficult for a child to do what others do anyway, be that due to SN, emotional difficulties or reasons that may not be apparent, it can be completely appropriate to reward a 'naughty' child. Ideally, 'the others' should be rewarded for their own individual targets too, but this is not always practicable; hence the most challenging children being targeted as a priority.

Well, Verugal, back in your box because I am the teacher, and I do have a sticker chart for him. And it's doing wonders.

oh so you are talking about a child you teach??

Sticker charts work really well for primary kids who can't think in a longer timeframe than 'what I did this lesson' as it lays it out in a reall visual way and they get instant feedback. I can't speak for secondary, and for kids who are consciously acting out to manipulate and get attention, it doesn't work IMHO.

As for it not being fair on the other children, the vast majority do just want to learn. They get frustrated and annoyed when they can't and can be really very perceptive about the positive effects that such a system can have for them. If they can equate Disruptive Child getting stickers with 'I can work without having pencils thrown at my head and my books stolen' then you'll generally find they don't feel hard done by.

However, if Disruptive Child is still having a negative influence then there is something not working, and the school should then start looking at other options for managing the behaviour so ALL the other children can learn.

Is this having a negative effect on your DC? If so, just have a quick chat with the teacher and see how they are expecting the charts to work, and if there is any reward system in place for the children who are always good.

I hardly think he's identifiable from my description.

Is that not a bit unprofessional?

What's the point of this thread if you're the teacher and the strategy is working fine?

In that case (wine). You probably need it as much as I do

Oh, and as for being private, I have known kids who are very proud of their afternoon of stars for good behaviour, and want to show them off to all and sundry. It shouldn't be paraded in front of the class, but other children will notice whatever you do, and if its good, why not give them the opportunity to show it off?

are you advocating StickersRUs as a panacea?

POsitive reinforcement works very well (check out pyramid education consultants - they have a paper somewhere on work with very challenging children) providing the reinforcer is meaningful to the child. That's often missed. Of a child like getting stickers it will work, if not it needs to be something else. But yes, I'm all for positive reinforcement used by people who know what they're doing.

A lot of parents on MM complain about the child with the sticker chart. I wanted to know what they would do as the alternative. There have been numerous threads about how it's not fair on their child that they miss out on certificates yet the little bugger gets them for not kicking someone.

Teachers are dissed publicly for being inept at instilling good behaviour, and yet when they have a strategy that works, the parents complain of inequality.

As for the kid I referenced, he is one of millions of kids in this country. I am one of thousands of teachers. For what it's worth, I think he's a lovely kid and I am going to make this the year that turns his behaviour around. If it kills me. Which it might.