To think weekly class awards should be a bit fair?

[Pandora1box]

At DD’s school they give out three class awards a week. Two of them are ‘star of the week’ and one is an academic award. My issue is that her teacher seems to just choose the same child(ren) week after week. So we’re now in the summer term with about half of the class having recieved no kind of reward for hard work this year. Am I unreasonable to think this isn’t really cricket? There are 36 teaching weeks in the year - more than enough to give each child an award this academic year (even enough to double up for her favourites!) but because she chooses the same children week after week a lot will go without recognition.

Normally this wouldn’t bother me at all but it’s got to the point where DD is taking the attitude of “I don’t know why I bother working hard etc.” And she is too young to be jaded like this (she’s 8).

I know she does work hard and is capable because she was chosen for an academic school award by a different teacher.

I’m so tempted to ask the teacher why she does this but I really don’t want to be ‘that parent’.

Each child deserves recognition, especially at that age when it means so much. Not really awards but when I was that age each week a one of us was chosen (until we all had been) and everyone in the class wrote something they admired or liked about them on a strip of paper. The teacher then typed up and printed on a piece of card. Always thought it was such a lovely thing to do

The third possibility is that she thinks the same 10 or 15 children deserve to be rewarded more than the rest.

Maybe. But then I think at that age all the children should be given recognition, what does it cost the teacher really to boost every one of those kids for one week of the year? As I’ve already said there are 36 weeks in a term so ample opportunity for the teacher to award the same children again if she thinks they deserve it.

DD has already said to me and her grandmother (separately) that she doesn’t know why she bothers to work hard as she is never chosen and I have to admit that it does get to me, even though I agree with the majority on here that these awards are just bits of paper, they obviously mean something to the kids in the class. I also know that DD tries really hard and deserves recognition - the teacher told me at parents evening that she is an exemplary pupil/pleasure to teach blah blah and she also won an independent (i.e. not judged by class teacher) academic award from the school out of all the children in her class. So I know it’s not her behaviour or the fact that she can’t do the work.

I don’t agree with the whole concept. All research says that intrinsic motivation is more powerful and enduring. I’d scrap the whole lot and have a curriculum that encouraged children to be excited about learning and proud of their own unique talents and strengths. gets off her soapbox

Loandbeholdagain I completely agree with you.

Is there any point in an award that everyone gets just because it's their turn? Life isn't like that, awards go to the people who've done something exceptional, or worked hard, or been selfless or brave in some respect. Not just those who've gone along for the ride.

What would those 10/15 children have done to deserve the award more?

I feel sorry for the teacher having to do three awards every week! I struggle with one!

I'll be honest, I have a list hidden in my desk and I work through it to make sure everyone gets at least one certificate over the year. A couple will get more than one. I do give it for genuine things, because unless they've had a really shitty week they've all done something positive (either personally or academically).

My colleagues are often scrambling to think of someone to give the certificate to on the morning of the assembly, so I can see how people might choose the same kids if they stand out as good workers or whatever. But that is why I have my list.

Yes, because if your child goes to an average standard state school there will be children who go to school hungry, live in substandard housing with no place to do homework or quietly read a book or even own a book. Some children will have parents who have no interest in their child’s education and this is before we get to kids with safeguarding concerns.

The children with extra learning needs for whom managing to get even 1 of their spellings correct is an achievement. The unmedicated/as yet undiagnosed adhd kids when it’s a win if they sit in their seat for a lesson.

The rubbish reasons for a certificate that we see may have been a real achievement for that child.

Their are no excuses for child not to get at least one certificate/award per year. These are primary school children not adults.

My local school does this -weekly for several subjects and I don't see the point.

If every kid deserves it at some point then the point is somewhat lost to me. I don't get houses and points either, though (as someone who was good and able at school and would have been horribly embarrassed at any acknowledgement of it).

YANBU, I would have words with the teacher. It’s blatant favouritism.

At my DC’s school they have one star of the week a week and make sure they choose someone different each time.

BG2015 Like your system.

RBBMummy I disagree with that actually and I was routinely in a similar position as you, at least sometimes I bet there were other deserving students.

I think the children who have worked harder/achieved more deserve the award. That's how life works? I also don't get when children "graduate" from nursery or infant school - graduation implies they've actually done something aside from just get older?! I don't think it's good to perpetuate a sense that everyone is entitled to a prize just for showing up!

CheshireChat no, there were 3 rewards (best behaviour, best academically, best try, you could only get one at a time) and the other 2 usually went to a handful of kids but occasionally (rarely) a naughty, lazy, or coasting kid would suddenly try for a week to get chocolate. I was the poor kid with learning difficulties, I just tried and liked that class

RBBMummy I assumed it was for best academically, but still, if only one person gets a prize then the competition element is removed which isn't that great.

However, congrats to you as it sounds like definitely put the effort in.

Actually I think children do like the certificate even if they know each person gets a go. They love that they get it for a reason and that the teachers noticed something special they've done.

SOTW can be for little Jonny who has tried hard all week to follow the class rules or for little Alice who has been noticed for following rules well. It's always underestimated that the children who are seen as 'well behaved and angels' can put in as much effort for that as the child with Sen who manages to behave for short periods.

(I say that as a parent of a child with Sen)

I can see your point with primary age. As a secondary teacher though, we had to nominate a prize winner at GCSE and A level. My last A level class, there was one girl who completely deserved it. She'd improved her skills massively through sheer hard work. She'd already been picked for a prize in another subject so it was suggested I nominate someone else. And I did, and he had worked very hard too, but I've always regretted it - because SHE deserved to have both prizes, and realise she'd done THAT well.

Pandora1box

I'm not suggesting it costs the teacher anything. I am suggesting that the teacher may believe she rewards should be earned, not given out just because. And while you might disagree with that and have other priorities, it isn't the teacher doing anything wrong, if that is genuinely what she thinks and she has no policies pushing her in a different direction.

Maldives2006

I have no idea. In my classes, though (secondary) the children who deserve reward more than others are the ones who are always on time, always give 100%, always push through as much of the work as they can, are always respectful, are kind to others. That's probably 5 out of every 30 students.

Honestly, teachers can't win. ds2 quickly worked out that class certificates were given on a rota base mainly because he got one the week after his twin every time. Yes, all children deserve praise for their achievements but this should be for real achievements not just because their name comes up in the rota.

123Buckle that is lovely- the first award system that I have heard of which makes sense.

Just tell the teacher your daughter is feeling despondant and ask her what she needs to do to get star of the week. If you are in the Uk - the term finishes in July so still plenty of time.

There’s a middle ground between a meaningless rota (child A must receive certificate week 1, followed by child B week 2 etc) and giving out a certificate to the ch Lad who deserves it most that week, and ticking their name off a private list so the teacher is actively focusing on other children to notice their achievements.

At primary age they glow when they’re genuinely recognised for effort - and effort can be unique to the child. Plenty of time in life past primary school to learn that you won’t always get rewarded even IF you’ve tried your best, so why put younger children off when a quick list in a desk drawer is so easy to do?

ch Lad = child

My phone is rather sexist today

We have rewards that emphasise improvement ( 5 a week). Despite the rather OTT amount of awards being given out, we had an issue lately where some children weren't getting the more coveted awards. These children were mostly kids who are quiet, well behaved and produced consistently good work. They were just flying under the radar! Luckily we all have spreadsheets to keep track of the awards so this was spotted and sorted out quickly. If I were you I would ask at parents evening. The teacher will probably be mortified...if they care at all about the kids in their class.

Actually I find by having a fair system it makes me look for the good and positives in the kids that on the outside are pretty annoying and hard work.

It's not a bad thing to loon for the good in everyone!