I’ve had enough of the class dojo

[Myleftfoot39]

Every week one or two children win the dojo and get a prize. Some children have won it twice or three times. Today a child who defaced another child’s clothing (had written all over it in class) won it (they are in Year 2).

My ds is quiet, well behaved and works really hard. Does all his homework, is reading and writing and working hard. It’s awful but today he came out of school crying his eyes out because he thought he might win the dojo.

Even at bedtime he was upset about it.He doesn’t understand why the naughty kids get rewards but he feels ‘invisible’. He said there’s something wrong with him and is very upset.

I have reassured him and told him the dojo doesn’t matter but it really does matter to him. The teacher makes a big deal out of giving the dojo out as theres a photo of the child on the dojo for all to see.

I’m really fed up of it!!

I can't really help at all but I this was my (thankfully short lived) experience when my son was in year 1. It just felt so unhelpful.

What's a dojo? I've Googled it but I still don't know what it is.

@NoNotHimTheOtherOne ClassDojo is an online learning tool. If you had googled class dojo then you might have found it.

That's so strange! I imagine it's demotivating a lot of kids if only the same few "win". We have ClassDojo but for notifications and work only. No competitions, unless I'm doing it wrong.

@NoNotHimTheOtherOne

What's a dojo? I've Googled it but I still don't know what it is.

I found this:

"ClassDojo is an educational technology company. It connects primary school teachers, students and families through communication features, such as a feed for photos and videos from the school day, and messaging that can be translated into more than 35 languages.

Make routines at home easy as pie with Dojo points Watch your kids reach new heights with Goals & Rewards Plus, kids get access to hundreds ... [continues unto infinity]

Yes it’s a real problem and yet I feel petty about being so pissed off. It shouldn’t matter but ds is so upset about it. I’ve tried to reason with him but he sees it as unfair and it actually is pretty unfair. I’m not sure what more I can do.

We had similar until one day the reception teacher called me over and said my dc had been unusually disobedient that week. Turned to dc standing next to me and asked why. They said that they had noticed that 'weekly top star of the wonderful universe award manky toy thing' always went to a child that had been doing something naughty for a while but then did something good, so they had planned to do something naughty for a while and then be good so that it would finally be their turn. Teacher shuffled somewhat uncomfortably. They got their turn next. Really don't miss that fake prize aspect for not being quite so bad that day of primary school. Secondary school, you misbehave you get detention rather than an award.

I was also really surprised that the child who had written ‘kick me’ all over another child’s clothing (on the back of her t shirt in school) got rewarded.

You're not the only one sick of this it's so ridiculous and downright dismissive of the kids that actually deserve it.

The ironic thing is if you quietly pull his teacher aside and tell her he's struggling and upset he'll likely win the dojo next week.

The whole system is flawed and it always will be but you can't tell him it doesn't matter because it does to him.

When my son comes out disappointed I try and explain that there's only one to give out to 30 kids and that just because so and so won it doesn't mean ds didn't do well and he might win it next week . This usually settles his mind but I would definitely be telling the teacher my son needs a boost if he was distressed about it.

The same shit happens in secondary school... naughty kids have a lot of issues the teachers are trying to encourage them in any little way they can but it really doesn't make sense to kids does it

@Myleftfoot39

I was also really surprised that the child who had written ‘kick me’ all over another child’s clothing (on the back of her t shirt in school) got rewarded.

Yeah that shocking... surely teachers must be able to smell their own bullshit?! How can any well educated adult think and carry out these dumb fake prizes that make the good kids that are putting effort in feel like total shit each week?

@Cattitudes your dc was very bright to catch onto the system so early! It is rubbish for the quiet, unassuming, diligent ones

Yes it is so dismissive of the children who try hard. A crazy system, at least the stars in reception and year 1 meant they could see it on the chart. The dojo points are really random and up in the air!

I’d send a carefully worded email, asking for advice on how to help your son improve his behaviour in lessons as he’s really upset and worried that he has never won it. Imply that you have suggested he copy the behaviour of some of the other winners but your son seems to think that wouldn’t help. I’d wager that your son will miraculously win it next week.
Odd are some poor teacher is trying every trick to get some pain in the arse kids to behave and unfortunately your sons feelings are being forgotten because he’s not causing any grief. Carefully pointing this out should readdress the balance. I’m a teacher and I’ve been there.

We use Class Dojo in my school, but it’s an individual thing. Children earn Bronze, Silver or Gold badges for getting a certain number of dojo’s. We don’t have a ‘weekly’ dojo with a winner as you’ve described - that’s very old school.
We have categories for giving out dojo’s, so working hard, being respectful, helping each other etc. The child in my class who has the most is the most helpful, hard-working, kind child I’ve ever met! He’s also one of the quietest. A child on a behaviour plan may have a personal chart that links into the dojo’s, so maybe they get a sticker if they complete a piece of work, and once they get 5 stickers they get a dojo. Teachers need to remember that the ultimate aim is to get children to be self motivated for intrinsic purposes, not just so they can get a sticker or a dojo or whatever extrinsic reward we give them.

Of course it matters to a Year 2 child. I know it can be used as an incentive for disruptive pupils but that approach leads to the well behaved/conscientious children being left wondering what the hell is going on. I have to say as a former teacher there is no way that other child would have received it this week. Hopefully the teacher has some common sense and has your DS 'earmarked' for another week. Meantime you can show your appreciation by giving a treat this weekend. I hope he feels better about it soon.

Soontobe60

That sounds like a better way of using the dojo, the current system is very demoralising. Ds said he wants to leave his school. It sounds extreme but I think it’s the unfairness of it.

There are only 2 children in a class of 24 that haven’t won the dojo any that is my ds and another boy.

In this case I would tell the teacher how your DS is feeling about it. Don't mention the other kids at all just say Ds is sad each week as he thinks he has done really well then doesn't get the dojo.a) I bet he'll get it the first week back B) it might draw the teacher's attention to others he/she is missing.

There will be another side to the story you know about the child writing on another childs clothes. Perhaps that child's dad has just left or he's in care or he's lost his grandparents recently or he's SEND. The teacher will have most likely meant well by rewarding a troubled child who made an improvement but clearly it's failing other children so he/she needs to be made aware.

Tell the teacher when your ds can't hear. You'll probably find he'll suddenly win it if the teacher has any sense. My DD was the same, the 'spirited' kids tend to get all the prizes etc and she was getting very down. I told the teacher she'd lost all motivation and then low and behold she one it the next week and it genuinely changed her whole attitude. She was ecstatic bless her!

Won!

The teacher doesn’t really like speaking to parents, I have no way of talking to her apart from sending messages on dojo. I can try though. Ds has had points for helping others, doing his homework, etc. But the naughty kids are getting lots of points for not talking back to teacher so they always have more.

Let the teacher know. It’s so frustrating when the well behaved child is missed out.
I know there is often a reason why the challenging chid doesn’t behave well so I can see why the teacher gives out this reward to them. It’s about being fair, kind and encouraging to all of the class.

I used to love using ClassDojo because it was so easy to hand out points to the children who deserved them, eg. they come in from play and you can give out points to those who are ready quickly, without speaking. It's a great way to get most out all of the class ready to work quickly.

I really hate weekly awards. Especially ones where you have to choose every child in the class at least once. It turns into a tick-box exercise rather than actually rewarding children.

I'm all for motivating children who struggle to behave, but it shouldn't be done at the expense of the majority of children who work well and follow rules.

The school I'm in currently has no weekly certificates or golden time or whatever. They look out for a weekly thing, like helpfulness or not giving up or whatever and everyone had a chance of showing that in the week. The behaviour in the school is absolutely excellent, bar one or two exceptions.

My DS "tries very hard" but unfortunately he has ADHD and other SEN and will never be quiet and good.
I think he should get praise for doing well for him and luckily his current teachers realise this too.

I would prefer this compared to the current system. The child who won it today who was naughty has no SEN and is just very naughty. The school told the child to write a letter of apology which never happened and mum just said sorry to the other mum.