Do other schools have systems like this?

[Lollipopday]

At my sons school they have a system to categorise the children’s behaviour. If they are really well behaved they put their name on a big shooting star, if they are just well behaved they can put their name on a big sun, if they mess around a bit they go on the cloud picture, and if they misbehave then they go on a thunder cloud picture. This begins in reception, where my son is. If he is on the thunder cloud he comes out of school feeling sad, and it’s really only for fairly minor things. My other son is in year five, and they often ask each other what they were on at the end of the school day, competing to be the best. They also enjoy telling me who had their names on the thunder cloud, which makes me uncomfortable. Anyway, just wondering if this sort of thing is widely used in other schools as it doesn’t sit well with me. I’m thinking of mentioning it to the school, but maybe I’m being over sensitive. Thanks

When mine were at infant level this was pretty widespread in some way or another in most schools I know about.
I feel fairly neutral about it. My dc were mildly pleased to be moved up, mildly put out to be moved down. Except ds who would do anything to avoid being on the "teacher gives a sticker" area because he hated stickers.
As far as I can tell they all started on the sunshine new at the start of the day, and it was generally easier to move up than down, but it was done on an individual level.
So child A might move up because they'd written a whole sentence remembering capital letters and full stops, child B might move up because they were less wriggly than normal at circle time.

What's your suggestion for encouraging children to behave, which doesn't take up huge amounts of teacher time (or resources), leave the students who struggle feeling upset, have the middle-of-the-road students feeling they never get recognised, encourage all students to try their best as much as possible?
I'm not sure there is an answer to this.

We don't have anything. They may be kept in at lunchtime if they have been naughty several times in a week but other than that there aren't any charts or stars or anything like that.

@Dishwashersaurous

But arguably if there are really simple behaviour expectations that all children could understand and follow. Then if a child cannot follow the behaviour expectations its a good trigger for the school, and parents, to investigate why.

Absolutely but you don't need a sun/cloud system to track that. The teachers have eyes, they can see the behaviour for themselves.

I hate all the rewards systems in schools tbh. I expect my class to behave because that's what they should do (now I teach senior primary classes so I can expect that). If someone has additional needs and so behaviour expectations are altered for them then that's a whole other thing. And it's only right to have fair expectations of each child.

I think it's a great idea, if your little precious doesn't like being on the cloud, the solution is i his own hands

As explains many times, there are children who have little chance of getting to/staying on the sunshine. Are the solutions to issues such as disabilities, lack of support at home, or SEN in their own hands too? "Sorry, Little Timmy, I know you find it really hard to play appropriately at break time but have you tried - y'know - just not having autism? Not to worry though, we'll soon publicly shame it right out of you!"

@Lollipopday

I'm intrigued. Who decides whether a child is really well behaved over just well behaved ? Is there some sort of definition for the children ? It's just that if it is merely down to teacher perception of what they consider "good behaviour" how can the kids possibly know what to do to get the spot ?

I think the whole system is rubbish, stigmatises children who find school difficult, further cements them as "the naughty dunces" and teaches them that school is not the place for them. I'm very thankful DDs school don't take part in it

Yes perfectly normal as good model behaviour is promoted and awarded. Cuts out all the disruptive unnecessary nonsense and promotes pride and happiness and a good type of positive competition! Only trouble makers are making a fuss as I understand behaviour varies between schools as some are more suited to one school over another. Call it diversity and Ofstead rating for academics and all round school ethos and environment. Choose your school accordingly. Challenging schools with problematic behaviour rarely educate children to a leading academic quality and gives the child a poor start in life. Think about the child if good and well behaved why can a difficult child forever disrupt teaching to the detriment of others who behave to acceptable standards or better.

Think it’s common in a lot of schools. My DC’s school has traffic light system

DS3's class have "fill our buckets". Each child has a little bucket about the size of a teacup and they get a pompom in it when they do something positive. It's very individualised so someone who really struggles with sharing may get one for that whereas someone who shares easily may get one for something else. The emphasis is on kindness, manners, respect (all round not just children fearing teachers type respect) and building each other up rather than "achievement". He's 5 for context.

Cuts out all the disruptive unnecessary nonsense

If that were true it would be used across all schools and there would be no disruption. You’re talking through your arse.

DrCoconut

We had similar in YR2 as in emphasis was on individual praise, children would get ticket (point) they could swap them or continue saving for no. of points needed from choices of rewards they had. They never lost any. It was a lot better than traffic system they had year before.

Meant it encouraged kids who year before to just be better not getting caught by teacher had to make effort.