Star of the week awards

[Irritatedmum]

Hi all. My DD is in reception and is starting to get a bit upset that she’s never had a star of the week type award. Do teachers tend to keep track of who’s had one and make sure they all get it? Or do they literally just pick? I feel sorry for her 😂

Oh yes, the one about not hitting anyone one this week resonates here!
I know how upset they get when it's always the same child who gets it. I gave up trying to reason it

I hate this shit, all children need to feel some recognition and it's a very rare child who does nothing kind, helpful or who achieves something beyond 'their normal'.

I'm not a fan of praise for the sake of praise, but relentlessly uplifting some children at the expense of others is just cruel.

Part of the ethos of our school is that every child is a valued member of our school community snd every child contributes something special to that community. Making sure everyone gets star of the week at some point during the year reinforces that ethos by recognising that they all bring something to the table.

We also do individual recognition outside of star if the week, for example of a child gets a medal at their football club or a badge at cubs or some other notable achievement then parents can send in their medal/badge/certificate and they get presented with it in assembly (as well as their original presentation wherever they first got it from).

There is a weekly friendship award which is given to pupils who have been kind, friendly, inclusive, and helpful.

There is a monthly reading award that comes with a cumulative reward. Every time a child reads they get a point. Ten points they get a gold headteacher award sticker given in assembly, twenty they get a certificate, forty an extra ten minute playtime, fifty a bookmark, and so on.

It's possible to celebrate individual achievement as well as celebrating everyone but making one reward inclusive of everyone regardless of ability makes sure everyone gets recognition at least once. This is important for children.

I don't think teachers include everyone AFAIK it depends on excellent behaviour.

DS is ending his 2nd year with the same teacher he never got it, he has plenty of stickers for minor things and a big effort.

I hate these wretched awards. Star of the Week seems to be spread around but then there's points for good behaviour, which tends to rewards those unruly kids when they do behave yet those kids who always behave rarely get recognised.
Then there are kids who will get the science prize every year, because if they are top of the class (or whatever criteria) they will most likely be the same the next year. And inevitably there's always a couple kids who are brilliant all rounders so they also get the music and sport prize as well as the science prize! So the schools start making up 'year tutor prize' vague 'most improved' prize and so on.
I've sat through 12 years of prize giving and only once has one of my kids got a prize, yet they have to sit there year after year watching the same dozen kids get rewarded. Well deserved as those kids are, even they must get tired of it!