School reports - good and bad comments. Would you give a reward for the good?

[DeborahBorr]

Or does the bad cancel out the good and no reward?

Report is, ahem, mixed. I've calmed down a bit now. Some teachers obviously love her "infectious personality" (I'm assuming that is a compliment...) But the consistent theme is that she's a bit of a pain in the arse - talking too much, disrupting classes and letting herself down. Could do better if she'd just concentrate. She's Yr 7 btw.

I know lots of people give rewards for good reports. Do I look for the good and give a reward to encourage that or don't even consider the idea?

What would you do?

I've always taken my dds out to dinner if they've done well in their reports. They love it and I do too

don't reward for reports

would be very different as my two children are so widely apart in their educational achievement

and I like to think that a job well done is its own award

I don't believe in material rewards for a good report. They would tend to expect more and more.
Like Cory my 2 sons are very different academically. They get alot of praise when a good report comes along, which for DS1 is each time. DS2 finds school more 'challenging', so as long as the report shows he has tried his upmost and is not misbehaving then the same praise is forthcoming.

Well my two certainly don't 'expect more and more' - they know that a good report equals a small gift at parents' discretion and have never asked for anything beyond this (or FOR this).

DH and I were talking about this.

MOST of my friends were rewarded for good reports and I always felt gutted that I got nothing! DH was rewarded and he said it made him work harder as he thought he would get something that he wanted.

My boys are 7 and 4 and are both due reports soon and so we have decided that we will buy them a little something or go for dinner somewhere if their reports are good.

Besides, a school report is one of those areas of life where it takes two to tango

dd's school reports used to be quite negative in tone because of her headteacger basically did not want a child with medical problems in his school; despite the fact that she was achieving extremely well given her medical condition, the report always seemed to concentrate on how much trouble it was having somebody like her in the school; she never actually misbehaved and always got good results, but that wasn't enough to make the reports very pleasant reading under the old regime

ds actually achieves a lot less- despite being healthier- but has a teacher who sees the positives and a headteacher who doesn't go adding snide comments on the reports

dd is also now at a new school where they are amazed at how well she overcomes her condition

so really- if I were to reward anyone for good reports, it would be the teachers, not the children

they haven't changed- the school has

We reward effort. They can have one present/item of their choice. Sometimes it's sweets(that was a cheap year ), sometimes it's a ds game.

We go out for dinner as a family after good reports - to celebrate the successful end of term and to reward all the family for our combined hard work!

Going out for dinner is a lovely idea and I like the fact that it's a reward for the whole family.

DP and I generally feel we deserve it!