Watching films as rewards in school.

[Asleeponasunbeam]

DD has just gone into year 2. They watched a film yesterday afternoon as the class reward for x number of points in the first week. This happened at least every three weeks in reception and year 1.

Would this bother you and what would you do? It may be that I'm only concerned because my DD is terrified of films, doesn't like being in the room when they're on and ends up 'colouring' for the entire afternoon as her alternative 'treat'.

They're really innocuous films, suitable for the age group - I've no worries on that score - she's just really over-sensitive! But I do feel sorry for her that she contributes towards getting a reward that she never benefits from.

(Not to mention the wasted time when she could really do with some extra reading).

I won't be able to see the teacher until parents' evening, whenever that is. Is this worth raising? I did raise it with the last teacher but she made light of it, saying they didn't do it very often and she always gave DD an alternative.

We always have a term lay award for the class with the best attendance which is a film afternoon. I'd been concerned if it was happening on a regular basis though!

We do it about once a term, and it is generally tied to a theme that we've been working on (we'll watch Beauty and the Beast next week as it is last week of term here and it ties to the theme we've been working on all term).

It's part of the class reward thing all of the teachers are using, isn't it?

I can't say I'd be too bothered about it. Not on a Friday afternoon anyway.

Nope it is usually part of a Friday afternoon golden time type thing.

Unless it's part of a topic, or possibly the very end of the summer term then I think it's really lazy teaching. Once every 3 weeks is far too often. I'm a teacher.

Every three weeks? I'd be worried about her education. And yes it would bother me.

Erm, not all teachers are using it!

I'm all for rewarding a class for good behaviour and every three weeks sounds about right for frequency.

However, watching a film isn't how I would reward a class and I would be pissed off if my DS was watching a film at school that often, unless it was linked to their topic and they did follow up work.

I'm a teacher too - it's sometimes harder to see if I'm overreacting or imposing my own standards.

I like the school for other things, but beginning to worry now about expectations. They always say how great she's doing, but that's not what I see when I get books home/ scrawled colouring or worksheets in her book bag/ lack of attention in reading/ and more...

It's never linked to a topic, just a kids' film.

I can picture DD sitting, trying to colour but blocking the sound out with one shoulder and her other hand. She really can't cope with films.

Is it "Golden Time"?

Speak to the teacher and explain, also speak to the senco/ inclusion manager. Whilst it's quite usual for a school to have golden time on Friday afternoon, it often only lasts for half can hour or less.
As she she has issues with films, perhaps she could be sent into a different class or given a 'job' during the occasional film time.

It's not 'Golden Time' but a class treat for getting points. Cleverly engineered to always happen by Friday afternoon. Sometimes it's something DD prefers like a picnic or nature walk, but often films and always the whole afternoon.

I'm not in mainstream but when I was, we'd have been strung up for putting a film on if not directly and essentially linked to the curriculum, with stated learning intentions etc.

Perhaps the SENCO is the best person to talk to, from the inclusion slant rather than quality of teaching and learning perspective.

I don't have any problem with a Friday afternoon treat whether it is labelled golden time or something else.

Friday afternoon is rarely the most productive time of the week!

I probably wouldn't be bothered if it was a treat! But it's a punishment for DD.

Class treat for getting points IS Golden Time ( just a different type!) but the whole afternoon seems excessive ( as does film as the treat all the time)

Well, there is a specific concept called 'Golden Time' linked to circle time and 'golden rules' and that's not what I'm referring to here. In some schools, 'golden time' happens each week at a set time. It is linked to behaviour systems and children can have time docked from it. In DD's school, 'super special time' happens when the class has achieved a certain number of points. Children are not excluded from it for behaviour.

So they get Golden Time and this "treat" afternoon?

No, fortunately, Mrz! I was just explaining (badly) the difference to sirzy.

Spaniel eyes, sorry, not sirzy!

In that case Golden Time means different things to different schools not all link to Circle Time

I have never worked in a school which links it to circle time.

Some classes do have it so children gain/lose time depending on behaviour. Others the whole glass gains time. Just different approaches to the same thing though.

Different schools use "Golden Time" in different ways, most have strayed far from the Jenny Moseley principles but still refer to it as Golden Time. Some schools use it as a behavioural incentive for individuals, some as a " treat" for whole class effort and some don't use it at all!

Yes shoes, not a great message, is it?

Every three weeks seems about right for a primary reward scheme, most schools use some form of rewards be it golden time, prize boxes or an afternoon of something different. No different to employers giving bonuses for linked work.

If you believe that hour or two every three weeks should be spent on reading then just do it with her yourself. It's not down to the school to do everything with her.