Achievement certificates

[Howarewenotthereyet]

I want to raise the impact of the below on my child with his teacher. 1) do you think this is a reasonable/defendable situation? and 2) how would you suggest I raise this? I'm particularly interested to hear from teachers on the second point.

My child's school give out two certificates each week for something good a child has done - good behaviour, good effort, good achievement etc. They are given out in assembly in front of the whole school. My child is in year 2 and this is the case for every year group.

In reception dc got three certificates and an effort certificate for lock down learning. Dc was delighted with them. We think he is neurodivergent (school don't) and external rewards from teachers really motivate him. I genuinely presumed that all kids were getting certificates as much as my child but as there weren't school assemblies bc or covid I didnt know.

The whole of yr 1 my son got one certificate. In November '21. School assemblies started in Jan '21. My child hasnt had one in year 2.

Not always but occasionally it seems to bother him, he says things like, it doesn't matter how hard I try or how kind I am, I never get one. I'm not really good at anything. I thought I might get one this week because I did x and it was really hard for me, but I didn't. So and so got one but they got one last week as well.

I have canvased a few parents who I know in my child's year. The minimum last year a child got was 2 and the max 5. This year all of the children I asked about had got 1, some 2.

This seems to be a big difference. We were told he is doing really well at school and a joy to teach at parents evening, but I guess it could be that he is towards the bottom of the class and doesn't stand out in his class. Even so I'm not sure what the certificates are intended to achieve other than rank children publicly? I imagine I'll be told I'm over invested (I have been already by the parents of a child that gets 2 a term) but it's really bothering my child.

What would you do?

Nothing at this stage.
It's December.

My child comes out disappointed every Friday as she's not won the weekly reward. It's painful cos of how much she wants it but we have to hang on that she'll get one some time soon

I think these certificates can be really immediate, ie we've been supporting little Johnny with his social skills. He's turned a corner this week and was able to take turns without having a melt down. Or a child who has really persevered with their handwriting/spelling etc and has improved.

The other kind of certificate giving; its Friday morning. Shit. Who's stood out this week? Let me check my list to see who hasn't had one yet, but is always
great, so it's easy to pick.a reason why they are being rewarded.

DC's school give one child in each class one of these each week. DS in year 6 has now worked out that a) this works out at one each and b)he gets his in the summer after quietly getting on with his work all year as he hasn't had one yet.
Saying that autistic DD was stoked to get her's at the end of term, as they recognised how hard she'd been trying after a tricky start to the year.

You hit the nail on the head!
In my last school the certificate book was rushed around on Friday morning from class to class. Teacher and teaching assistants have a 2 minute discussion and pick a child who hasn't been chosen for a few months. Returned to Head for signature and sometimes returned because she thinks its too soon after previous award.
Complete farce and I hate them with a passion.

I'd use the opportunity to teach them that certificates are a bit meaningless. And help him develop healthier motivations.

You could have fun really picking apart the system, when he wants to talk about the certificates. Help him notice if they are given out to each child in turn. Once he sees through the system, it won't be such a disappointment.

Don't encourage him to strive for a certificate, or overdo it congratulating him if/when he does get one. Focus instead on talking about what he is proud of himself for. And maybe, if necessary thinking of ways to celebrate small successes yourselves.

Looked at a certain way, it is a great opportunity to help him develop internal motivation. As you can see already, depending on external validation means that you either start to give up when the validation isn't forthcoming, or start trying to alter your behaviour to game the system.

Primary school teacher here. Normally teachers will keep a list of who’s had the certificate and make sure everyone gets a turn. I wouldn’t expect everyone to get one by Christmas. Once last year the same 2 kids in my class got the certificate 2 weeks running after an …administrative error. (I wasn’t in school on the assembly day and they accidentally read out the names from the previous week.)

I’m reading this thread after another one about attendance certificates. However certificates get awarded, it’s going to be difficult for some children, whether it’s for attendance, effort, behaviour, achievement, many of which are largely out of a child’s control. A good school will praise and encourage all children, but I would also recommend teaching your child that the certificate is not the be all and end all. Not that that’s particularly easy for many children!

I'm a primary teacher. We give out 1 certificate each Friday for each class. I keep a list to ensure that all children get one, but as we have been in school for only about 14 weeks so far, that's only 14 children. All children will have one by the end of the year, some of them will have 2. I also try to vary what they are for. So it could be trying hard in maths, improving handwriting, being a good friend, having courage to try something new, art, DT, etc. That way, all children get one. Try not to worry, OP. And I don't think you need to ask the teacher, just yet. We're only 1 term in, so even if they are ensuring that all children will get one, there hasn't been time yet.

Totally agree with this. Intrinsic motivation is much better than seeking external validation.

Thanks your comments. Looks like we should just put up with it then.

Just to clarify - last year, a handful of kids (that win at sports day, lead the plays) got 4-5 of them and my kid got 1.

This year those kids have had 2 so far and my kid has had. I get the whole it's only December, but they have handed out 28 certificates so far this year and there are 27 kids. One kids got one the last two weeks in a row. This is what my kid is focused on. Given he's had over 30 assemblies in a row without being recognised for anything.

There are a possible 68 certificates a year for 27 kids. I get that they can't all get exactly the same but if some kids are getting 5 that means others will get 1, I guess there are some kids who maybe got none. I think that is horrendous.

I take your point re intrinsic motivation but children who are neurodiverse really struggle with that. My kids is busting a gut to hold it all together, stay focused and finish his work, comes out exhausted, has a massive meltdown and feels his efforts aren't enough. And that is sad.

I have spent the last 6 months or so trying to take the focus off these certificates - it's been 13 months since he has had one and we do talk about what he is proud of. But he wants that recognition from his teachers. It is important to him.

His assessment of the system is that there are favourite kids and not favourite kids. I don't know how to counter that assessment because i think he is probably right.

Last year another pupil got the weekly reward 3 times. I know the as there were newsletters last year
My child didn't get it at all. She got a handwriting one at one point but no weekly reward which is the most wanted really.
It isn't fair sometimes.

I would take this up with his teacher if he didn't get a certificate in the first couple of weeks of next term.

I think schools can either tackle the certificates two ways..

1. Every week the teacher goes through the list, see who hasn't had a certificate yet, decides who is most deserving, finds a reason and gives out the certificate.
2. Every week the teacher decides who deserves a certificate regardless who has had one, who hasn't - purely based on the past week.

It seems like your school is following the 2nd way. It certainly isn't equal, but most things in life aren't. Think it's fair to expect children to have some level of disappointment and not just be given a certificate purely because it's their turn when other children might be more deserving that week.

I don't think your teachers are playing favourites and wouldn't personally raise it with the school. You'll probably then have the teachers just giving your child a certificate or two just to please you.
I'm sure your child will get one before they break up for the summer holidays.

Thanks. Yes @Chocoholic900this is what our school is clearly doing.

But I am left wondering what the message is to children? Other than to those that never get one, your best isn't good enough? The fact that they are given in a public assembly by the head every week seems to make it worse.

I guess my decision is to put up with it or move my kid to one of the 'progressive' schools who have listened to the endless research that shows the detrimental impact of this public system on those kids how are at the lower end of things.

I say this as a neurodiverse person myself. The fact that your son struggles with this just makes it even more important. It is so common for things to fall apart at university or when starting work, because you have only been working to achieve certificates, grades, exam passes. When these dry up it becomes hard to know what the world wants of you.

@holidayys thank you. I am a neurodivergent person myself. My son has no idea what school wants from him. He has no idea if he is any good at any of his subjects. He receives virtually no feedback and no recognition of his achievements. He does however know what interests him which I guess is a good thing.

Option 1 needs modifying. It's not necessarily the most deserving of those who haven't had it yet, because if Wayne has (unusually) done something this week that could be a reason, that will trump Elizabeth who can be relied on to deserve a certificate every week.

DD never got a certificate before May - and I'm pretty sure that's because they knew there would never be a problem finding a reason to give it to her later.

Towards the end of her primary career, they changed the certificates to relate to that week's whole school PSHE theme.That meant the teacher had to watch out for someone who was "looking after the school environment" or "being kind", and it did all become a bit more random.

I hate “star of the week” awards. Subjective and not really fair. However in a class of 30, 30 Dc can get something in a year and few get it twice! Just make a mark in the register against names!

I prefer achievement awards that are sent home. No idea who got what and when. You just know your Dc has achieved certain goals. Every DC achieve goals and it’s largely measurable and fair. Public praise in letters home etc isn’t needed. I do think your child trying and getting no recognition is not great for motivation. The child must be achieving something!

I’ve told my boys from day 1 these are nice but mean nothing. If they get one I say well done it’s nice to receive a certificate but you don’t need them to tell you what you already know and do - that you try your best. Might sound harsh but self motivation does not come from external reward.

Little children are quite motivated by rewards. They don’t really get trying! However I think private certificates to parents are best. These are obviously noted at school but it’s not like prize giving. My DDs were pleased to receive recognition. It’s why teachers put smiley faces on work! It’s recognition.

Not all children could have had one yet so what would be the point complaining.
There are many ways to motivate a child. Just because he has not had a certificate does not mean he isn't praised or valued.
I think that these rewards are worthless if they are given in the basis of who hasn't had one yet.

To say he receives no feedback suggests that the teacher never says great answer or well done or what a fantastic score in the classroom. Unless you are in the room that is really utter nonsense. I am a teacher and am constantly praising kids when they do well in class. It could be a comment on an idea, an answer, a helpful deed, lovely presentation or anything really. You also say that you get good feedback about what a lovely student he is at parents evening. Surely you pass this on??