Golden Time: Is it a good idea?

[mazzystartled]

DS (nearly 5) has just started in reception at a school that we are very happy with (so far).

He has mentioned Golden Time to me - I get the concept, heard of it in other schools (though they didn't seem to be using it when we went round the school last year, new head since then).

What do other parents thing of the idea? Esp any primary teachers?

When we got a new head a few years ago he suggested Golden Time but all the staff were against it as a waste of teaching time and we don't believe in rewarding children for what they should be doing ...good behaviour is expected and children rarely let themselves down by acting badly.

My DD has never liked golden time.
She's quiet and finds it all a bit lary and overwhelming.
it seems that the teachers use it as non contact time and the children are left with a TA who is shouting a lot to try and keep control.
Not good.

at DD school the class work together for it. They earn marbles and when the jar is full they all vote on an activity (extra woodland time, scooters / bikes for an hour, or an animal day where they dressed up and did themed activities) and they all take part. I like the teamwork required. They managed to earn a batch of GT in under 2 weeks this term!

I am a Year 6 teacher. I don't see the point of golden time in KS1 and especially not in Reception - they should be learning through play anyway at this point so I don't really see what would be gained.

However I have found it very useful in KS2. I use it strictly for behavioural issues - not for poor handwriting/work. If children don't get work done or do it poorly that's normally down to another issue which needs addressing. However we do have behavioural rules to make being in a room of 30 people manageable, and if these rules are broken then I do take their golden time from them after a warning.

This is the only thing that I have found that yr 6 in particular care about. I don't like to keep them in at break for any length of time as I do believe the kids need a break and it does them good. However, they need to have consequences for their actions, and golden time works well for this. Plus it's a great time for the kids to be creative - during ours on Friday a group of children made a fabulous iMovie on the iPad.

I do always try to get to the bottom of behavioural issues, and use things such as 'tangles' for fidgeters etc. Reasons for lost golden time this week were: shouting out repeatedly after being told not to, purposefully winding up another child in the class with SEN, throwing things across classroom.

I'd love I hear alternatives though, as I am always open to ideas. Also willing to answer any questions!

Would also be interested to hear how others would deal with poor behaviour, what sort of consequences they use. Mine are given a warning and then lose a minute for every time I speak to them about same issue following warning. I don't shout at them - all very calm, and they know what the consequence will be. I feel they need to know that what they are doing is unacceptable and there are consequences for that.

I teach in Year 1. We have Golden Time for the last half an hour of Friday afternoon. It is not in any way linked to our behaviour system. We have a traffic light system with green, orange and red and also gold for extra reward. However, every child in my class has Golden Time on a Friday afternoon. It is a time for them to have completely free choice of all the activities we can offer, unrestricted. Both Y1 classes do it together so children can mix. It is a lovely end to the weekend and gives us (2 teachers and 2 TAs) a chance to wander round the roups of children and observe, join in etc. I see it as a really valuable time.

My kids have 'carpet time'. Conjures up all sorts of ideas

Ideas like sitting cross legged on the carpet for a story?

They use golden time in my sons school, he was in reception last year and it was golden time for all Friday afternoon. Now in year 1 its the last half hour of Friday afternoon.
It is linked to behaviour management, unwelcome behaviour puts you on a rain cloud, 1 rain cloud is 5 mins deducted, 2 is 10 mins and so on, you can move up and down rain clouds over the week - as in if you go on to the first rain cloud but a certain good behaviour can bounce you back up to the Sun (full golden time).
To be honest I like it, the kids look forward to it and work hard to ensure they get full golden time. My Son's school is hot on behaviour management and I fully support their methods, and yes once or twice my son has had time deducted from golden time, but he learnt and strives to ensure he keeps off the rain clouds!.
It is based on behaviour though, not how neat your work is or academic achievements - so its listening, tidying up, doing as your asked, playing nicely etc.....

I think golden time makes more sense as a reward as you go up the school. By Yr 6 the kids are really working very hard all the time -- and in many schools they are focused on sats all year. Golden time for most kids is a welcome break from the grind.