?about rewards given at school?

[AnaheimGirl]

I agree with moderation, it's not like we give them a whole coke, it's a 4 oz cup and it's maybe three times a year.

Candy is an option most of the time, but it is like a snack size candy bar, smarties or a sucker.

Ohh, OK, this would not bother me nearly as much. My dd gets an eraser or pencil probably two or three times a week!

 

[pumba]

behavioral problems. They have a reward box.....all the teachers and friends of the teachers and relatives save the items from mcdonalds food and from cereal boxes and the dollar store items. they have quite alot to choose from...the kids love to go to the reward box. by the way.....most juices have more sugar then any of the diet caffeine free sodas that were removed from the machines at the high school.....Kids love the choices ......

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

I'll assume you're talking about me, since I'm the only one who voiced an opposition to using junk food as rewards in school.

Actually I was speaking of people in general.... mainly referring to the type of parent that would ask the teacher to change her entire classroom for one child.

 

[gepetto]

I'll assume you're talking about me, since I'm the only one who voiced an opposition to using junk food as rewards in school.

the snack size candy bars are only one bite. I doubt that will make a child obese over the course of a school year.

 

[mickey65]

I am a teacher too, and elect not to use food as a reward. If parents want their children to have 'junk food' than that is their choice. There are many alternatives that are just as rewarding to students. I have a treasure box filled with dollar store items, stickers, pencils, etc. Scholastic aslo has a very cool rewards box filled with cool things for the students. The students love it! I teach kindergarten and try to instill healthy eating choices in my students. Well this does not work for everyone, it works for me. I guess it all comes down to what is important to you and your students. Does it really matter if they don't have junk food as a choice for a reward? jmo.

 

[MinnieM3]

I think "The Mystery Machine" has been lurking in my classroom!! LOL!

I have used "certificates" for years now and the kids and parents love them. Many parents comment that they are so glad I don't have food rewards. I actually started them to save money...all I have to do is copy them on the copy machine at school!

Mine are tiered based on weekly behavior. I'll post as many as I can remember in order of "best" to "least best" so to speak!

Sit at teacher's desk (I have two....bought one for myself with my own money)
Rolling chair
Out of your seat for a day (I have those little kids' chairs/fold outs)
Take the Quantum Pad system home for the weekend
Have a snack and drink at your desk (they bring it from home)
Lunch Buddy
Write in Pen
Pick someone to help you when you're the helper of the day
Bring a stuffed animal to school
Draw during silent reading (can use only twice a month)
Earn back a lost "chip" (my management system)

that's all I can remember right now!
Good luck!

I'd offer that parent's child alternative rewards and maybe revamp it next year.

 

[golfgal]

I wouldn't change your list. Since there are other choices, then a child can choose not to take what their parents don't want them to have. That really isn't your responsibility. My kids would probably choose the coke because I don't buy it that often, not that they can't have it, I just don't buy it because then that is all DH will drink. Same with the candy, they get candy at home so it isn't always a reward at school, they would pick the stickers or eating with the teacher over candy. One girl in DD's class isn't allowed to have candy. She would take it in a second (her mom will let them go trick or treating and then throw away all the candy they collect ).

 

[disykat]

While I don't think you should change your system for one parent, I also don't like it when teachers use food as a reward. I'm a teacher - so I can say that. I don't mean to sound like I'm flaming, but it causes me to lose some respect for the teacher when they do so. I've kept my mouth shut, but I haven't been impressed.

For me it's about teaching the kids to be intrinsically motivated, as well as good health habits. Currently I substitute teach and I do NOT hand out candy if teachers leave for me. I've never commented on it, nor had it commented on by anyone other than the kids, so I don't know if that is upsetting to the teachers. I've always been asked back so it must be okay. I may eat my words when I get a class again, but I figure if I can make it without food rewards/bribes as a sub, I'll probably manage when I have a class again.

Please know that I am not trying to personally attack you. I am voicing my opinion about something I feel strongly about. I'm doing so because, despite hearing from only one parent, you may have others who feel the same way. This comes up as a frequent topic any time groups of moms I know get together - everyone I know is unhappy if their kids get candy rewards at school on a regular basis.

 

[Christine]

I would not change the way I do things for one child.

Having said that, I absolutely don't agree with using food as a reward. I know many other parents feel the same way--in fact, we all discussed many times how sick we are of snacks being given out at school. Between birthday parties, "special" treat days in the cafeteria, and teacher rewards, it sure seems like an endless supply of "rewards" for kids.

When we get a "food reward" teacher we just suck it up and deal with it. But I HATE it. Last year, we had a teacher that gave free homework passes. She also did an end-of-the-month movie for kids who did not get on the "behavior list" and turned in all assignments. The kids really, really liked both of these.

 

[Tink123]

She also did an end-of-the-month movie for kids who did not get on the "behavior list" and turned in all assignments. The kids really, really liked both of these.

What did she do with the kids who did not get to watch the movie?
I don't think this would fly at my school, we are very limited about the amount movies we can watch.

 

[Anne34]

I have no problem with the teachers giving small candies in addition to their regular items for rewards. Our classes have always had tootsie rolls or other small candies as part of the reward system. My son's class also had a popcorn party some months for the children that finished all the days in their reading logs. It was a great incentive and a little bit of popcorn isn't going to hurt anyone.

We have everything in moderation at our house. The children are allowed pop when we go out to eat and they do have candy. If you teach them how to eat healthy from the start, there shouldn't be a problem.

As to the OP -- I wouldn't change your system for this parent -- just reassure her that you will have alternatives available for her daughter.

 

[Christine]

What did she do with the kids who did not get to watch the movie?
I don't think this would fly at my school, we are very limited about the amount movies we can watch.

She had a "reading time/study hall" type thing going for the kids who didn't get to see the movie (and my son missed the movie a few times). She did it in such a way that the kids who didn't get to go didn't feel all that bad. I cannot remember if the teacher stayed with the study hall kids and a volunteer did the movie or vice versa. But the kids really looked forward to it.

 

[aprilgail2]

I wouldn't change the reward system for one parent. My daughter drinks soda and eats candy...she is underweight and I am always trying to put an extra pound or two on her when I can! Her teacher last year used skittles....at the end of the week she would count the checks on each tables behavior chart and that table each kid got as many skittles as they had checks. They had one bad kid at the table and he would make them get checks taken off their chart from his behavior..the kids at her table really came down on him after 2 weeks of no skittles for them and after that they would always be telling him "andrew sit down and stop it" when he started acting up and they wouldn't join in with him when he was screwing around. Skittles worked wonders LOL! They have a snapple machine in the cafe at her school, and there is as much sugar in those things as there is in soda! The Jr high has a Snapple and juice machine but the high school has soda, water, gatorade and juice in theirs.

 

[qtwns]

I agree with moderation, it's not like we give them a whole coke, it's a 4 oz cup and it's maybe three times a year.

Candy is an option most of the time, but it is like a snack size candy bar, smarties or a sucker.

I told the mother that I respected her decision not to allow her daughter to have coke or cand and the she needed to tell her to choose an alternative when available, and that with coke, the alternative may be water, whick some children choose.

I just have a feeling that I have not heard the last of this from her.

If you stand your ground and don't let her "bully" you, you probably have heard the last from her. Once she realizes that you can't/won't be pushed around she'll move on to bully someone else. At least you know to watch out and be ready for her. Good luck!

 

[DeluxePrincess]

My daughter had the "candy teacher" last year. I swear this woman was related to Willy Wonka himself! I don't object to candy in moderation. Once a week would be just fine. My daughter came home with candy almost every day! I even questioned the teacher about it because I suspected she was getting it from friends at lunch or something. They do the whole "stoplight" behavior thing at her school. Even the older kids in 6th grade follow the Green, yellow, red system. Mrs. "Wonka" gave a treat out every day to students who stayed on green.

As far as your parent, don't change your whole system because one parent is upset. Just be prepared that she will be on your case. If your principal allows food treats, stand your ground. You are being totally fair because there are other choices.

 

[disykat]

I would not change the way I do things for one child.

Having said that, I absolutely don't agree with using food as a reward. I know many other parents feel the same way--in fact, we all discussed many times how sick we are of snacks being given out at school. Between birthday parties, "special" treat days in the cafeteria, and teacher rewards, it sure seems like an endless supply of "rewards" for kids.

When we get a "food reward" teacher we just suck it up and deal with it. But I HATE it. Last year, we had a teacher that gave free homework passes. She also did an end-of-the-month movie for kids who did not get on the "behavior list" and turned in all assignments. The kids really, really liked both of these.

Christine, great minds think alike! We posted at about the same time and said almost the same thing. It was really eye opening to me as a teacher when I had kids to hear what moms say about teachers - and this is probably the biggest one I've heard about.

My kids like to have a treat in their lunch and I've discovered if I don't send one, they trade their sandwiches, fruit, and even vegie sticks for one. We like to have a treat at home sometimes - or go out to eat, where they have soda. Add Halloween candy, birthday parties, and other holidays and it adds up to a lot of treats. As far as their diet goes - they simply don't need more food. In first grade my oldest got the brilliant idea to hoard candy from his rewards so that anything over one piece of candy got saved for summer. He was a very well behaved child and had enough to last him the entire summer - one piece every day with some left over. That was the year he got several cavities - which I tend to blame on the jolly ranchers. Basically he got his candy (which he didn't need to behave, he would have anyway) to help the teacher make the other kids behave. It was a good lesson for him, I suppose - but probably not the one his teacher was trying to impart.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

Oh, I used to teach before I had DD. We had class points. Points were given for compliments to the class and they had to reach 50. It usually took a good class about a month to acheive this. One of the rewards was a class movie. I had the kids suggest G rated movies and we voted on which one we wanted to see. One time Snow White won and this one mother wrote me a note saying to change the movie because she objected to "witch craft". She even went to the principal. Fortunately, we had a great principal that year and he supported me. The crazy thing was that this reward was on Halloween and she was keeping her son home that day anyways. We finally settled on extra computer time as her son's reward, but that woman really tested my nerves all year.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

the snack size candy bars are only one bite. I doubt that will make a child obese over the course of a school year.

If you'd read my whole post, you'd have realized that I agree with you. My concern is more over encouraging bad eating habits. Also, since my 2nd grader receives non-food rewards several times a week, I assumed the OP was doling them out a little more often than she has now stated.

 

[momx2]

Well, I'm not fond of the coke idea, since I don't agree with the caffiene. Candy has it's problems too, but I know it's a treat. But I would never ask you to change your reward system unless it was outrageous. A little caffiene and candy never hurt a child unless it's routine. That's why they call it a treat!

 

[AnaheimGirl]

despite hearing from only one parent, you may have others who feel the same way. This comes up as a frequent topic any time groups of moms I know get together - everyone I know is unhappy if their kids get candy rewards at school on a regular basis.

Thanks for posting this. I was beginning to wonder why people in my area were so different from the rest of the country.

Like me, my friends and neighbors are also quite happy that our schoolteachers don't use food as rewards.