Is anyone else ambivalent about "Most Improved" awards?

[Magpie]

I just found out that my daughter will be getting a "Most Improved" award at her Grade 8 Graduation this week. She doesn't know yet.

I'm sure I'm happy for her - it's always a thrill to get any kind of award. We'll bring the camera and make a big fuss.

But... goodness, I still have to wonder, was she really THAT bad to start with? I thought her teachers had been generally happy with her, in the four years she's been in this school.

How do you feel about "Most Improved" awards?

 

[Pigeon]

I guess it would depend on the circumstances. Some kids do make amazing progress in a particular area, and it's great to see that recognized. Hopefully, the school will tell you why she got the award, but sometimes they don't. Also, sometimes I think they just have a certain number of awards of x,y,z types, and have to find somebody to give them to!

If it's any consolation, my dd came home from her last orchestra class with the "Chatterbox Award."

 

[Magpie]

I guess it would depend on the circumstances. Some kids do make amazing progress in a particular area, and it's great to see that recognized. Hopefully, the school will tell you why she got the award, but sometimes they don't. Also, sometimes I think they just have a certain number of awards of x,y,z types, and have to find somebody to give them to!

If it's any consolation, my dd came home from her last orchestra class with the "Chatterbox Award."

I love that one!

I was just thinking if I could pick an award for my daughter it would be "Most Likely to be Discovered Reading a Novel Under Her Desk During Class Time."

 

[cheermom1]

I love that one!

I was just thinking if I could pick an award for my daughter it would be "Most Likely to be Discovered Reading a Novel Under Her Desk During Class Time."

That is my son! All his teachers have told me they have had to take a book away b/c he would be reading instead of his work! At least he is reading!

 

[Debbie7452]

That's better than my DD 16 who "won" the Stinky Feet award at her fancy dress up Drill Team banquet. This was voted on by her peers...great...I bet she loved going up to get THAT award.

However, my other daughter won "most improved dancer" her freshman year. She blossomed into a swan and became the Captain of the drill team by the time she was a Senior. So, those awards can herald future possibilities! Think Positive

 

[eeyore65]

My DS just won most improved on his swim team. They actually calculate the times to give the most improved - so it is meaningful - they announce the time change. He worked hard to get it and will never, ever be as fast as the kids on his team with national rankings. It was a nice recognition of his effort. But I know what you mean when there is no objective measure!

 

[AustinTink]

My DS11 got one of these at basketball camp last year. Of course the coach's pets got the "best all around" awards. Funny enough, my kid shot the most free throws at the beginning and the end of the camp that week. How did he improve? I think of the most improved award, in my son's case, as a back handed compliment.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

I suppose it depends on what they're measuring, but I think it sounds fantastic! Some people are just naturally good at things, others have to work at it. Sounds like maybe your daughter is in the latter category and I think it's great that someone is recognizing her hard work

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Hey, it's better than my nephew. He got the "Most Clueless Freshman" award in band. Of course, he also got the Spirit Award. I'm not sure what to make of that combination, actually. . .

 

[Liberty Belle]

I'm not ambivalent about them, I don't like them at all.

It always seems like a back-handed compliment to me.

 

[wishwash01]

I used to get the "Most Improved" awards when I was in school. I was very proud of them because I felt I worked hard for my grades. One of the times I got it, I had to give a 2 minute speech about it. Now that's when I wish I didn't get it.

 

[donac]

It is better than "The Snowman Award" 4 years running in band for not wearing a jacket for 4 years no matter what the weather was. You could always find a female band member wearing his letter jacket

 

[golfgal]

I love that one!

I was just thinking if I could pick an award for my daughter it would be "Most Likely to be Discovered Reading a Novel Under Her Desk During Class Time."

Junior year in high school our DS17's ENGLISH teacher told us at conferences "I never thought I would ever say this but your DS has to stop reading so much" He would have earned that award too.

DD's golf team has a 'most improved' award. It went to a senior that dropped 10 strokes on average from scores last year to this year. She well deserved the award and I am sure was very happy about it.

 

[Magpie]

I suppose it depends on what they're measuring, but I think it sounds fantastic! Some people are just naturally good at things, others have to work at it. Sounds like maybe your daughter is in the latter category and I think it's great that someone is recognizing her hard work

I wish she was! But she's actually always been the kid who puts in zero effort and walks off perfectly happy with a B or A minus. Most of the time we love the fact that she's so easy going and laid back, but one of her teachers once called her the "kind of student who will break your heart". So much potential, so little interest in applying herself.

I did find out this award only applies to this year, so now I'm really interested to see her final report card.

I've got my fingers crossed that it's some kind of good omen for high school.

 

[LuvLDM]

I'm not ambivalent about them, I don't like them at all.

It always seems like a back-handed compliment to me.

I agree, it's kind of like saying "hey, you used to really suck but now you're doing okay...."

 

[Tiger926]

I wish she was! But she's actually always been the kid who puts in zero effort and walks off perfectly happy with a B or A minus. Most of the time we love the fact that she's so easy going and laid back, but one of her teachers once called her the "kind of student who will break your heart". So much potential, so little interest in applying herself.

I did find out this award only applies to this year, so now I'm really interested to see her final report card.

I've got my fingers crossed that it's some kind of good omen for high school.

I am the Award Committe Chairperson/Director at my highschool, and we spend a lot of time deciding upon who wins what awards - they are limited, and come with cash bursaries, so we take them seriously, as do our students.

It sounds like your DD doesn't put any effort into being a student, as you mentioned that things come easy for her in terms of grades. Your words of so much potential, but not applying herself is more than likely what is at stake here - has she improved in terms of how she applies herself in class? If so, then this is why she is winning the award. This award is more than likely for student performance and role as student. Participation is probably most important in this regard, whereas academics might not be as important for this award. If this is the case, then most improved would pertain to her attitude and interest in applying herself, as well as class participation.

Someone felt she deserved to be nominated, and then win the award, so someone saw some improvement somewhere. And, it doesn't mean she was bad before, it just means that based on what she presents in class, she has shown some growth, and for that, she has been rewarded.

Have fun at the ceremony and congrats to your DD, Tiger

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I handed out Most Improved Student once and had the student cry - I was the first adult who'd noticed she was suddenly making an effort and the first one to make a big, huge fuss about it and about her. She was about 5 months pregnant and had been flunking out when she suddenly woke up one morning and did a 180, all on her own. She went from straight F's to the honor roll and kept it up. Her goal was to change the future of her child. I have no idea what eventually happened to her, but I won't forget her crying when I put her name up as the "Most Improved Student" of the entire year (along with A honor roll). Of course, I'm sure part of it was hormones. But still.

I think a Most Improved award can be given out in the right way or the wrong way. It's not a consolation prize if it's an acknowledgement of a very serious change in a student's life for the better.

 

[dhcoffey]

I got the Most Improved player award in band in 8th grade. I still have the award. I don't look at it as a back-handed compliment. I started band in 6th grade at one school, moved halfway through the year, wasn't allowed to join band in the middle of the year, started really from scratch my 7th grade year but was last chair. By the end of 8th grade, I had moved up a lot and was playing much better. I thought it was great my band director realized how hard I was trying to catch up with everyone who had played longer than I had.

Congrats to your daughter!

Heather

 

[AustinTink]

I agree, it's kind of like saying "hey, you used to really suck but now you're doing okay...."

Yes, that.

 

[dogluva]

I just found out that my daughter will be getting a "Most Improved" award at her Grade 8 Graduation this week. She doesn't know yet.

I'm sure I'm happy for her - it's always a thrill to get any kind of award. We'll bring the camera and make a big fuss.

But... goodness, I still have to wonder, was she really THAT bad to start with? I thought her teachers had been generally happy with her, in the four years she's been in this school.

How do you feel about "Most Improved" awards?

My daughter got one last year. She was thrilled. She came a long way. She wasn't THAT bad but she improved sooo much. It was quite an honor and I was very proud. She worked hard and I am glad her teachers recognized this.