Controversial student encouragement

  

Many student management systems ignore the well behaved students.

For all our good intentions, most of us get caught up in dealing with bad behaviour.

I no longer play that game. Kids like sweets stickers and other tokens. I seek opportunities to encourage good behaviour and ignore the bad behaviour.

The bad behaviour goes away and the good kids get constant acknowledgement.

I have plenty of critics who think that I should not be giving kids sweets. They argue for reward systems that involve paperwork and end of term prizes.

I say forget it. Kids live in the moment. Let them enjoy the moment.

Comments

[Simon Job]

The whole maths faculty at my school uses sweet rewards, as you say, it's a positive, immediate reward. Not some point system that they might have a chance of winning.

You also have the opportunity to model moderation, it's not like you're handing out 600mL cans of energy drink, which is the standard breakfast for many kids at my school.

And of course, you can always connect chocolate to maths:
http://mathsclass.net/comments/surface-area-and-chocolate/
http://mathsclass.net/comments/chocolate-and-maths/
http://blog.mathsage.com/?p=638