Is this something you would inquire about?

[Anonymous]

My daughter's elementary school has biweekly PBIS incentives where students can get some sort of prize (usually attending an event) if they have a certain amount of Class Dojo points. I have not gotten complaints about her behavior this year, but she never has enough Dojo points to attend the events (so far this year it was a glow dance in the gym and an extra recess).

Would you go up the chain regarding this? She's very sad about this.

[Anonymous]

I would ask for transparency in how points are awarded. These kinds of incentive schemes often discriminate against kids on the spectrum who behave and follow directions, but don't "sparkle."

[Anonymous]

I would tell the teacher my kid is sad and ask the teacher to see if they can offer more positive reinforcement. It's easy to more carefully watch one kid for success. Asking/starting a big fairness inquiry is negativity that nobody needs. Your kid may just be average. But she could still be recognized more for good things she does. Especially because it is emotionally important for her. Some kids don't care.

[Anonymous]

No harm in asking.

[Anonymous]

It would bother me.

My DD's class has small individual rewards but for anything big and fun, it's a class-wide prize. They either have to save their own individual points and can treat the entire class to it, or they can pool their points to get the prize.

One boy in the class has already calculated the rate at which they're earning individual points as an entire class and how they could maximize the different opportunities by pooling points at specific intervals. I think that's healthier than a situation where some kids are left back and others get to enjoy a big group activity.

[Anonymous]

I hate this model of PBIS incentives because it depends on the teachers equitably distributing the points, and I know as a teacher, how frequently I award points is variable. I also see that some teachers just award points more often in general than others. I prefer class wide and school wide rewards for that reason.

I think it is absolutely something to raise as a concern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate this model of PBIS incentives because it depends on the teachers equitably distributing the points, and I know as a teacher, how frequently I award points is variable. I also see that some teachers just award points more often in general than others. I prefer class wide and school wide rewards for that reason.

I think it is absolutely something to raise as a concern.

I’m also a teacher and I agree you should raise the concern.

PBIS methods like this are tricky. Unfortunately, I find myself rewarding the student who finally did something correctly instead of the student who routinely does something well. It’s something I’m always trying to combat, but so often I fall back into that habit. And I know it isn’t fair. I’d be very receptive to an email/call like this!