Reply to Why academic awards for elementary aged kids are a bad idea.

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]So you can't reward genuine hard work because the ones who aren't academic stars will get their feelings hurt? Millennials in a nutshell. [/quote]

Incorrect. You can reward genuine hard work.  But think to the awards ceremonies: What's being rewarded: is it really genuine hard work? What's not being rewarded (is some/much genuine hard work not recognized)? What is the impact of what and the way certain things are rewarded (this is an empirical question, not just a personally reflective or value question--look to real data)?  How is being rewarded, and is this the best way to get whatever results (intended or unintended) you value?[/quote]

My child is getting an academic award for his effort and enthusiasm this year in a subject. He already had some intrinsic motivation and the award seems to be helping him see this as a strength. He is not a child with a lot of strengths. What particularly should we be aware of as an issue?[/quote]

1) Your son should've been getting positive feedback about his effort and enthusiasm throughout the year.
2) Other children in his class also should've been getting positive feedback about their effort and enthusiasm throughout the year.
3) Children who have not received an award might wonder: Was I not putting forward effort and enthusiasm this year? Was so-and-so better than me? Why didn't the teacher see what I was doing? Do I need to be an extrovert? Can I be "me" and still be okay?  [They should get a genuine reward for something they did well and worked hard on this year, too... or better yet, find another way to "reward" them, e.g., a letter from the teacher noting all the great things so-and-so did this year. A poem that mentions every kid in a funny and loving way is what my 4th grade teacher did, and we all LOVED it.]

Basically, the reward isn't doing anything for your kid or for other kids who aren't getting rewards... so the school should just drop it and find another, better, kinder, more genuine way of consistently and sincerely providing feedback and support throughout the year.[/quote]

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