For A Job Well Done

As a teacher I believe that the student and teachers need some motivation in some form. Why not reward if you are going to punish for less than adequate test scores. It makes it really had as a teacher stay motivated when you are hardly ever told thank you. Without teacher there would be no tomorrow. Preparing a motivating students for standardized test is a daunting task due to so many reasons. First, there are the students who pass the test every year because they are so bright. Therefore, when we are attemptong to prepare students they are a distraction. Then there are the students who never pass. This wears on a student's mental toughness. Finally, there are the student who just are not motivated to pass this test,

I think every child should be aware of the expectations put on them by parents, teachers, - life in general. Rewards for everyday success in life in unrealistic. However, as adults we are usually rewarded for a job well done, or for going over and beyond expectations - most often in the form of a raise at work, or an extra tight hug and I love you at home. Children should be entitled to the same benefits. If my child does take the steps beyond normal drive and pushes himself into overdrive, darn right he gets rewarded. Lots of praise is always available, but these special times deserve much more. Isn't it our job to prepare them for the real world?

People are allowed to discipline their children when they do something wrong and we are expected to as good parents.So,I see nothing wrong with rewarding children for doing something good.However there is an extreme either way.Hitting your children for doing something wrong is too much and I also think that big gifts are too much.What ever happened to praising your children being enough?Simple discipline is also enough.As long as children know they are loved it should be enough!

I am a 4th grade teacher and I have found that extrinsic reward systems tend to ware off in value by the time the students reach my class. What you're left with, is children who are not motivated to be successful unless you're dangling a cookie. Sometimes you have to do your very best not for the reward but because it's simply expected and required.

I believe in a reward system. But I don't always agree with the reward. Praising a child verbally/emotionally for good behavior or accomplishment can go much farther than most imagine. Children unconciously seek approval from parents. Communicating in a positive way is much healthier in the relationship. Monetary and material items seem to be bribes and are quickly forgotten as well as become expected from a child and the result can be disrespectf and/or have a sense of entitlement. When they grow up they will not be rewarded so easily for a job well done.

As a teacher, I know that rewards are great motivators for kids! I think though, that the rewards don't always have to be candy or toys.... and these types of rewards are things that can lead to students only doing the work to get the reward. Some of the rewards students can earn in my class could be a bring your stuffed animal to school day, wear a hat to school day, or extra play time at recess. I do give out toys and candy occasionally as an extra motivator, but I've found that when you make learning FUN, it is the best motivator of all!

I agree with trigg93. We live in a reward based socisety or a "what's in it for me?". Along with those rewards, consequences can be used as well.

I use to work with behavior disabled children and boy were they a challenge! But that is another story. We did use rewards for positive behavior, but we 1st had to figure out what their currency was. And guess what ...most of the time it was "time" individual time, to play a game, eat lunch with..etc. Maybe it was with a friend, but most of the time it was xtra time with a family member (mom or dad) or an adult if family was not available for the reward. ~~ Nothing takes the place of a mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, aunt, uncle or someone that they know cares about them to take a little time. ~~ I used to give my kids a choice of staying up 1/2 hr later than bed time from the time they were very little, BUT it had to be used for only reading, no TV, no playing. By the time they were school age they LOVED reading at bed time all the way through school.

A reward system works great, kids respond well to it. The reality is that we live in a reward based society.

I agree. Reward systems; in my opinion; seem to work out well. It doesn't have to be something that is going to break the bank either. Just having something to look forward to or the recognition of what you have accomplished to receive your "reward" is to true "prize"!!

Personally I believe reward systems work. You always get a better result from a positive than a negative. We don't work for free right? We get rewarded with a pay check. When our daughter cleans her room or does something for us in the house (without asking) or does a really great job in school, we will treat her. It usually something that we can all enjoy as a family, like movie night or we will pick her up after school on Friday and all go to dinner.