Star (reward) charts in kindergarten. Your thoughts pls.

[Livinthedream]

So, how do you feel about them?(in a room of mostly 3-4 year olds)
Should they be on public display (where other parents/ kids can see them)?
Should the teacher be able to remove stars for "bad" behaviour?
Do you think the promote a culture of "I have more stars therefore I must be better/nicer than you?
Would you feel differently about them (the charts)if you child had the most the most stars (or the least)?
Your thoughts??

[onthefly]

I don't like reward/sticker charts at all, as it doesn't encourage the development of intrinsic motivation to do the right thing. I tolerate them in a kindy/school setting since it seems to be the done thing and DS regards them as a pleasant novelty.
I do think there's definite potential for public shaming - even if the charts are not out in the open, everyone 'knows' who the bad kids and good kids are. Which leads to labels for the kids - the 'bad' kids have little motivation to try and do the right thing once they've been pigeon holed. They tend to get no chances and no benefit of the doubt, whereas the 'good' kids will. And always getting stickers because you're the good kid is pretty shallow and meaningless after a while.

[Livinthedream]

I do think there's definite potential for public shaming .

This is my concern.

Can you tell my kid doesn't have very many stars ?

[Olive]

Omg I'm horrified they do that totally disagree with it, I'd discuss your concerns with the teacher

[HotI]

I would hate that. I didn't even know that kinders did that.

[chody47]

I think it depends on how they are done. I'm a teacher and I have one on a pin board. There's no reward for whoever gets to the end first (I hate these). My star chart has 10 spaces. When you get to the end you get some free time and then you are put back to the start. This means its never the case of all the 'good' kids in front and all the 'bad' kids near the start as it just constantly goes over and over and everyone gets rewarded. It seems to work. I hope parents don't see it as a negative (I've never thought of that side actually).

I don't think stars should be able to be removed. If you've earnt them you've earnt them. They shouldn't be taken away if you make a 'mistake'.

[Jellyfish]

I'm not a fan. I wouldn't feel comfortable with it being used and it would be something that would make me reconsider very strongly whether the place fit my child. I have a DD1 who would probably be overflowing with stars and a DD2 who would be the opposite end of the spectrum, wouldn't like it for either regardless. Removing stars would be an instant deal breaker if the presence of a chart wasn't already.

They aren't something used in my DD1s kinder (she is about to turn 4), I would pull her out if they were. Just my extreme view lol. I want my children focusing on the process, not the results personally and think these sort of things can undermine that amongst other reasons why I disagree with reward and punishment as a motivator altogether.

Kind of glad we won't be continuing on to school if they are commonplace!

[No.5]

I use one at home (for DS to learn his sight words) as that is what motivates him. They have something similar in DS' classroom except its buttons and if they get 10 in a week they get a certificate and to choose a prize out of a box.

It's at the bottom and of a wall behind the desks so not really 'in your face' and no-one seems bothered by who else has what.

I should probably mention that DS is 5 and is in prep/kindergarten/reception..

[Floweryfields]

They don't work anyway in my experience. And they aren't really considered best practice in the industry anymore.

[Heaven]

Nope, not cool. I would definitely not be happy with that :/ But I'm not big on rewards/punishments to change behaviour either.

[Snacks]

I'm ok with it. It works well for some kids and the kids who don't have many stars (like my DD2) don't actually care that much - they are motivated by other things. I'm not bothered by it but I agree that removing stars is NOT on. I would be dead against it being used in such a negative way. Positive only.

[Arcadia]

Nope not cool. I would be assessing the suitability of that kinder for my child.

I agree with madB about intrinsic motivations. Stars are so abstract and don't work for all children.

[Livinthedream]

I think I will say something to the teacher.

I have no issue with good behavior being rewarded per se (tho, I tend to agree with you Mad B, you should be good/try hard because thats who you are, not because you get a star)

I guess I am just feeling like they are labelling my baby as "not as good" as so and so because he would rather play blocks than do crafts like the other kids (and therefore not be doing what he is told).

Sensitive mummy moment LOL

[Olive]

[QUOTE/]

I guess I am just feeling like they are labelling my baby as "not as good" as so and so because he would rather play blocks than do crafts like the other kids (and therefore not be doing what he is told).

Sensitive mummy moment LOL[/QUOTE]

But that's up to the teacher to encourage him to do some craft and then go back to his blocks etc that's her job....not reward with a reward chart.

[Floweryfields]

Are Kinder's in your state under the state school system or private? If they are supposed to be conforming with the NQF and EYLF (early years learning framework), they would really frown on the being rewarded for doing something you don't want to do thing as children are expected to make their own choices, not be 'forced' to do something they don't want to do.

[Livinthedream]

ausgirl, I am in Qld, I am not sure what that means, but it is a subsidised daycare centre that runs a kindy program.
There are about 14 kids in his room.
My understanding is that is teacher is a qualified kindy teacher and that they are adhering to the current kindergarten sylibus (sp).

DS has started soiling his pants at kindy too.
He doesnt do it at home

[Artechim]

My kindy doesn't do anything like that. Sometimes if a child is not displaying the appropriate behaviour like hiding at tidy up time instead of tidying, they will give out stickers to reward the children that did do a good job of tidying. I like it, not often a kid will miss out twice! But a star chart for everyone to see… don't really like it.

They do a red dot system in my 5yo school classroom, but as Chody mentioned it cycles around so kids are at all different levels all the time. They are kept out of sight.

In everything I have ever read about reward charts, you are not supposed to take away the star for misbehaviour. It is a reward only system where stars can be earned for doing the right thing, not a punishment system.

[onthefly]

I think having a talk with them is a good idea.
I should add that my DS hasn't actually had reward charts as such, but I just kinda lump them in together with all rewards and punishments