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Myth #6: Candy is Best for Classroom Rewards
By Betsy Weigle
Quiz time! Before we get to classroom awards, let’s talk about sports.
Football Team A…is coached by a guy who has lots of football knowledge. Deep inside, however, he lacks confidence in his ability to motivate the team just by his example or his words. As a result, each time one of his players does something well, including just showing up to practice on time for a week, he rewards him with an energy bar and a Red Bull.
Football Team B…has an energetic coach who also has great knowledge. He also has great passion for the game. He’s not a super motivational speaker…but when he talks football, his eyes light up. He never even considers giving out snacks for good performance; he feels that the best reward is team spirit and giving his players a chance to show the world how great they can be when properly coached and pushed to perform.
Any time they play each other, Team B crushes Team A.
Question 1: Why would anyone expect any other outcome?
Question 2: What kind of coach are you?
Buying Performance with Poor Food Choices
Examples abound from the world of sports…and from volunteer organizations with committed members…and from family relationships…and from all around us…of people committing to high levels of performance for nothing more rewarding than the chance to do their best as part of a team.
So why do so many elementary teachers believe that a classroom awards programs means dispensing M&M’s like a candy machine in order to get their kids to do anything?
Just like adults, kids want to be part of a winning team. And teachers who know their business can form such a team every year without spending a penny on candy.
Classroom Rewards: No Food Crutches Needed
Handing out treats is simply “Junk-food motivation.” It includes:
- Candy or other snacks for individuals
- Parties for the group with pizza or popcorn or ice cream
- Non-food rewards such as dollar-store erasers or video days
If you are seeking a classroom community of self-motivated learners (the kind that will do well when they get to middle and high school), then you will never accomplish that by creating learners who quickly come to see treats as an entitlement. Instead, you will discover that your students are human versions of petting-zoo animals: generally well-behaved if you approach them with a treat, but surly and unresponsive if you don’t feed them.
So if candy, etc. is a bad habit, what are your options for classroom incentives?
Better Classroom Motivation Choices are Free
Quiz time again: Which of the following will bring out your top effort in your job:
A. An M&M, with the possibility of getting a whole candy bar if you earn enough little candies.
Or…
B. An unsolicited, unexpected compliment from your principal, delivered in front of the entire staff?
There is absolutely no question which approach is the best motivator for an adult, and you are misreading human nature if you think a child would really, deep down inside, rather have the chocolate. Try this: point out a student’s great work in front of the class and watch that child’s face light up with pride.
Do you honestly think you’ll get the same reaction from candy?
Validation and recognition is a universal human need that children feel whether they realize it or not. And guess what? If they respect you as an authority figure, they really want it from you. So why hand them a piece of candy when what they really want is a smile of encouragement and recognition for their effort?
Here’s a favorite saying of mine:
“Never underestimate the power of just noticing…the greatest classroom reward for student effort is a teacher who cares.”
Real Effort Deserves Real Recognition
I cover this in greater depth in my classroom awards section. Here’s the basics of student recognition:
- First Level: Notice and compliment individual effort while they work.
- Second Level: Notice and compliment individual completed work (give descriptive feedback on assignments, tests, or homework).
- Third Level: Showcase individual work using your document camera when you see effort that really stands out, something that will encourage all students to try a little harder.
If you take a moment when the class is quiet to recognize the behavior you want to see, the next thing you know you’ll have ten kids trying to do the same thing.
(Note: How to compliment is very important if you want to reinforce learning while rewarding kids with attention.)
“But,” you say, “sometimes I want to give them something more tangible.” I totally agree…sometimes we need to celebrate achievement with something more than a pat on the back. We only have to keep three things in mind: Make it healthy, curriculum-based or a celebration of community. For example:
- Extra time for science unit exploration
- Math games
- Five minutes in the gym with basketballs as a break between subjects
or…something my kids have always loved:
- Dancing
Yep…a fun tune with a beat on my computer speakers and a few minutes to dance and be silly. A chance to celebrate with their friends beats a handful of candy any day.
New teachers – save yourself some money: Don’t start the candy habit. Student centered teaching means there’s so much more you can do that will have a much greater effect…and it’s what’s best for kids.
Next Month’s Column
Join me next month when I bust the next myth: Kidz Don’t Need to Spell Korrectly to Communicait Effectively. Are you skipping over spelling practice and focusing only on creativity in writing? Time to reconsider…
About the Author
Betsy Weigle is a National Board Certified Teacher with 13+ years of elementary school experience. She is a respected math, social studies and science curriculum developer and creator of a detailed website for new elementary school teachers. Visit her teaching resources website at www.Classroom-Teacher-Resources.com or connect with her at www.facebook.com/classroom.teacher.resources.
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