What about intrinsic verses extrinsic rewards?
Q: I am already a convert to Circle Time and have a firm belief that you raise standards by raising self-esteem. I do have some small doubts though creeping in about using rewards. I want the self-esteem of the children, staff and parents to develop from within and so we have stopped giving stickers, smiley faces etc. instead we encourage children to put themselves forward by saying what they are good at and how proud they are of themselves. One member of staff has suggested that Golden Time is a reward and as such should be stopped. I think that it is an entitlement! I'd like to hear any comments you may have on this.
Jenny: There is a huge debate about extrinsic and intrinsic awards. I do not subscribe to the theory that extrinsic rewards prevent children from moving towards inner locus of control; I believe they create the right ethos in which children can move towards esteeming their own work and relationships. In an early book I wrote about how children should be encouraged during Circle Time to bring to the circle any piece of work that they wished to award themselves a special dot - or they could draw a picture of a behaviour that they had engaged in which they were proud of - as long as they could justify their choice they were entitled to receive their own special reward. But more importantly than this - on step 4 of the 5 Step Circle Time model, we have a script for teachers to encourage children to nominate other children who are very calm, create a lovely working atmosphere by not shouting out, are learning to walk away from fights etc. etc. Once they are nominated, if the majority of the class agrees (which they 95% of the time always do) the whole class signs something called a 'Class Team Honours Certificate'. These rewards etc. are on page 44 - 46 of the book called Photcopiable Materials for Use With the Jenny Mosley Circle Time Model (1995). If the child, or the class don't feel they quite deserve the certificate yet, the child places him/herself on the achievement ladder at what they feel is the appropriate rung. Golden Time is a different issue, it should not be earnt - the children should walk in shining with it on a Monday morning because the whole school trusts them to keep to the Golden Rules. In this way every 'middle plodder child' receives their just entitlement. It is an entitlement because, as I explain to the children - if they keep to the Golden Rules, they save the teacher and the mid day supervisor so much time, that it is only fair that they are allowed to enjoy that time by celebrating together once a week. There are some complicated issues in all of this and, as ever, not quite enough time or space to answer in depth, but I really hope I've helped
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