Last year the staff at Kent Elementary made a decision that changed the way students are recognized at our school. Instead of awards ceremonies, student of the month assemblies, and honour rolls, we decided to honour and recognize each student in our school for their strengths, talents, and interests (inside and outside of school). The true impact that this has had on our kids is difficult to be written in words, although I have attempted to tell the story in a blog post. To see students, who have never been mentioned or recognized, beaming with pride as they are being described by their teacher for all the amazing things that each and every one of them bring to our school is something that must be seen and heard.
EVERY child has a strength inside them; it is our job, as educators, to bring this out. This page is designed to showcase the success stories of schools that have moved away from the traditional awards ceremonies and monthly assemblies that only focus on a select few students to a place where ALL students are recognized for their unique talents and interests. Most importantly, I want to hear about the impact that this has had on the students. Student comments on this would be the most powerful.
Please email me you and your students’ story and it will be showcased on this blog. Please consider these questions to guide your story.
- Why did you move away from the traditional format of awards ceremonies?
- How are you honouring and recognizing each student or what is your current ceremony format?
- What impact has this had on your students? Any examples and stories would be great to read.
- Have there been any challenges to this change?
- Anything else you would like to add? Any advice for those trying to change the way they recognize students at their school?
- Please include your school’s details – grades, city, state/province, country.
- Is it ok to use your name on my blog?
If you are not comfortable with writing a post, you can also just email me your school’s name, city, province/state and a brief summary.
Together, let’s create a movement that leads us to recognize ALL students.
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SCHOOLS THAT ARE PART OF THE MOVEMENT
- Kent Elementary School – Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada
- Forest Grove School – Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada
- St. Gregory College Preparatory School - Tuscon, Arizona, USA
- Summit Elementary School – Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Greystone Centennial Middle School - Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada
- Mount Scopus College (Upper Elementary) - Melbourne, Australia
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For More Links on Awards:
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#1 by ktenkely on October 20th, 2010
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Awesome idea! This is a movement that needs to spread. Every child is worthy of celebration!
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#2 by Chris Wejr on January 8th, 2011
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This year, we have a monthly assembly called “Celebrating our Strengths”. Each student is highlighted at some point during the year for ANY strength they have – inside or outside of school. Too, we recognize each child and thank them in a meaningful, relevant way throughout the year.
#3 by Chris Wejr on January 8th, 2011
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Please use #noawards hashtag on Twitter for great discussions on this topic!
#4 by Terri Reh on January 8th, 2011
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RE: Recognizing All Students.
When will you showcase the stories from this blog entry. Very interested in the results. Thanks.
#5 by Starleigh Grass on January 9th, 2011
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This is so cool.
I don’t know if they still do this, but I used to work at Kumsheen Secondary School where we had less than 100 students. Students had four blocks a day with a maximum of 8 blocks a semester and classes were less than 20 students.
Prior to awards day we’d pass around a sheet and for each class we’d elect a boy student and a girl student for a number of categories (academic, most improved, work ethic, ect).
Because different students have different strengths and their engagement and performance varies from subject to subject, and because classes were so small, chances are every student was acknowledged at least once.
We also had attendance awards, sports awards, and awards for contributing to the school community.
Students who were graduating that year got bursaries based on their shop sales (different story) and they were acknowledged.
It was very time consuming but it paid off. I certainly felt like family the moment I walked through the door and students treated each other with generosity. They helped each other with things and shared their things with enthusiasm.
The same sort of thing happened with Halloween. The teacher coordinating the event had a million categories and prizes and because the school was so small everyone was celebrated.
It takes a lot of time, but it’s worth it.
The student who struggles with reading knows that they struggle with reading. Excluding them from public celebrations won’t make them a better reader. Acknowledging that they’re a worthwhile human being and that everyone has strengths will increase his willigness to engage.
I don’t know if you’re familiar with the “when the chips are down” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRIKkU6IVRQ , but I think that celebrating all students does a fine job of implementing the principles of when the chips are down.
#6 by JoAnnJ68 on January 9th, 2011
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A terrific idea, I already sent this on to our head and other principals that I know. I was one of those kids who never received anything & remember how it felt. I firmly believe in honoring every child and also letting them know how they have enriched my life. This is probably why I have always been the one with the “different” kids but I wouldn’t change a minute of it. So many of my kids keep in touch because it wasn’t about grades it was about them.
#7 by Jeff Opelia on February 17th, 2011
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Chris,
I teach science at Little Falls Community Middle School in Minnesota– hometown of “Charles Lindberg”.
While searching for articles for my master’s paper literature review, I came across this article. I strongly believe in and “walk-the-walk” with calling parents for positive reasons. I base my teaching around it. Trying to encourage my colleagues to do it isn’t easy. I love to call parents for no other reason than speaking “highly” of their child. I use their grades from tests, their current grade, something they did, etc to start the conversation. I will snap pics of them in class while giving a presentation, or working on a lab and email it to their parent at work. It’s a great feeling. The parents and kids love it!
I started doing this while I was a substitute. I noticed all the great kids who did their work, gave nothing but respect, and received very little attention from adults or their peers for their great attitudes. So, I started making a few calls. That was in during the “9 -11 “ year and after subbing for 8 years. Since then, (6 years ago) I started as a full time science teacher and my calls are up to over “100 households” a year. There are the negative calls mixed in with that number, but the majorities are purely Positive!! I’m giving a presentation on this subject at the Minnesota State Science Teacher Convention in Mankato on the 2nd of April.
The research paper I intend to write will be (hopefully) on this subject. Do you know of any sources from journals or other types of resources on this subject to help me? I would greatly appreciate it!!!!
#8 by Carmelle on April 21st, 2011
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My son had a teacher in grade 5 that started a program where the students identified goals and towards the end of the year, THEY (the students)decided what they did really well that year. There was a grade level ceremony where every student received a certificate with their name and their strengths (some included: this year I liked math, I was extra kind to the new kid, I did well academically, I handed all my homework in on time). It was interesting to see what the students identified as their strengths for the year, as opposed to the adults in their lives. Very powerful to listen to these as a parent. Was so glad this process was changed!!
#9 by Nick on April 21st, 2011
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I’m surprised that this is controversial. Even as an adult, this sort of thing annoys me. A few years ago, my employer had a recognition ceremony for people involved in a major inter-departmental project that was a big success. We had rented an auditorium and everyone involved was given a certificate of appreciation and called up to the stage. In the end, there were more people up on stage than were left in the seats. I felt like a bit of loser sitting there listening to speakers laud the efforts of this team on their achievement. It was a bit of a de-motivator because it felt like my work wasn’t important.
I was also a kid who often made the honour roll, but missed occasionally because the criteria was usually no mark lower than a B. I always found that to be a bit of an invasion of privacy, having to answer questions about what course I screwed up in.
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#10 by Marc Azada on October 3rd, 2011
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That actually a great idea. Honoring and recognizing each student in your school for their strengths, talents, and interests would boost their confidence. I would totally support this project.
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#11 by Carmen Bennett on December 8th, 2011
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“Last year the staff at Kent Elementary made a decision that changed the way students are recognized at our school. Instead of awards ceremonies, student of the month assemblies, and honour rolls, we decided to honour and recognize each student in our school for their strengths, talents, and interests (inside and outside of school). ”
This is something new. Now the big question is what type of awards will you give the kids? And will those kids who performs well in the class still be given recognition as well?