Do you give prizes? Why or why not?

[GrenWhit]

I figure they ratio of candy givers to non-givers is about 70/30 in regards to native English teachers.  Which one are you, and why?  What are the benefits and potential consequences of each in the short and long term?

(Mods: if I should have put this under teaching theory, I'm sorry, and feel free to move it. Also, I know I probably could have run a search and resurrected an old post, but I'd like to get ideas purely from current teachers, as I feel the Native English classroom is constantly evolving.)

[GrenWhit]

I'll post my theories somewhere in the middle so as not to sway the conversation right off the bat.

[jonpurdy]

I give out coupons which kids can redeem for candy. Five coupons = one piece of candy.  That way I'm buying a fifth as much candy as I'd be buying if I gave out candy directly.

Sometimes I'll have sale days and "sell" the candy for four coupons. Plus coupons are more fun anyway. And if you run out of candy you have to buy it quickly; coupons are printable and easy to make.

[DMZ]

Candy coupons are the truth and the light.

Also, maybe my kids are rich and spoiled but ordinary candy won't do... it has to be chocolate.

[gksgangchu]

I do the same thing. 5 tickets = candy

I also to stickers on a board for each group.  At the end of class, I total all points for each group and put the stickers on the groups board.  After the group gets 50 stickers/points, I will give that group some kind of candy or other prizes.

I like to do both things in my classes because it helps recoginze individual students and the students in a group.  It keeps things fair and no one feels left out. 

[gifappeltjie]

I give candy. The students get really excited and they participate in class much more. I'm at an all boys middle school, so getting them excited is really a difficult thing to do. They absolutely adore candy. I give it maybe once in 2 months and usually just before the exams to say good luck. I would play games with them and the students who put up their hands and answer correctly, win candy. They know they have to work hard before they will get any candy from me. I do feel that it motivates the students to participate and it has happened many times that the higher level students help the lower level students to answer a question so that they can also get candy. That is exactly what I want. My grade 3's are not divided into English levels, so this is a great way of getting everyone to participate! I don't give candy too often though, because then students only work if they get candy. You have to have a balance!

[jimmyjamison]

I give out stamps. 6 stamps=1 piece of candy. They have to come see me during lunch time to get their candy. I do not give it out during class because it is a huge distraction.
I use stamps because I don't like to waste paper, ink, and time with the coupons. In my opinion, the stamps are just easier. The first day of class, I give them a stamp grid and have them glue it in their notebooks.
I have been here for about 4 months, and when I first arrived, I did not give any reward for volunteering, good behavior, winning games...
But I decided to give it a try this school year, and it has worked wonders. I could never get students to volunteer, even the students who spoke almost fluent English. The first day I gave out stamps for students who would introduce their partner, and I had whole classes volunteering, even the boys! It was pretty incredible. We will see if their enthusiasm lasts!

[notinKS]

I have a bag that I bring with me to every class and the kids know that there is candy in it. Sometimes when students are participating in class very well, I will throw them a piece. Sometimes when they win a game, I will give them each a piece. Every once in a while after a team wins a game, I will make a big deal of reaching into my bag and pulling out absolutely nothing, just giving them applause as a reward. The kids love it when I do that 

My main point is, I always have it but don't usually use it.

[Yu_Bumsuk]

I only give out candy randomly in games where anyone can earn a prize or to teams that include lower-level students. Using candy to bribe kids to do what they're supposed to is a complete non-solution in the long run.

[foreverJ]

Never in regular classes, sometimes in afterschool classes.
Maybe this should be a poll??

[WorkingTitle3484]

I very rarely give out candy in my class.

For me, the cons outweigh the pros; for example, after getting some candy, kids will constantly shout "Give me candy" which annoys me to no end.  Yes, students should get a reward for good work, but candy turns them into crack-demons.  Even after receiving it, they're not accustomed to saying, 'Thank you'.  I have no problems teaching etiquette lessons as I have in the past, but it shouldn't be because of my reaction towards their lack of it.  Also, sugaries can get quite expensive.  On a teaching level, candy trains them to only work for presents, instead of solely for learning.  It's not the best stimulus for retention.

[Inesarie]

I only give candy for special occasions (Valentines Day, Halloween, etc.).  Candy is so bad for their teeth and not healthy (they may brush their teeth a lot, but I've seen a lot of kids with bad teeth!).  If they got just one piece of candy in each class, that would add up by the end of the day--I don't think this is a good habit for teachers to be in.  I think stickers, pencils, erasers, or little gifts are better prizes.  My students seem to like them just as much as candy.   

[Wacky Fritz]

Instead of candy I use fruit.

It's kind of expensive I know, but the kids go bonkers for apples.

I cut the apples up and give the kids pieces throughout the lessons.

[GrenWhit]

Maybe this should be a poll??

I considered it, but i like to know reasoning, and i believe polls are no-reply?  If not, my bad.

[EPSK]

I gave every student candy on Halloween. I had leftovers so I used this for my afterschool class (and a little personal use). I will NEVER use it during regular class because students will get distracted by the constant prospect of candy and will never stop asking for it. Even for Halloween, I explained the rules and after class my desk was surrounded by students begging for more.

I think back to when I was in elementary school and we never got candy or stickers or points or anything for Spanish class. We had extra credit opportunities and had special food days/parties but we didn't get candy to ensure our answers.

[GrenWhit]

Now that this discussion is up and running ... I don't give candy.  My ONLY exception is with my graduating 3rd graders after finals, and then the prize is not necessarily candy, just a prize of some sort.  I decided this because of my own school experience, and I confirmed my decision in my first week teaching after the previous NET.  They only sentence my students retained was "Teacher! Give me candy!" 

Having begun my second full year, I feel like the benefits of not getting too Pavlovian with my students has really started to show, especially in regards to classroom behavior, speaking English outside of "game time," and primarily through my students use of complete sentences.  the down side is that the lowest level students are more difficult to get involved.  The upside to the downside is that they are no worse than the lower level students i inherited last year.

Edit - some of you clearly have better methodology than he did.

[markkrajcar]

I work in a school where the kids do not speak enough.  I find that the kids are quite shy and lacking in confidence.  Candy seems to at least motivate a few of them to come up and present for various speaking related activities.  My opinion is it doesn't hurt to use candy in the classroom if anything it helps a bit and sometimes a lot

[jchoe]

Delayed gratification. Students choose a prize (I have candy, small toys, and fun school supplies) after earning 3 "frogs" (stamps in the front of their book). I chose 3 because I give out about 6 per week and I see the students once a week. I estimate that i'll be giving out around 600 prizes this semester and that is doable for me.

So far in my experience the students don't beg for frogs because the procedures are clear and practiced.

[Hello]

I work in a Hogwan and my head teacher told me I should give candy to the kids, but the small and really cheap ones and the kids seem to love it. Which I give once or twice a month depending on how good they have been. Only on special occasions when I have more challenging competition between the students that has nothing to do with the work at hand, I will then buy them ice cream or chocolate.

[hankmcmasters]

i used to give out candy just to get kids involved in class, but it turned into a hassle and it was expensive.  some kids are still asking me for candy from halloween even though i already gave it to them. that was how many months ago?  5?

the way i do it now is actually based on conserving candy, but it seems to be better at motivating students.  if i have a warm up activity and one team wins, then they can get candy at the end of the lesson, but only if they don't screw around for the rest of the lesson.  they pretty much always end up losing their claim to candy by the end of the lesson.  also if there is clearly one person carrying a group, only that person will get candy.

i think its  better for everyone if its rationed.

but really, i'd rather not give it out at all