Show Me The Money

Last Monday, Brandi has PASS testing at school. I am sure every school has some form of this. Each child is given a specific target number, and that is their goal score for the test. If you remember, when Brandi was in first grade, she scored off the charts on this test, and she did just as well last year.

This year she passed her target number, again. Yay, Brandi!

Now, as most of you also know, she switched schools recently, and I am still getting to know her teacher's style, and how she motivates her students.

I found out Monday that she bribes them to do well. See, she gave each kid who hit their target a dollar. To a third grade kid, that's huge! She told each kid that they could use their dollar to buy ice cream...which they sell in the cafeteria one day a week...to celebrate their achievement.

I am not sure how I feel about this.

I know I shouldn't compare the two school, but I can't help it. At Brandi's old school, every night they had homework that consisted of at least one workbook page of math (most of the time it was two pages), spelling homework (either writing all spelling words...there were usually about 15...three times each, or using every word in a sentence (and there were sentence rules...like having to be at least 6 words, and they couldn't start with "I") or putting all the words in alphabetical order), and reading (for at least 30 minutes). At this school, there is a sheet of math problems that comes home at the beginning of the week, called "smartie math". It has about 10 problems, and parents are encouraged to help the kids. When they return it on Friday, if they have 80% correct, they get a "smartie" candy. Again, rewarding the kids for something they should be doing anyway. ( and FYI...I refuse to give Brandi the answers on her math. If she gets stuck, which doesn't happen often, I will guide her to the answer, but she has to work the problems out herself.) This school also uses one sheet of paper, front and back, for homework for the week. Usually, it's writing 5 words in ABC order, or using three spelling words in a sentence. I feel like Brandi is not being challenged, and that she is falling into some bad habits.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for praising a good job, but bribing the kids with rewards for things they should be doing...not so much. I just hold on to the fact that there is only two more months of school, and hopefully next year she will get a teacher who is a little more challenging.