Excellent...great idea...I love it... Is this something that the school makes up or do you do it on you own? Do have any other ideas?
We all want to be recognized for our good performance, Stephen. That's true for faculty and staff as well as students. Unfortunately, many managers recognize the need to provide motivation for students but don't extend the lesson to others. Does your school have any recognition programs for staff and faculty?
Awards are fantastic, any little thing that shows recognition works for us. I have given Certificates for good grades to attendance. I have also had donut days if the class average is above a set mark I have brought donuts in. Don't make it a habit because then the expect it, but little things do help. Simple things like a perfect attendance certificate, booy do you catch flack if you miss someone. But I have seen the students compete to see who can maintain perfect attendance the longest. So awards do work. Specialty pens, pencils, things students need. Makes a world of difference
Keep up the good work, Victoria. Is there anything you plan to do to expand these recognition practices?
Not only at graduation, but each month we recognize top students with perfect attendance and honor roll. I encourage everyone to recognize each other's accomplishments. Just recently, I had one student get perfect attendance after months of poor attendance due to many "issues". Thanks to fellow students encouraging her and helping her get to class, she did it! You should have heard the standing ovation she got! Also, I make it a practice to acknowledge their hard work each day - I thank them at the end of the day for all they did that day. Everyone likes to hear "thank you" for their efforts.
Interesting point, Richard. Awards at graduation probably have minimal impact on retention; they may be more effective generating good will and future enrollments. Recognizing positive behavior during the period of enrollment has a broader motivating effect.
Awards at graduation do not really assist with student retention per se. After all, they have already graduated. However, quarterly student rewards can have a poistive affect on student retention.
We give out certificates at the end of each quarter for Perfect Attendance and Honors.
Thanks, Diane. I don't exactly understand what roles the students were elected to fill, but this structure offers an opportunity for them to take responsibility for helping shape classroom activities. Challenge them to plan the next field trip, including how to fund it. Good luck.
This sounds like a great way to keep graduates engaged with the school, Louisa. Everyone likes to be recognized. Also, having graduates and current students get together can have a very positive influence on your students.
Hi! Great idea!
What about perfect attendance? I think that encopurages those who are in class everyday.
It also showsc the students that we are aware!
Hi Loren,
I'm sorry it took so long getting back to you.
That's a great question!Thank you for your interest.
I attempt to reward my students everyday in various ways. I use the best of my imagination to be "positive" with rewards daily.
Positive school enviornment are more effective then negative measures. So when I reward the positive, this encourages others to participate.
It's very important to me that people who take a new path in life become successful with their endeavors.
So to answer your question, the first thing that I did when I took over my current class was to hold class elections. The students nominated their choices. I stayed out of the electoral process,this was for them.
My next major reward is to take my students out to a Medical Museum on the 16TH of this month.
What suggestions do you have for me to enhance their power? I love suggestions and new ideas.
Hope to hear from you soon!
Hi Louisa,
Alumni night seems like a great idea.
I would like to suggest that to our DOE's.
I also think its a wonderful idea to give grads the recognition they desreve.
It's also really nice to keep in touch with them.
We are having an Alumni night here in one of my campuses. I will be suggesting having a small award ceremony at this function honoring some of our successfully working graduates. I hope this will serve as a goal to our current students who will see that if they work hard they to will be recognized. I also believe this will be a wonderful boost to the graduate receiving the awards to keep up the great work.
At several of my campuses graduation ceremonies there are also awards presented by the placement office for completing externship and for securing employment in the field. I have found that the department has been able to utilize our relationship with these graduates to help place other graduates.
We recognize perfect attendance and dress for success. Once a student has obtained these goals they are given incentives such as extra points towards a module or certificate.
True, Joanna. What sort of awards do you make to your students? What specific actions do you plan to take in the next 30 days?
I'm sure the students will appreciate the recognition, Elaine. Anyone else have a program in place?
Louisa, can you identify some specific actions related to student awards that you can implement in the next 30 days?
Awards are a great way to build self-confidence and give a sense of pride to students.Alittle reconition goes a long way.
We just had a meeting yesterday discussing ways we can improve morale with the students and we've decided to select a student of the month from each different class. They will be recognized with a certificate and we are still discussing the final touches on little gifts to give them.
