Presentation Awards - Do They Motivate Kids To Learn?
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I’m currently involved in a joint venture between the Governing Council of the school and the Parents & Friends Association to revisit our Presentation Awards offered at the end of the year with the view to possibly making some changes/ filling in some gaps in the awards currently offered.
The plan is to involve staff, students and parents in the consultation process.
There have been a few issues raised in regard to our Presentation Awards.
One is that the kids just don’t care (or aren’t motivated by the current awards offered).
Another is that the book prizes are a certificate for a bookstore without books the kids are happy with (we’re a bit limited out here).
Another is that some kids avoid presentation morning IF they are getting an award (???? Guess changing the awards isn’t going to change that!!!). 
SO…
I need ideas, thoughts, feedback. As much as you can give me.
What sort of things should a school be awarding at an end of year Presentation Morning?
What sort of “prizes” are appropriate AND appeal to kids (particularly secondary kids)?
How do we encourage kids to value learning more?
books, book prize
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Sports awards - maybe vouchers for a sports shop or some equipment. Citzenship & contributions to the school community.
I think it is important to have awards that recognise academics, sports and also things like being a good community member, especially for those kids that aren’t academically brilliant or are pretty sporting.
Prizes are tough. OUr school has Katherine’s Prize, which I think is a trophy and is awarded to a year 4 or 5 student who has contributed to the school - it is named after a student who died quite a few years ago & her parents contributed a prize. There is also a corner in the library named after her & so the kids really love this on.
I always liked book prizes, but then I love books. How about vouchers for cool stuff, like bowling, or DVDs (I am assuming you don’t have a cinema), things they can use in the holidays.
I don’t know about what sort of budget you have, but what about awards that give an experience — like lunch with the local head-honcho of whatever they excelled in, be it sports (a local sporting celebrity), debate (the local mayor), reading (the owner of the local bookstore), etc.
You could get your local paper to take a photo and do a little write-up about it.
Then you’re combining CELEBRITY (which is exceedingly [over-]valued) with the prize.
What do you think? Would it work where you are?
I never enjoyed awards day at school; probably because I never won any…
Could your local bookstore perhaps be motivated to order in a book that the award recipient would love to have? Child goes to bookstore, presents certificate, and asks for the book he or she wants, to the value of the certificate. Of course it would take much longer to gat the prize this way, so probably not such a good idea.
I don’t have any other ideas.
I’m probably too late… but for what it’s worth. Overall, I don’t think they motivate kids to learn, especially if they focus on achievement rather than effort. Personally, I think there’s way too much focus on rewards and punishment, and too little on engaging, relevant, individualised learning.
Oh yeah, and I’m not surprised about some kids avoiding it… I always felt awkward being singled out that way.