Korean Job Discussion Forums

take a rest · Joined: 15 Sep 2010 Location: self-banned

Man oh man... so I just started at this school, and things are not going too badly, but they should be better.

My problem is that every single lesson I teach, the kids expect to get candy at the end of it. I've talked to some of my more fluent students, and by the sounds of it, the previous teacher used to shower everyone with candy. To me, it sounds like it was because he wanted to be liked. He would sometimes give it away for free, for no reason... or to pacify the bad ones, I suppose.

I don't do this, I refuse. Instead, I make them collect stamps on a post-it note, and when they get 10, they can exchange the post-it for a chocopie or whatever. I think this is pretty reasonable... you have to earn rewards, that's why they're rewards... and answering one question really isn't such an amazing thing in my books.

But everyday, the kids are whining and complaining and going 'blah blah blah other teacher blah blah blah' like they're entitled to candy. Some of them actually seem to outright hate me because I'm not giving it out.

Anyway, if you are giving out cnady all the time every day, PLEASE STOP. IT MAKES IT HARD FOR THE TEACHER WHO WILL REPLACE YOU AND IT MAKES THE KIDS SPOILED AND HARD TO DEAL WITH.

That's all for now.

Darkeru · Joined: 21 Apr 2010 Location: England

My replacement should love me then. I've given out (traditional Brithsh) sweets a total of once and it was mostly to the teachers in the office. The only students who got some were the ones who come in to clean.

One of the people at this years SMOE orientation mentioned, give them 1 candy at first, they'll keep asking for more and more and for less difficult things.

I think the stamp system works work. Or the raffle system - everyone who does something gets a ticket and 2 or 3 get a few small pieces of candy.

oldtactics · Joined: 18 Oct 2008

I agree - there are way more effective rewards-based systems out there. There's a university blogger out there who I read regularly, and I love her methods besides the fact that she gives out candy. In university. TO ADULTS. Seriously? That's the best you can come up with?

northway · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

It's worse when you send a kindergartner to the front desk to be disciplined and he comes back showing you his lollipop, completely oblivious to the fact that you want to go postal on the people who were meant to be disciplining him.

thegadfly · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

Candy -- BAD!

jvalmer · Joined: 06 Jun 2003

Candy ain't bad, as long as you know when to give it away. I reserve my candy distribution for the end of the semesters, July and December. Especially December, the tests are done and half the teachers just put on movies anyways. The rest of the year I only give if the student did something to really impress me.

vDroop · Joined: 25 Aug 2010

Nothing more rewarding (and inexpensive) than a high five.

jrwhite82 · Joined: 22 May 2010

I love this thread and I hate giving out candy.

It is banned in many American schools. Too much of a potential allergy liability. And it is just bad practice. Get a bit more creative with the rewards folks!

The raffle idea is great. No homework pass, sit by a friend, sit at the teacher's desk, lunch bunch with the teacher....

Let's make a list of FREE rewards that you can give students.

murmanjake · Joined: 21 Oct 2008

blackjack · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Location: anyang

One great reward I have found is the chance to leave the class first.

I divide my class into two teams. The winning team leaves first and they don't have to push their chair in, the losing team straightens the desks and chairs and then they can leave.

Works great. I love pair pressure.

Carla · Joined: 21 Nov 2008

I will give out candy every once in a while. Maybe every other month or so. But it just depends on the class. Not all classes are equal. If I have candy around, and a random student comes in early or comes to the office for help, I'll give them a piece for no reason if I like them, especially if I have a bunch of candy other students have given me.

Usually when students get on this "Candy please" trip, I start saying, "Candy? Really, yes, give me some."

take a rest · Joined: 15 Sep 2010 Location: self-banned

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

I candy no.

High fives (yes)
"Excellent" (yes)
"Good Job" (yes)
"Good speaking" (yes)
"That's the best speaking I've heard in this school" (yes)

Finger slash across the throat (yes - once or twice a year).

Good luck.

Kaypea · Joined: 09 Oct 2008

I was getting a bit addicted to candy giving, and I'm trying to cut down... I was finding that rewarding the "winning team" after a game of semi-chance (like BAAM) felt a bit unfair, and that I was giving EVERYBODY candy for "good game".

So for the past week, I've been not giving candy after "good games" because the game was good enough... that hasn't backfired yet.

Maybe I'll keep the candy around as a surprise, or to get attention in the worst, least deserving classes (unfortunately, I do this).

Swampthing · Joined: 10 Jun 2010

I give candy, but in moderation.

I award points to each group based on their answer, and try to choose different groups based on the score which I record on a peice of paper, so I spread the points around.

Each group that has the highest and second highest score gets candy,

If I see a low level student participating and trying to answer questions, I will also award them candy for improved effort.

But thats it.