You can do it. It won't be easy, but you can do it. I really have been in your shoes, and it simply requires you to be a little more deliberate and vocal with your students. I really take the time to explain why I don't endorse rewards in the classroom, and that first off begins with academics. Reading, for example, I share how it would totally and utterly baffle me if someone tried to give me a trinket or treat for finishing The Hunger Game series. Really, what kind of message would that be sending to me? The reward in doing well in school gives you a higher salary in life (Kelley Gallegher has an incredibly cool chart that shows how much the students are "earning" per day to attend school- it matches up with their life earnings with advanced degrees).
Regarding food, it helps that I am an active teacher that runs marathons and endorses "real" food in my household. My students are shocked when they see me eat something unhealthy and know that I think associating food with success is dangerous. Again, I am very vocal about this.
And class rewards- We still like to have fun, but it has to be earned through trust and hard-work. I always tell my class that we can have option A or option B. Option A is typically hands-on, involves group-work, etc. Option B is worksheet based. Of course, like I wrote, I am a total fan of random rewards when the kids have been working hard.
Overall, I feel like I have so much more to say about this, but speaking from your heart will take you farthest. Let your students get to know you, and you will win them over. When my students ask if I am going to reward them with some donuts, I say something like, "Do you know me?" That's where you want to be. :)
Madisen,
You can do it. It won't be easy, but you can do it. I really have been in your shoes, and it simply requires you to be a little more deliberate and vocal with your students. I really take the time to explain why I don't endorse rewards in the classroom, and that first off begins with academics. Reading, for example, I share how it would totally and utterly baffle me if someone tried to give me a trinket or treat for finishing The Hunger Game series. Really, what kind of message would that be sending to me? The reward in doing well in school gives you a higher salary in life (Kelley Gallegher has an incredibly cool chart that shows how much the students are "earning" per day to attend school- it matches up with their life earnings with advanced degrees).
Regarding food, it helps that I am an active teacher that runs marathons and endorses "real" food in my household. My students are shocked when they see me eat something unhealthy and know that I think associating food with success is dangerous. Again, I am very vocal about this.
And class rewards- We still like to have fun, but it has to be earned through trust and hard-work. I always tell my class that we can have option A or option B. Option A is typically hands-on, involves group-work, etc. Option B is worksheet based. Of course, like I wrote, I am a total fan of random rewards when the kids have been working hard.
Overall, I feel like I have so much more to say about this, but speaking from your heart will take you farthest. Let your students get to know you, and you will win them over. When my students ask if I am going to reward them with some donuts, I say something like, "Do you know me?" That's where you want to be. :)
Best,
Angela