Do you believe it is wrong for teachers to hand out candy to students. I understand this post might have very different views! I am just curious what some takes are on this.
I use starbursts and skittles. Seriously, 2 skittles were the prize for Math bingo. Not 2 bags but two individual skittles. So, I don't have a problem with candy
I think candy is okay as long as it's not a ton and as long as every single student in the class is able to eat it. If even one student had allergies or health issues or whatever and couldn't have candy, I wouldn't have it in my classroom.
We aren't allowed to give students candy but since I work in a self-contained class I was able to put "tangible motivators" on all of their IEPs. I mostly hand out fish crackers but I give out fruit snacks, skittles or M&Ms a couple times a month. But I do I have a rule - if you ask for it, you do not get it.
I sometimes offer candy to students as rewards and tokens of my appreciation for their help. I have a treasure chest sort of thing with non-candy items and the candy items are in a little tub sitting on top when you open the treasure box. I offer candy regardless of whether one person can't have it due to various restrictions as they choose want they want.
I give a candy treat as a reward every now and then. I'm cautious of what I stock--no nuts and no gelatin. However, now that I'm trying to stay away from sugar, my students won't be getting candy. I can't avoid the temptation!
I give out hard candy like jolly ranchers. It's not very often though my lunch study hall group gets it once a week during silent reading. Very rarely they'll get chocolate like from leftover Halloween candy.
I don't mind candy every now and then. I'm more the cookie sort of person. I do think it is funny that our local elementary school has banned families from sending sugary snacks and provides a healthy snack list (parents basically ignore it after the early grades), but the teacher at all levels hand out candy like it is ... well.... candy.
I'm ok with the random candy treat. Considering most of my students go home and eat chips, pizza, soda, and other junk, I don't feel a small piece of candy from time to time is that harmful. It's hard to find a candy that all my students can eat due to allergies, braces, etc.
A small treat of candy here and there as prize is not a problem for me! A hershey kiss, skittles, m&ms. They are kids after all. On a side note in 8th grade my breakfast everyday in Social Studies class was a bag of sour powers. That was the "it" candy along with airheads at my school back in the mid 90s. My teacher never said a thing considering half the class did this everyday.
I give it out. It is also in the prize box. My school gives it to us to give to students for special events, so it isn't a problem. We can substitute if students aren't able to have certain candy.
I will hand out candy once in a while. I never give out large quantities (ie. I will give one gummy worm, not a whole pack). Every now and then I will do it as a little treat to acknowledge students working hard or quiet, or whatnot. Usually I will do something like stickers (which work well with my group), but I think it's a nice treat for them to occasionally get a little candy. I think a little something here and there is fine. For example, if the class is playing BINGO and receive a sucker for a prize. Just not large amounts on a regular basis.
I believe it is now against ed code in California, and I know it is against district policy. Despite this, many teachers still use candy as bribes and rewards. I do not, and have strong opinions against it.
We have a prohibited list of food treats in Texas so I don't use candy rewards. "Back in the day," I would give one, singular solitary Smartie as a reward and kids would work like crazy for that. It would be nice to have that in the bag of tricks again.
I give out candy occasionally, but it's usually tied to our lesson. When I do use candy, it's never large quantities. It's amazing how hard kids will work for a couple of Skittles!
I don't have a problem with it. I have one of my lower level HS SPE kids that will work for edibles... a skittle here, an M&M there, goldfish here... I understand allergies and all but when people start bring up obesity, well, that is kind of dumb. One Jolly Rancher or a couple of skittles will not make a kid fat.
I only hand out candy 4 times a year. Peppermints for all of them. Semester 1 exams, FCAT Writes, FCAT Testing (math, reading, science), and Semester 2 exams. I believe that thing about occupying your mouth improves your scores or something. I would give them chewing gum but that is too expensive and there are obvious oppositions like it will end up under the desk or the kid will choke and stuff like that.
I used to give out Dove candies - dark chocolate - on account of the affirmations that were printed on the insides of the wrappers. My students were all over the age of consent, to be sure, but/and some of them (since this was test preparation) needed all the affirmation they could get. But Target upped the price of the candies at about the same time that Dove swapped out the affirmations for advertising, and that was the end of that. At that point I took to extending my arms out in front of me, slapping my hands together, and barking like a marine mammal: the group looked nonplused till I named this as the Seal of Approval (bada-bing!) It's astonishing how hard even grownups will work for something like that.
I think it makes sense that people would try just to see the Seal of Approval. It is just silly to watch and lights up the pleasure center of the brain whether it is because of the silliness or the humor that comes with something that makes you groan at the bad humor.
I never hand it out much, but I don't have a problem with it. Since I'm K now, I do use Skittles (one, singular Skittle) to bribe. Of course, there are only yellow, green, and purple in the jar since I ate all the orange and red ones (If I BUY candy, it is almost always something I don't like! I usually try to keep left over candy so I don't have to buy anything!)
I used to give out the larger life savers (individually wrapped, in a bag) during tests or longer assignments. We called them "thinking mints". I also gave sugarless gum. It really helped my anxious and over active kids. I did have a smaller number of kids, being a sped teacher. Other than that, fruit leathers, yogurt and cheese. I do not like to see lots of candy being given out, especially as a mom.
We call them "reinforcers". It would make for a very long day in my classroom without my candy/treat box LOL I bring out the box twice a day at most. It's usually when 2 or more students are not staying on task so just seeing the box gets them back on task rather quickly.
I give out candy. In the past, I did Jolly Ranchers and peppermints, but I have an awful lot of allergies/sensitivities this year, so I bought bulk bags of YumEarth(?) lollipops. The kids are absolutely crazy for them.
I have a marble jar and when it gets filled up, they earn a treat. It usually takes about 2 months to fill up so about 5 treats a year. It could be candy, cookies, a cupcake, etc. I let them vote on it. Someday, they'll tell me I can no longer give out treats, but until then I'll keep using it. It absolutely thrills them to earn a treat.
