| was in elementary school I loved sports and | | | | best homework, the best handwriting, the best |
| music. It was with pride that I received various | | | | reading, the best penmanship, the best |
| blue and red ribbons acknowledging my sports | | | | pronunciation, the most cooperative, the most |
| accomplishments, along with many certificates for | | | | helpful, the most improved, etc. This way any |
| my musical endeavors. When I moved to Japan, I | | | | student, even the shy child, has a chance to |
| sold my belongings and just brought the essentials. | | | | receive the award. The teachers have a monthly |
| Within that shipment was one box of sentimental | | | | meeting to decide who the student of the month |
| mementos, which held, among other things, the | | | | will be. |
| ribbons and certificates I received as a child. | | | | When we give the certificate, we call the mother |
| Little did my teachers of so many years ago | | | | ahead of time, so she can come to the school to |
| know that a young elementary school student | | | | see the ceremony. The student receives the |
| would treasure those ribbons and certificates to | | | | certificate and a bouquet of flowers in front of his |
| the degree that she would hold on to them for | | | | or her classmates, after which a picture is taken |
| decades and, as an adult, crate them half way | | | | with the teacher. |
| across the world in a box of keepsakes. | | | | Actually, receiving a certificate can make better |
| I mention this little bit of my own personal history | | | | students out of your pupils. For example, I had |
| to drive home the point that children thrive on | | | | one student many years ago who was very |
| recognition and respect. In light of this, I would like | | | | spoiled at home and poorly behaved in class to |
| to ask you to think about your own classes and | | | | the point of being rude. Since I am a fairly strict |
| ponder if you, as a teacher, are giving enough | | | | teacher and could channel his energy in a positive |
| opportunities for recognition to your students in | | | | way, he eventually did reasonably well in my class. |
| the English classroom. | | | | Thus, I decided to give him the most improved |
| In my case, I never received much recognition at | | | | student award. I'll never forget the day we |
| home, but I did enjoy an ample supply of it at | | | | announced it and called out his name. He just |
| school; thus, I place great importance on student | | | | stood there in shock. He couldn't believe he was |
| recognition. Actually, the road to mastering a | | | | being singled out for such recognition. I am certain |
| foreign language is a very long and arduous one; | | | | it was the first time in his school career that he |
| the more recognition given, the shorter the steps | | | | received positive recognition from a teacher. His |
| seem from one crossroad to another. Certificates | | | | mother called us to thank us, and in this case, this |
| of accomplishment are a wonderful way to | | | | award really made a difference; he was truly a |
| orchestrate pride and confidence in students | | | | model student from that day forward. |
| studying English. | | | | Please be generous with your recognition of your |
| At our school we have a "Student of the Month" | | | | students. Who knows, maybe someday one of |
| award. Each month it is given for a different | | | | your pupils will treasure the certificate you give |
| reason, depending on the student. Some of the | | | | her and pack it away in a box of keepsakes for |
| categories the teachers have decided on are: the | | | | the rest of her life, like I have mine. |