One of the tools of early childhood is forming a kind of discipline that not only allows children to  listen, but encourages it. It’s not always easy to stop the noise, the crazy kiddie behavior of rolling around and just not listening. Years ago, I borrowed an idea from a very exclusive school that I attended years ago when I was little. The school was Dominican Convent in San Rafael, California. One of the things the Sisters did was to issue “chords” to the girls who did well academically. There were gold chords for the top students; white chords for the honor roll kids and purple chords for those who tried hard. I always liked the way these chords looked. It was an “outward sign” to any and all that the wearer was a good student.

So I borrowed the idea and issued “chords” to all our Garden School students and we called them medals. They have really evolved over the years, and right now they are at their Rococo state of being.

Each medal has a child’s name in those white square letter cubes. They each have a pendant to hold down the original medal. They are a daily badge of honor. ” If I am kind, if I don’t make another child cry on purpose…if I listen and don’t disrupt the class, if I mind the rules…I keep my medal, and I get prizes, treats, and praises through the day. If I am not a good citizen, and I disrupt our group…If I behave poorly and make someone cry…if I am disobedient too many times…I will lose my medal for the day and treats and prizes will be out of my grasp for the day.” It’s a simple child friendly kind of discipline that works.

To the medal, all kinds of prizes are added…especially on Fridays. We have what we call Golden Bead Club…if I have kept my medal all week, I get a yellow or golden bead to add to my name and the original pendant. If I keep my medal for twenty weeks, I should have twenty gold beads…and many children have many more.

We also have awards that coincide with what we are doing at the Garden School. Lately, we have been working on Geography. Every Friday, every child who participated in Geography and was able to name a country in Africa, won a camel, little boy or girl, tent or star that represented a Geography Award! It has a double spun loop that keeps it on the chord. We gave nine geography pendants away today.  At the end of the Geography session which lasts about six weeks…the children who participated at all will receive a tiny globe to wear proudly on their medal chord.

Today we gave away copper keys that represent our best eaters.  We gave away hot air balloons that represent “up up and away with arithmetic” and red hearts that represent the best readers. And every week it changes…and teachers try to bring in the children who are trying, but may not get the whole thing right. This helps to encourage them.

So what do some of these “medals” look like? It depends. We have children who have very few items on their medals…and we have some children who have two strings full. It’s really all up to the child and his willingness to work at being a great asset to his school. There are lots of things to win every week…and some of our children win as many as six awards at a time.

We have Asia week coming up, and children will have the opportunity to earn a little Chinese coin to wear if they eat something on the field trip to the Chinese Restaurant.

We have Puzzle Day coming, and a tiny puzzle award will go to those who can participate in putting puzzles together.

We have a Valentine’s Day dance with hearts for those who choose to dance…

There are Play Awards, Citizenship Awards, Achievement Awards, Swimming Awards, Art Awards and many more.

What I like about the awards is the fact that they are outward signs to the child, to his family, to the other children that there are rewardable possibilities around every corner. It’s a sign that says, “By Crackie, I did that all by myself!”

Each and every medal is individual, precious to the child, and a great keepsake for the future. It reminds them what they have done at the Garden School during their stay with us. It’s a way of remembering a lot of positives and a lot of learning…and no child wants to hear…”Go hang up your medal, shame on you…you know better than that.” It’s really all we have to say…it drives the lesson of citizenship and splendid behavior home like no other lesson.