Gold stars? Surely too passe darling. A few encouraging words? - surely a bit too drab.
No, the way to acknowledge good work these days is by sticker or stamper. They are highly visual and motivational rewards, and the effort-to-cost ratio makes them a very attractive option.
It takes just seconds to peel off a sticker or leave a stamp mark, yet even those of you who are profligate with your praise won’t have to spend more than a tenner a term.
Stickers are sold in sheet multiples and can cost as little as pound;3 for a batch of 125 stickers. Stampers, costing pound;3.25 and upwards, are pre-inked and are apparently good for 10,000 impressions.
You can get generic stickers and stampers with a cartoon and a phrase such as “lovely work” or “brilliant”, or more specific rewards to match your subject.
Super Stickers, for example, has a collection of stickers and stampers with German, Spanish and French phrases. It also has music, computing, numeracy, literacy and geography-themed stickers.
Bargain offers include a set of 125 stickers with the same phrase for pound;2.95, or you can have a mixed set of 125 stickers of your choice for pound;3.50. If you really must have your gold stars, The Sticker Factory has a new take on the old classic - its smiley metallic stars cost pound;5.00 for a pack of 720.
Also new - and suitable for older pupils - are the embossed gold or silver tick stickers that cost pound;4 for a sheet of 120. The Sticker Factory also sells a range of 10 stampers, including the excellent frog, the good work whale and the well done bee. All are available for pound;3.50.
Looking ahead to the end of term, you might want to splash out on something a little more substantial. Super Stickers has a selection of ready-to-fill-in certificates offering praise for everything from spelling to good attendance. At pound;3.50 for a pack of 20, your praise won’t spread very far, but for special occasions they’re a bargain. The alternative is to go for photocopiable certificates from the Sticker Factory. These cost pound;5 for set of 10 certificates.
Super Stickers, PO Box 55, Balloo Avenue, Bangor Co Down, Northern Ireland BT19 7PJ. Tel: 0800 318 192; web: www.superstickers.com The Sticker Factory, Freepost, ANG 10031, Sudbury CO10 2ZX. Tel: 01787 370 950; web: www.the-sticker-factory.co.uk
