Pineapple Citizenship Awards

JUNE 2018

From left to right: Jack Rowsam, Tracy Snyder, and Espen Matuszczak

On the first of each  month, my sixth graders are eager to see who will win the pineapple award, an award that acknowledges students of outstanding character -- students whose actions create a kind, helpful, productive classroom environment. Each month, one lucky student from each English class receives the coveted pineapple award: a certificate and pineapple trophy. Yes, they are real pineapples that travel with the tweens throughout the day and proudly perch on the their desks class after class. These treasured pineapples are so coveted that they have been known to survive the school cafeteria in one piece.

Pineapple award winners are proudly displayed in the sixth-grade hallway.

Special thanks goes to Trinh Force for creating our pineapple clip art, 2018.

What are the recognizable traits of a pineapple?

Pineapple award-winning students stand tall and courageously make positive choices, depicting behaviors they can be proud of inside and outside of the classroom. They are honorable. If they have a bad day or  face failure, they don't give up. They persevere, viewing failure as an opportunity to learn and grow.

These crown-bearing youths are outstanding classroom leaders and have the potential to become great community leaders.

They work well with others and leave no peer behind. They strive for quality work and readily lend a helping hand to anyone, ensuring everyone is successful. Every. Single. Day.

Like pineapples, these students are sweet on the inside. They are thoughtful and kind towards others. Their sunshine generates an inviting, risk-taking classroom community.

Teachers can download my pineapple certificate and clip art on my Scholastic's Top Teaching blog.