For those who have access to the reported contributions, the confusion on the topic above becomes obvious after reading a few comments.  

For example, for some, stickers praising students� work should be removed from the site because they are not ESL resources; for others, the very same stickers should not be removed as they are an important motivational tool for the students and fit in one of the categories available in the site: �Classroom Forms�.

I believe it would be wise to think about this and discuss it here on the forum to clarify the issue and avoid incoherencies and unfair judgments when voting on a reported contribution.

As Victor as stated, when we vote on a worksheet to be removed, or not, we must only have in mind the rules of the site, i.e., what has been defined as an ESL resource (besides the stolen worksheets, of course).  We should not, and must not judge the quality of the work.

Victor has given us examples of what should not be considered an ESL resource to avoid confusion. I�ll point out these two because they are the ones closely related to the topic for discussion.

-          Just images (no words, no activities included);

-          Clip art.

There are indeed in the reported contributions stickers which match the first and the second categories � just images, clip art, no words at all. So, I think there is no doubt about those. However, there are other stickers with comments   ï¿½  as well as  rewards, certificates, bookmarks, classroom posters�  ï¿½   which teachers use in class for different pedagogic reasons associated with extrinsic motivation:

-          To praise and encourage students� work, language skills, social skills, and  behaviour;

-          To show recognition for the students� effort and progress;

-          To congratulate students on their achievements, according to their rhythm.

Some students have enough intrinsic motivation to learn, but studies have proved that most kids, especially those from lower class families, need some extrinsic motivation to desire to learn and to believe that they are able to do so like everybody else. Besides, this can make them and their families start to value school and good grades. And according to those studies and our experience, even very good students respond to incentives, I mean, we all do, don�t we?!

In an era where the process is at least as important as the product, with the focus on �how�  even though not in detriment of �what�, how can we not consider these stickers (with comments written, of course), these certificates, these bookmarks�.. ESL resources?

For me, as long as they are made, and let me emphasize this, CREATED BY THE USER, they are as much an ESL resource as any other resource uploaded here in the site.

Much more could be said on this, but I really have to go now and I think I have made my point clear.

I�m looking forward to reading your opinions on this so that, as I�ve said above, we can avoid incoherencies and unfair judgments when voting on a reported contribution.

Thank you all!

Have a nice weekend and happy Easter to those who are celebrating it now.

I am really sad because my two sets of reward stickers have just been removed... They are really motivating for my little students who receive one at the end of every lesson and have beautiful posters. I always include short motivating texts in English. But if the majority of the members decided that they are not ESL resources, I cannot upload them...