I read 'Punished by Rewards'. I enjoyed it. I do agree with much of what he says. I read it many years ago and I still have to think of more practical ways to work with large groups of kids by myself and still maintain the type of approach Alfie Kohn teaches. My son goes to a great charter school that I love where there are no grades and homework is optional. Those are some of the practices Kohn would like to see in all classrooms. He believes people will succeed by acting on their own inside motivations rather than by others praising, threatening, begging and pleading!
So an intrinsic motivation like the enjoyment of flying down a slide will be more motivation to continue to work on large motor skills (climbing) then an adult's commentary on the sliding (good job, great climbing). And not only does the praising not create a positive benefit to the child but it actually is a detriment. There were studies sited in the book (Punished by Rewards) that showed children repeating the same actions LESS often if they had been praised- those who had received no commentary from adults continued to repeat positive actions just for their own enjoyment. Those children who were praised, and did continue to repeat the action, did it to receive attention from the adults and thus did not enjoy it anymore. They only begged for an approving audience.
I could go on and on! I did like the book. I love the idea of only giving natural and sometimes logical consequences. But, when you have a large group of young children, by yourself or with one other teacher, it can be hard to do what's best. (It's hard enough to do what's easiest!)

Reply