Punished By Reward

I read this totally rad book, "Punished By Reward: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other Bribes" by Alfie Kohn. If you're a teacher (or a parent, for that matter), this book makes some valid points. HOWEVER, I have to say that the strict guidelines this book encourages are tough. The girls I teach come from families that have little to nothing (one of my girls turned in a financial form that said her family makes $7000 a year for a family of 5), so little tokens of appreciation seem to go further with them. I gave the "no bribery" thing a good run. I tried...I really did. And it. did. not. work. I know that in the long run I may not be helping them by offering bribes (ahem...rewards), but it's not like I'm rewarding them for every single thing they do. They have to earn it, they have to show me that they deserve to be rewarded, and they have to understand/reflect on why they are being rewarded. I'm a big believer in reflection (that's why I have my girls journal every day). That being said, my 7th and 8th graders had a rough couple of weeks, but they are turning it around. So....

Picture 110: April 20, 2010: I rewarded good behavior today.