Ever wish your students were more motivated? If you’re like most of us, you have tried an array of rewards and punishments to motivate kids. There’s only one problem: it doesn’t work. At least it doesn't work well enough. People (yes, even students) aren’t motivated from the outside so rewards and punishments only work to a point. We are internally motivated. That’s why it's essential to engage and inspire students to be motivated to succeed in school (and life.)

If you’re ready to move beyond the reward/punishment model and embrace a whole new way to understand motivation, I encourage you to come back regularly. It’s time to challenge the status quo and create schools and classrooms based on what really motivates behavior.


Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Is Your Child "Successful"?

“Is your son successful?” A simple question asked by a child provides an opportunity for a parent to examine exactly what we mean when we say we want our kids to be “successful.”

Click here to read the article.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Motivation Comes From Within

Even if you think that using positive reinforcement "motivates" your students, the truth is that motivation always comes from within. Read more (including a classroom example) in "Motivation Comes From Within."

Friday, November 4, 2011

Bullying: The Importance of Defining Our Terms

Research is supposed to inform, not confuse. When it comes to discussing something as serious as bullying, it's essential to define terms accurately. Read more here.