Inspiring Student Motivation: The Legacy of Fear: Test Scores Rise in Washington, D.C. (So Does Suspicion)

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, April 6, 2011

The Legacy of Fear: Test Scores Rise in Washington, D.C. (So Does Suspicion)

"When it seems too good, you know it might be untrue." This line, taken from the soon-to-be-released song "Untrue" by Dinosaur Feathers, seems appropriate when you look at the unbelievable (?) rise in test scores in Washington, D.C. when Michelle Rhee ruled.

Now there is controversy that I discuss in "The Legacy of Fear: Test Scores Rise in Washington, D.C. (So Does Suspicion).