THE DEADLY EFFECTS OF “TOUGHER STANDARDS” “[The main effect] of the drive for so-called higher standards in schools is that the children are too busy to think,” said John Holt in 1959. Four decades later, policy makers are pursuing just such a heavy-handed, top-down version of education reform. The results: schools have been turned into giant test-prep centers, the intellectual … Read More
Motivation From The Inside Out – (Lecture Topic)
MOTIVATION FROM THE INSIDE OUT: Rethinking Rewards, Assessment, and Learning Most educators, if asked, can explain the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation — between carrots and sticks on the one hand, and love of learning on the other. But many of our daily practices suggest that we fail to understand the importance of the distinction. In this workshop, Alfie … Read More
The Homework Myth – (Lecture Topic)
THE HOMEWORK MYTH After spending most of the day in school, children are typically given additional assignments to be completed at home – a remarkable fact, when you stop to think about it. What’s more, homework in most schools isn’t limited to those times when it seems appropriate and important. Rather than saying, “Doing this particular project at home may … Read More
Challenging Students… And How To Have More Of Them – (Lecture Topic)
CHALLENGING STUDENTS. . . AND HOW TO HAVE MORE OF THEM “The principal goal of education,” said Piaget, is to create people “who are capable of doing new things” and who don’t “accept everything they are offered.” Critical thinking skills, however, don’t necessarily promote the desire to question. Alfie Kohn will suggest ways by which we can support risk taking, … Read More
The (Progressive) Schools Our Children Deserve – (Lecture Topic)
THE (PROGRESSIVE) SCHOOLS OUR CHILDREN DESERVE Our knowledge of how children learn – and how schools can help — has come a long way in the last few decades. Unfortunately, most schools have not: They’re still more about memorizing facts and practicing isolated skills than understanding ideas from the inside out; they still exclude students from any meaningful decision-making role; … Read More
Teaching Children To Care – (Lecture Topic)
TEACHING CHILDREN TO CARE We can’t blame “human nature” when children act aggressively or selfishly. Extensive research has shown that these qualities are no more natural than the impulse toward empathy or generosity. But how do we nourish those positive inclinations and help children to act on their capacity to care? Alfie Kohn, author of THE BRIGHTER SIDE OF HUMAN … Read More
The Case Against Competition – (Lecture Topic)
THE CASE AGAINST COMPETITION The race to be Number One has been described as America’s state religion. We have been trained not only to compete frantically, but to believe in the value of beating people — and to help our children become winners. Research and experience, however, demonstrate that competition is actually destructive to self-esteem, poisonous to relationships, and counterproductive … Read More
From Degrading To De-Grading – (Lecture Topic)
FROM DEGRADING TO DE-GRADING: Basic Questions About Assessment Research has found three consistent effects of traditional grades: students think less creatively, they lose interest in what they’re learning, and they try to avoid challenging tasks. Thus, rather than trying to improve techniques for grading, we should be looking for alternatives — and rather than complaining that too many students are … Read More
Choices For Children – (Lecture Topic)
CHOICES FOR CHILDREN: From Coercion to Community If we want students to take responsibility for their behavior and learning, it is up to us to give them responsibilities. Children learn to make good decisions by having the chance to decide about what happens to them every day — not by following someone else’s directions. Research shows unequivocally that students learn … Read More
ON BRIBING STUDENTS TO LEARN – (Lecture Topic)
ON BRIBING STUDENTS TO LEARN: Second Thoughts About A’s, Praise, Stickers, and Contests Teachers are often encouraged to rely on rewards rather than punishments, but research suggests that carrots can be just as counterproductive as sticks. Both are forms of manipulation, and neither can produce anything beyond temporary compliance. In fact, as Alfie Kohn, author of PUNISHED BY REWARDS, will … Read More