Alfie Kohn
"I'm struck by teachers who say over and over to me, "You don't understand the kind of backgrounds and home lives that these kids have; they come from loveless, sometimes brutal places, and you're telling me not to praise them?" My answer is, "Yes." What these kids need is unconditional support and encouragement and love. Praise is not just different from that; it's the opposite of that. Praise is, "Jump through my hoops, and only then will I tell you what a great job you did and how proud I am of you." (Punished by Rewards, Kohn)
"I'm struck by teachers who say over and over to me, "You don't understand the kind of backgrounds and home lives that these kids have; they come from loveless, sometimes brutal places, and you're telling me not to praise them?" My answer is, "Yes." What these kids need is unconditional support and encouragement and love. Praise is not just different from that; it's the opposite of that. Praise is, "Jump through my hoops, and only then will I tell you what a great job you did and how proud I am of you." (Punished by Rewards, Kohn)
Sackett Street Elementary Classroom (Sarah's Room)
Good Signs
1) "Welcoming; eager to explain or demonstrate what they’re doing or to use visitor as a resource" (Kohn, What to look for...).
2) "Room overflowing with good books, art supplies...'sense of purposeful clutter'" (Kohn, What to look for...).
3) "Appealing atmosphere: a place where people would want to spend time" (Kohn, What to look for...).
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Reasons to Worry
1) "Awards, trophies, and prizes displayed, suggesting an emphasis on triumph rather than community" (Kohn, What to look for...). 2) "Students’ assignments displayed, but they are (a) suspiciously flawless" (Kohn, What to look for...).
3) "Sticker (or star) chart -- or other evidence that students are rewarded or ranked" (Kohn, What to look for...).
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REASON TO WORRY! What not to look for in a classroom...
Pell Elementary School Classroom (Mariah's Room)
Good Signs
1. "Chairs around tables to facilitate interaction...Open space for gathering" (Kohn, What to Look for...) 2. "Signs, exhibits, and lists obviously created by students rather than by the teacher" (Kohn, What to Look for...).
3. "Different activities often take place simultaneously. Activities frequently completed by pairs or groups of students" (Kohn, What to Look for...).
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Reasons to Worry
1. "All exchanges involve (or are directed by) the teacher; students wait to be called on. Student's race to answer teacher's 'Who can tell me...?' queries" (Kohn, What to look for...) |
Connections:
Delpit: According to Delpit a behavior chart teaches students the rules and codes explicitly and gives them the opportunity to adjust to the classroom's guidelines, but Kohn thinks that it has a negative affect on the classroom as a whole because it ranks the students against each other.
August: We can relate this to August because we see that the star charts and prize buckets create favoritism within the classroom and it creates a non-inclusive environment. August believes in treating everyone as equals despite their ability to perform in the classroom.
Delpit: According to Delpit a behavior chart teaches students the rules and codes explicitly and gives them the opportunity to adjust to the classroom's guidelines, but Kohn thinks that it has a negative affect on the classroom as a whole because it ranks the students against each other.
August: We can relate this to August because we see that the star charts and prize buckets create favoritism within the classroom and it creates a non-inclusive environment. August believes in treating everyone as equals despite their ability to perform in the classroom.