This is a wonderful blog entry from an Australian teacher. Elke pointed out the roles of our lives are intertwined and are connected dualistic compartments. They complete our lives acknowledging the dualistic nature of being human. We bring the life experiences as a parent to the classroom and reciprocate by using the life experience gleaned from the classroom as parents. Our life story is a rich experiential tapestry lived in the moment as we learn along side our students. Not only is learning messy, it is rewarding and energizing.
I love Alfie Kohn. I stumbled on his work when I had my first child and bought lots of parenting books to read. His book Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A’s, Praise, and Other Bribes made me rethink parenting techniques and has also had an impact on how I have taught and how I want to teach in the future.
It is painful sometimes to hear my son tell me how he was rewarded with something at school for being good, kind, smart or tidy. Hey! You’re a good, kind, smart & tidy kid just because that’s who you are, because it gives you intrinsic value, because it makes you feel good to be good, to be kind etc. Yeah, yeah, I know I don’t want to be a kill-joy, my son likes the rewards because he sees other kids value these rewards. I just…
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