tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post253437311430066649..comments2024-03-15T02:09:23.712-06:00Comments on for the love of learning: "Daddy, I want a book buck!"Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15047405950514440042noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-79169058528941158882013-03-09T21:22:48.156-07:002013-03-09T21:22:48.156-07:00We use audiobooks to encourage our kids to read. ...We use audiobooks to encourage our kids to read. It's not as good as books, but it's definitely a step up from the tv. There's lots of great sites to download them, but we use this one a lot because all the stories are original and free. Here's the link if anyone is interested. http://www.twirlygirlshop.com/moral-stories-for-kidsAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00490234232841806409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-25257081593256481522012-11-14T12:15:47.814-07:002012-11-14T12:15:47.814-07:00There are positives to using incentives and there ...There are positives to using incentives and there are dangers as well. Bribing our students to read sends a message that reading is not something you do unless you are getting rewarded to do so.<br />Make reading fun by associating it with fun. I think we should read for engagement rather than extrinsic reward. It's a concern for me that reading for pleasure and the the knowledge we gain is not enough. Our schools have decided that our children won't read unless they are rewarded. Unfortunately there are some homes where reading is not modeled and there is no shared reading time. In this case, Book Bucks might be the only way to encourage a child to read early on. I don't like reading incentive programs personally. Children should know that being a good reader has nothing to do with how many points or levels they reach. Having said this, I will not discount the incentive programs because I know that for some children, reading to earn a toy , ice cream party or pizza might be the motivation needed that will one day make them readers for a lifetime. Patricia Hamptonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15654571806692619785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-15362052302469877772012-11-14T05:19:51.930-07:002012-11-14T05:19:51.930-07:00I had the same problem with my kids, so I informed...I had the same problem with my kids, so I informed the teachers that my children wouldn't be participating. I then told my kids the same, that it didn't apply to them. If tracking sheets came home I filled them out based on what reading was happening and sent them back (I know that the teachers needed that info to report), but made it clear to the kids that they were exempt. Seemed to work, they all still love to read :)Andrew Campbellhttp://acampbell99.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-85261889401805231662012-11-13T08:42:15.129-07:002012-11-13T08:42:15.129-07:00I think there's more to the story. Railing ag...I think there's more to the story. Railing against extrinsic rewards will get you pats on the back from lots of folks, especially Alfie K and his devoted ones, but extrinsic rewards and extrinsic reporting are also part and parcel of what all students need to learn The evidence that external rewards cause actual damage is scant. The link down the page on my profile page takes you to a stroy I told about my experience with the above scorned AR system- see Joyfully Witnessing a Transformation on http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=26476783&trk=tab_pro&_mSplash=1Dan McGuirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17165245665212961209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-21659856683700267032012-11-13T08:33:27.807-07:002012-11-13T08:33:27.807-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Dan McGuirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17165245665212961209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-78369783331513024762012-11-05T19:43:37.601-07:002012-11-05T19:43:37.601-07:00When I was in elementary school, my school engaged...When I was in elementary school, my school engaged in the Accelerated Reading program, where we could read books, take tests, and earn prizes. I refused to take part in the program. I loved to read, but taking a test seemed to ruin it for me. I didn't care that there were rewards. I didn't care that I was the only person in my class not earning points and rewards.<br /><br />My mom taught at the same school. Several teachers noticed that I had no AR points after several months of school and asked her why she didn't encourage me to read. I have since learned that this bothered her because these teachers had assumed two things. First, that I wasn't reading, and secondly, that she wasn't encouraging me to read. In actuality, I was reading more books than majority of my classmates.<br /><br />I didn't see the need to be rewarded for something I enjoyed doing.<br /><br />I find that now, as a high school Latin teacher, I don't understand why anyone wouldn't want to read for the sake of reading.<br /><br />Recently, while we were reading a passage by Julius Caesar, a student asked me, "Why do we have to translate and read Latin? Can't we learn Latin with less reading?" My answer was, "This is the account of one of the greatest leaders to ever live describing his invasion of Gaul. These are the actual words of Julius Caesar. We learn to read Latin for the sake of reading Latin."Scott Cochranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00650131381215457541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-27830553765815103782012-10-19T06:08:58.358-06:002012-10-19T06:08:58.358-06:00bribing children to read sends a clear message tha...bribing children to read sends a clear message that reading is something no one would do unless they received some sort of incentive to do it. we don’t bribe kids to play (although that’s probably coming down the pipeline); we don’t bribe them to play video games.<br /><br />this is step 1 of showing kids what’s cool and uncool, and reading is so uncool you shouldn’t do it unless you get a toy or a pizza party as a reward.Lorihttp://project-based-homeschooling.com/camp-creek-blog/defense-reading-which-should-need-no-defensenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-61273609309278062002012-10-14T12:17:39.036-06:002012-10-14T12:17:39.036-06:00This is it, Joe, the post that defines a principle...This is it, Joe, the post that defines a principle in ways that a polemic could never do. They'll quote this one in your obit. I intend to print it and show it to colleagues who can't understand my opposition to prizes for good conduct and the like.Jerry Heverlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17282320136776452609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-6705522106026821492012-10-12T20:03:12.439-06:002012-10-12T20:03:12.439-06:00Wow, this makes me sad to read. I can understand ...Wow, this makes me sad to read. I can understand where schools come from trying to get parents to read with their children at home, but in the long run it is not helping. <br /><br />We have been using Daily 5 as our literacy framework K-5 in our building for 2 years now (some grades longer) and can see such an incredible difference it has made on our students. We teach students the skills to be independent readers and writers and give them choice in what they are reading/writing. We model for them as readers and writers and share our passion for literacy with them. Our reading data shows the impact it has made, but what the numbers can't show is the love for reading we see in our students now. Students are reading because they want to, not because they have to!PrincipalJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18325614337991252963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-60176214858660055092012-10-12T09:18:05.052-06:002012-10-12T09:18:05.052-06:00As a teacher, when kids ask "What do I get fo...As a teacher, when kids ask "What do I get for that?" My response has always been, "The satisfaction of a job done well." As a parent, I continue to battle the reading logs/rewards, more so with my daughter in middle school than with the elementary school. This year it became a greater focus when she said,"Why can't they just trust me and let me read what I want when I want?" She's an avid reader, and I won't let incentives take that away. She knows when I talk with the teacher or the principal, and she isn't embarrassed by that at all. In fact, she thanks me for it. This is my blog that was actually part of an email conversation I had with her principal. http://teachfromtheheart.wordpress.com/2012/09/06/just-let-them-read-books/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-91990483262744616752012-10-11T00:43:29.111-06:002012-10-11T00:43:29.111-06:00Just stumbled upon your blog and what an interesti...Just stumbled upon your blog and what an interesting post! As a teacher, I understand the use of incentives, and the philosophy behind it, but this story shows the dangers. It's difficult to know what to do as a teacher, though, to motivate your students to read. Fortunately, your daughter has you reading with her every single night because you want to and know how good it is for her, but for children who do not get that at home, and have not grown up with books, the incentive may be the thing that gets them to pick up a book for the first time. What's a teacher to do...? Glad I found your blog!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05954095274762328294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-59263796707362443262012-10-10T17:28:02.680-06:002012-10-10T17:28:02.680-06:00Last year when my son was in First Grade, I wrote ...Last year when my son was in First Grade, I wrote this post http://1stinmaine.blogspot.com/2012/01/saddened.html. I advocated for what I thought was right in the classroom. I won some, I lost some. This year shortly after school started, my now 7 year old son put his head down on the dinner table and said, "in second grade we aren't allowed to play...ever." Life as an educated, teaching, interested parent is tough. I loved school and it is different than it used to be, but I believe that if we advocate hard enough for play-based learning and reading for its own value, we will win over the ones we need to. If you do head in to talk with her teacher, please let us know. I am interested. I can't believe that teachers ever got into this gig for the pretend control of it all. We all do have some common bonds. Seek out what your daughter's teacher really feels about education and start there. But if you can't....read as if it's the only way you'll ever learn anything so your daughter sees how important it is to you. That will matter too. She knows you don't get paid to read.<br /><br />Kimberley<br />1stinmaine.blogspot.comKimberley Moranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944774091932084680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-15394344061438254652012-10-10T16:06:10.992-06:002012-10-10T16:06:10.992-06:00I wrote about my thoughts on rewards in Kindergart...I wrote about my thoughts on rewards in Kindergarten here http://mattbgomez.com/reward-free-year/ The issue with rewards is they do seem to work, but when we really take a step back it is easy to see they are not needed. Matt Gomezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11262088992958040793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-54831794904283069052012-10-10T13:29:14.041-06:002012-10-10T13:29:14.041-06:00Joe -
I too am tired of the extrinsic motivation ...Joe - <br />I too am tired of the extrinsic motivation sapping reading simply for the love of reading - both at school and at home with my own boys. <br />At school I've found a great motivational tool that doesn't use rewards like coupons or toys is Donalynn Miller's 40 book challenge. <br />I start the school year talking about great books I've read over the summer, my favorites from last year, and the titles that are on my "all time greats" list. I don't start with grades or numbers or data or rewards or rules. I start by putting on display my love of reading. I ask each student to think about the last great book they've read, and when they can't think of one, we talk about their interests, hobbies, and movies they like. We make it a class mission to find a book that they will love. All the while, each of the kids makes a list of books we've mentioned that they want to read.<br />I then ask all the kids how many books they read last school year and challenge each of them to read 40 books during the new school year. <br />There is no prize, there is no coupon, there are not toys. It isn't a contest, and it doesn't count for a grade. There's no punishment for missing the goal, and there's no reward for exceeding it. The goal is simply to live 40 extra lives and experience 40 different worlds. The goal is to learn and grow. There are no rules except that I want them to try different genres out and if they don't like a book after they've read it for a while, then they should put it back and get one they'll like better. There are no worksheets. There are no tests. There's no chart on the wall. There are simply conversations about books, opportunities to share your favorites with the class, and excitement about great stories. <br />Not every kid reads 40 books during the year. Some reach the goal, some exceed it, but every single kid the last two school years has read more books than they did the year before. <br />On some level, I suppose the challenge is extrinsic. Perhaps some of them are seeking approval. However, with no grades or prizes, it may begin as an extrinsic task, but to maintain progress towards that goal all year long, they have to begin to see the intrinsic reward. Mike Curtishttp://www.mcliterature.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-71177814930921919302012-10-10T09:46:11.937-06:002012-10-10T09:46:11.937-06:00Good plan!! So many great points and stories here...Good plan!! So many great points and stories here!Sheila Stewarthttps://twitter.com/SheilaSpeakingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-54712930525232352972012-10-10T08:57:32.862-06:002012-10-10T08:57:32.862-06:00I am blown away by the passion behind some of thes...I am blown away by the passion behind some of these comments. I'm going to post a number of these as blog posts on their own.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15047405950514440042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-73989873039164712992012-10-10T02:23:23.834-06:002012-10-10T02:23:23.834-06:00A good experiment would to ask kids in the program... A good experiment would to ask kids in the program to write a letter who was not so keen on reading why he should participate in the school's reading program <br /><br />some will say - reading is enjoyable / others - you get bucks Allan Katzhttp://allankatz-parentingislearning.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-10573550316940714832012-10-10T02:06:42.314-06:002012-10-10T02:06:42.314-06:00Even if the incentives do get the kid to read, tea...Even if the incentives do get the kid to read, teachers and parents have a lot of work to do in undoing the initial damage done by the incentive. I think making reading fun or giving reading an association with fun is less about extrinsic motivation - the rreading activity itself is fun. There is aplace for incentives when they are ' self determined ' - the kid decides that he needs some motivational help to reach his own personal goals.I agree with the suggestion that books are a better idea than bucks <br /><br />Allan Katzhttp://allankatz-parentingislearning.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-91426428273607470172012-10-09T21:09:55.194-06:002012-10-09T21:09:55.194-06:00As a parent to an 8 year old boy who LOVES to read...As a parent to an 8 year old boy who LOVES to read, I find this heartbreaking. When my son was 4, I knew so many parents who were sending their children to reading programs to ensure they learned to read early so they could be competitive with other kids when school started. I remember my husband being concerned that maybe we should be doing the same for our son, to ensure he didn't get behind. As someone who loves to read, I knew if we could capture our son's curiosity and desire to learn through reading, all the drive he needed would come from within. Whenever he expressed an interest in anything, I found a book for him on that topic. As he gets older and has more and more questions about things, we seek out the answers in books. He will sit and read for hours sometimes because he loves to read and loves what he can learn from books. Instead of reward programs for how much kids read, I would love to see a program that helps kids find books that tap into their individual interests. That is what creates a love of reading. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-17085063365899611472012-10-09T20:50:53.366-06:002012-10-09T20:50:53.366-06:00What I did was ignore the reading log for my JK (a...What I did was ignore the reading log for my JK (and I got the impression the teacher eventually did too -- there were supposed to be prizes for every 25 books read, and some other parents told me their kids were disappointed not to get anything. I suspect the program didn't work for her, or she just had to let something slide and checking the logs was it.) He loves reading with me, but as soon as a log came into it, he saw it as homework.<br /><br />For his older brother, I wasn't as sure what to do -- he's in French Immersion, so does need a bit more encouragement to practice reading in French at home (despite being a bookworm in English). He was excited at the beginning of last year (gr. 2) because his teacher promised gifts (pencil etc.) for a number of books read too. We had a discussion about how this was not why he should read, how it might encourage kids to choose books that weren't challenging enough just to read more, and then I pretty much left it up to him. Eventually, he just stopped bringing the log home. He kept reading in French (not as much as in English), and later in the year when his teacher sent a reminder to parents about nightly reading, he told me he was not taking part in the contest, he didn't care about prizes for reading. Yeah, I was pretty proud. And he may not have read 700 books like one kid in his class supposedly did, but he did read the entire Wimpy Kid series in both French and English, and laughed out loud while doing so.<br /><br />This year I'm a bit conflicted again. I'm so happy that his teacher doesn't assign a lot of other homework, and I do agree that he should be reading in French at home, that I feel like recording the titles of the books in a log for his teacher to see is not too much to ask (I haven't heard anything about prizes associated with it). On the other hand, I'll continue to encourage him to read in French whether he writes down each title or not.<br /><br />I do have to question though, if these programs can actually kill the love of kids that already enjoy reading, how can they really help kids who struggle? Andreanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-7622122906278800402012-10-09T20:40:38.074-06:002012-10-09T20:40:38.074-06:00Sigh. Where to begin? My children are in Grade 5 (...Sigh. Where to begin? My children are in Grade 5 (twins) and so I have had quite a few years of wearing my teacher and parent hat at the same time and trying to be respectful of what is different from my "ways/philosophy." Fortunately I have been very lucky thus far and have seen a lot of great things happening at my children's school. Certainly no reading bucks! Yikes.<br /><br />I believe on this you need to speak up. That is your right as a parent to not have your child's passion for books harmed. My approach is to come in with questions vs. Knowledge. So not "This reading bucks incentive program has the potential to kill reading for pleasure." But "I am bewildered by the point of this program. What purposes are you going for here? How do you think this will motivate the children more than simply promoting and celebrating a love of books? etc." <br /><br />This book bucks position is a hard one to defend. Your questions will be good ones. I am sure that other parents feel the same way. I always encourage parents to speak up individually and collectively against homework (and refer them to your blog!) Other parents would likely follow your lead if you are outspoken on this.<br /><br />This is touching on your home life and your child's lifelong reading habits. It isn't a debate over how to teach one math concept. It is an important one to tackle. I would be livid in your position.<br /><br />I don't buy that incentives get kids interested in reading. Incentives get kids interested in incentives. Books get kids interested in reading. How do I "sell" reading? My reading aloud and book talking books. They fly off my shelves and into student book bins. <br /><br />Okay now I am getting started . . . Passionate about this. So I'll stop. I hope you speak out. Carrie Gelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08416480940951200461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-58393009198536342312012-10-09T15:23:27.949-06:002012-10-09T15:23:27.949-06:00My 5th-grade son always has loved to read - indepe...My 5th-grade son always has loved to read - independently and with others. He enjoyed just sitting alone in his room for long stretches of time reading for personal pleasure. It is one of the things that I and his mother are most proud of - his joy of reading.<br /><br />This year, his grade level teachers instituted a new practice of requiring students to read a 100 minutes each week, at least 4 times a week, AND provide a written summary of what they read along with a personal reflection based on several writing prompts.<br /><br />Knowing how my son would react to being "forced" to read, early in the school year, I voiced my concerns very strongly with the grade-level teachers, explaining that I believed their reading program would not foster a desire to read, but rather force reading to become just another piece of homework to be completed. Unfortunately, they did not agree with my reasoning, and have continued with the reading program. <br /><br />As you can imagine, my son no longer reads for pleasure. For him, reading is now "work." Despite the best intentions of his teachers to get the students to read, by instituting measures of "accountability" and "assessment"(the teachers' words, not mine) into the assignment, they have crushed my son's and likely other students' desire to read. <br /><br />So, incentivizing reading is not the only way to kill a love of reading. Just turn reading into "work" and watch the kids shut down.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13278676880590738621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-69309766087147981222012-10-09T11:57:37.542-06:002012-10-09T11:57:37.542-06:00Hi Joe and everyone,
Great blog Joe, thank-you fo...Hi Joe and everyone,<br /><br />Great blog Joe, thank-you for putting in the time to make it. I am a huge believer in the importance of early literacy and ready to my son every chance I get. We have just started chapter books, which are so much fun! <br /><br />----------<br />Ok. Remove supportive parent hat, locate devil's advocate hat. Place devil's advocate hat on head, find soapbox.<br />----------<br /><br />Some children are not exposed to the same modelling and have not read extensively before they hit the school system. What is the best way to reach these students? I know intrinsic motivation is by far the most effective long term tool, but does it take time to nurture that? Do we have enough time to use only intrinsic methods? Are the material methods better for some students within the timeframe that teachers have in which to work? I honestly don't know the answer to this question yet.<br /><br />It sounds like Chris's full school initiative has done wonders. What if a teacher is doing this in their classroom only?<br /><br />Thanks in advance, <br /><br />Jeremy Marten<br />New Teacher<br />Victoria BCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-58690346018474805232012-10-09T11:49:17.842-06:002012-10-09T11:49:17.842-06:00As the parent of a now 14 year old son who avoids ...As the parent of a now 14 year old son who avoids reading for pleasure, I can attest to the damage done by school reading bucks, teacher required reading logs, Pizza Hut Book-It programs, school-wide Battle of the Books, and classroom posters charting the oral reading speed of every child in the class. All of these supposedly motivating things turned reading into just another chore for my son. Reading became something that was assigned, rather than something that he chose for pleasure. Reading became so graded, recorded, judged, timed, tested and tracked that he rebelled, despite our best efforts at home, and now rarely picks up a fiction book. <br /><br />If I had to do it over again, I would politely but firmly let his teachers know that he would not be participating in any of these forms of manipulation. Better yet, I would have homeschooled him and let him read widely and freely for hours on end. <br /><br />Don't let the school system and their misguided approach to reading ruin your daughter's love for books. Don't let them turn reading into a chore and don't allow them to manipulate the joy she find in words with cheap trinkets. It's worth fighting for. Julienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-80671291339033639012012-10-09T10:55:24.166-06:002012-10-09T10:55:24.166-06:00Ron, I appreciate your balanced perspective on thi...Ron, I appreciate your balanced perspective on this. We have a school in which a number of our students do not get much reading in the home. It is easy to offer incentives programs and hope that it helps... however, we (well, I have not done much - all the teachers) have created a culture of reading with the them of "For the love of books". Almost everything we do (outside of reading instruction in primary) with our students is based on encouraging them to read books of interest and at their level. A teacher saiod to me last week, when you look at a typical grade 3 class at our school, there is usually only 5-6 kids that are less motivated to read - if we keey on these students with finding out what interests them, we see great impact. And it is working... no prizes, no rewards... just a love of books. We do not have everyone yet but we are close. Kids that "hated reading" now come into the library in grade 4 and ask for certain series and authors. Such a pleasure to watch.Chris Wejrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12780371633522986214noreply@blogger.com