Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic

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Home : 2002 : July : 31

Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic
By Teri

I read this post yesterday and then I really started thinking about it last night and this morning. I didn't realize when I read it, I would become so thoughtful on the topic. :-)

I am definitely an "intrinsic" person.
I'm not one to give my kids "stuff". It works for me and I have good classroom behavior. (Now, there are some students I had to start on extrinsic and move to intrinsic.) I see teachers who do give "stuff" regularly and they have well-behaved, fun, educational classrooms. I can see both sides of the arguments that are made here and give credit to both sides. I guess what I'm trying

to say is that you should find your own "thing".

I think my biggest problem/concern with giving rewards is rewarding with food. Obesity in children is such a tragedy. I feel teachers contribute to this, to a certain extent, if they give food as a reward. Then the students could believe when they do something good, they should eat. (For the record, I'm certainly NOT saying that teachers are causing obesity in children.) Now, food from time to time is wonderful, especially if it's something you made at home and you're sharing it with your students. Give something other than food - pencils, pencil top erasers, stickers, time at the computer, recess time.