![]() ![]() Intrinsic motivation is doing something ‘just because.'”Įxtrinsic motivation, on the other hand, “is doing something to earn a reward or to avoid punishment. For example, a student may be intrinsically motivated to read because it satisfies their curiosity about the world and brings them a sense of calm. You are intrinsically motivated when you do something simply because it makes you feel good, is personally challenging, and/or leads to a sense of accomplishment. The primary motivator is internal (i.e., you don’t expect to get anything in return). Elizabeth Mulvahill, a contributing editor to WeAreTeachers, explains the difference between these two big ideas: “Intrinsic motivation is doing something for the sake of personal satisfaction. There is a plethora of information about motivation with intrinsic and extrinsic reward systems in the classroom. You mentioned that your co-teacher believes the prizes motivate the students. ![]() Maybe we can agree that classrooms shouldn’t be turned into game show studios. He emphasized that eventually, kids will get jobs, and teachers should focus on learning and building community instead of reinforcing competition. ![]() It’s school!” He went on to state this feels “greasy, odd, and off.” Kory doesn’t think it’s moral for educators to act in this way. Kory Watson, a San Diego native, said, “It’s not a job. I talked to a recent high school graduate to get his perspective about cash prizes in classrooms. I think many of us are cringing right now as we read this post. I tried to tell her it wasn’t appropriate, but she has continued to use cash as a reward. She was defensive and said that it’s motivating and that we don’t work for free. I tried talking to my co-teacher to find out why she chose to use money as a reward. I’ve also heard that some teachers at my school buy gift cards as prizes for different competitions. Is it OK for teachers to give cash prizes to students? I thought my co-teacher was kidding when she said that she handed out $5 bills to three kids who won a game. Be sure to follow up with a thank-you email for the time and reminder of the next time to volunteer so that you can move forward with the support and she can continue to be of service. We are curious beings, and I bet a lot of people would peek given the opportunity. I would call her out but in a way that acknowledges that she cares about her child. Do you have any thoughts to share about the situation?” It’s my job to protect the privacy of each and every child. But I wanted to be clear that it’s not OK to look at the other students’ progress. I can share what’s going well academically as well as areas of growth. I’d be happy to give you some more information about your child. I noticed that you were looking at my gradebook, and I’m guessing that you would like an update on your child’s progress. “I also wanted to bring up a privacy issue. ![]() Your child and many other kids are happy to have your presence here. Your help is greatly appreciated, and I’m hoping we can stick to the schedule that works for you. Once you settle on a time, I’d say something like, “You have been making a positive impact in our classroom. Let her know it’s not an emergency, but there is something you’d like to discuss. I’d reach out to the parent by email or phone and ask to set up a brief time to talk without their child present. This parent DID cross the line by looking at your gradebook. I know it’s challenging to address difficult parent issues. Maybe with a song, a letter, art, or words of appreciation. Being an example of service to kids is important! As teachers, we can highlight the many different ways that families help, and we can create opportunities for the kids to express gratitude, too. Additionally, a volunteer presence nurtures trusting relationships and exemplifies the importance of contributing to a community. Parent volunteers in the classroom can help reduce your workload, but they can also support the wide range of student needs. If things go sideways, they can step in to support and already have the context. First off, let your administrators know what happened. Even though you are newer to teaching, you’ve got this! There are ways to address this awkward situation and still be gracious and maintain the support of your parent volunteer. Yikes! Working with humans can be messy sometimes. I don’t know how to talk to her about it. I’m newer to teaching, but I know this is inappropriate. Whoa! I was super surprised she crossed that line. The problem is, I caught her taking a peek at my gradebook. I gave her a bunch of tasks, like making copies and stuffing Friday Folders. This one mom has been asking to help all year, and she just had her first day in the classroom. I was so excited to finally welcome parent volunteers back into my third-grade classroom after such a long time. ![]()
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