Beyond the Treasure Box: Exploring Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Motivation

Description

Beyond the Treasure Box: How to Promote the Intrinsic Desire to Learn In this episode, Deedee Wills and Hilary Statum talk about how to motivate students without over-relying on external rewards like treasure boxes, clip charts, and prizes. They cover the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, what research says about both, and how teachers can build classroom conditions that support long-term student growth. Key Takeaways * External rewards can be useful, but usually only in the short term * Intrinsic motivation grows when students feel autonomy, competence, relatedness, and relevance * Classroom structure, relationships, and predictability matter more than constant rewards * Rewards should support a strong classroom culture, not replace it Notable Quote "Teachers can't make students intrinsically motivated, but they can create the conditions where motivation is more likely to grow." Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome back and introduction to the episode 00:15 — Hilary introduces the article: How to Promote the Intrinsic Desire to Learn 00:49 — Deedee shares her mixed feelings about treasure boxes and rewards 01:23 — Discussion of gentle parenting, boundaries, and classroom behavior 03:14 — Why motivation matters across grade levels 04:12 — Examples of extrinsic motivators: grades, prizes, gold stars, and desk pets 04:42 — Why extrinsic motivation usually only works short term 05:13 — The farmer analogy: teachers create conditions for growth 06:11 — Baseline needs that must be met first 07:07 — The four key areas that support intrinsic motivation: autonomy, competence, relatedness, and relevance 09:02 — Fun reward systems can still have a place 09:59 — Deedee reflects on PBIS and behavior being driven by observation 10:36 — Why rewards can feel manipulative if students only behave when watched 12:34 — A principal's idea to use Skittles as a motivator 13:29 — Why small rewards can help teach routines, but shouldn't be the only strategy 14:46 — The donut-and-sprinkles classroom example 16:14 — Takeaway: build classroom culture first, then use rewards as a bonus 16:41 — Deedee asks about desk pets 16:52 — Hilary explains how desk pets work 18:07 — How teachers typically store and use desk pets 18:31 — Deedee shares her classroom rule philosophy 19:16 — Closing thoughts and wrap-up RESEARCH ARTICLE:How to Promote the Intrinsic Desire to Learn [https://www.edutopia.org/article/promote-intrinsic-desire-to-learn] WHERE YOU CAN FIND US: Hilary Statum: ⁠⁠⁠https://pencilstopigtails.com/⁠⁠⁠ [https://pencilstopigtails.com/] Deedee Wills: ⁠⁠⁠https://mrswillskindergarten.com/ [https://mrswillskindergarten.com/]

Summer Slide: What the Research Says and What You Can Actually Do About It

This episode is about summer slide — what it is, how it shows up differently in math versus reading, and what teachers and parents can realistically do to help kids hold onto what they've learned. We also get into books, games, journals, and why letting kids pick what they read matters more than you might think. Summer learning loss isn't equal across subjects. Math takes a harder hit than reading over the summer, which surprises some people. The research backs this up — kids tend to lose more ground in math because they're simply not doing it. Reading, on the other hand, can happen anywhere if kids have access to books. Summer programs: they work, but only if they last long enough. Three weeks or more makes a measurable difference. Shorter programs don't move the needle much. NWEA Summer Learning Loss Research [https://www.nwea.org/blog/2026/summer-learning-loss-what-we-know-what-were-learning/] Summer break doesn't look the same for every kid. For some students, it's ten weeks of camps, trips, and enrichment activities. For others, it's a lot of TV and not much else. The slide is steeper for kids who don't have access to structured programs, books, or adults with time to sit down with them. Libraries are the obvious answer, but not every family uses them regularly. Some kids don't have transportation. Some parents work all day and don't have time to make it there. A few things that help: * Book swaps — kids bring in books they've outgrown and trade them for something new. Simple, and it costs nothing. * Donations — ask families at the end of the year if they have books to spare. You'll be surprised what people give. * Classroom books going home — if you have a system for this, it's worth thinking about how to manage it over summer. Some teachers send books in bags with a note asking for them back in the fall. The other piece is letting kids choose what they read. Series books work especially well because once a kid is hooked on a character, they want to keep going. You don't have to convince them to read the next one. Math is easier to practice than people think, because it shows up everywhere once you start looking for it. A few ways to work it in without making it feel like school: * Cooking and baking — measuring, doubling recipes, counting, fractions without calling them fractions * Shopping — estimating totals, comparing prices, making change * Time — telling time, figuring out how long until something happens, reading schedules One game worth knowing: Blackjack for addition. Kids practice adding to 21 without realizing they're doing math. It's a good one for families to have in their back pocket. Summer is a good time to back off and let reading just be reading. That means: * Let them pick the book * Let them abandon a book if it's not working * Reading to them still counts — even older kids benefit from being read to Journals are another low-pressure option. Kids can write, draw, list things, or tell a story from their day. It keeps writing muscles working without turning it into homework. We both share free resources through their newsletters. If you're not already signed up, that's a good place to start. * Hilary Statum: pencilstopigtails.com [https://pencilstopigtails.com/] * Deedee Wills: mrswillskindergarten.com [https://mrswillskindergarten.com/] Timestamps: * 00:00 — Introduction to summer slide and why it matters * 00:40 — Research: summer loss is greater in math than reading * 02:00 — How program length affects outcomes * 03:00 — How summer break varies by family situation * 04:30 — Strategies for kids who lose the most ground * 05:45 — Libraries, books, and access * 07:00 — Managing classroom books over summer * 08:30 — Series books and reading for fun * 10:00 — Math through games, shopping, and everyday routines * 12:00 — Teaching time concepts over summer * 14:00 — Independent reading and letting kids choose * 15:00 — Journals and writing without pressure * 16:30 — Math practice through cooking and games * 17:30 — Reading without making it feel like school * 19:00 — Blackjack for addition practice * 20:00 — Free newsletters and summer activity resources * 21:00 — Wrapping up

21. juni 202621 min

Beyond the Treasure Box: Exploring Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Motivation

Description

Comments

1 month for 9 kr.

All episodes