Chronic absenteeism still hovers around 25% nationwide—and one root cause keeps surfacing: student disengagement.
In this episode, we sit down with Alfie Kohn, author of Punished by Rewards, to unpack a hard truth many of us weren’t trained to question:
👉 Rewards, grades, praise, and “positive reinforcement” don’t build motivation—they often undermine it.
Alfie reminds us:
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Motivation isn’t one thing. The kind matters more than the amount.
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Intrinsic motivation (learning for meaning, curiosity, purpose) is more powerful than extrinsic carrots and sticks.
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The more we reward learning, the more we unintentionally teach students that learning isn’t worth doing on its own.
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What’s framed as “encouragement” is often control in disguise—and kids (and adults) feel it.
So what’s the shift?
🔄 From doing things to students → working with students
🔄 From praise and compliance → choice, voice, agency, and dialogue
🔄 From grades and behavior charts → feedback, reflection, and authentic assessment
This conversation isn’t about blaming teachers—it’s about questioning systems we inherited and reimagining classrooms (and workplaces) where engagement is designed, not bribed.
Alfie Kohn Website (https://www.alfiekohn.org/)
Kohn's Zone Podcast (https://www.alfiekohn.org/podcasts/)
Punished by Rewards (https://www.amazon.com/Punished-Rewards-Twenty-fifth-Alfie-Kohn/dp/132845052X/ref=monarch_sidesheet_title)
Music by Aylex
