Who is Alfie Kohn?
Alfie Kohn was a full time teacher but is now a lecturer, and writer. He appears on radio and television talk shows. He has written books such as Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise and Other Bribes and Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to community and videos such as No Grades + No Homework = Better Learning that focus on building classroom communities and caring students while teaching curriculum that catches our students attentions!
Alfie Kohn was a full time teacher but is now a lecturer, and writer. He appears on radio and television talk shows. He has written books such as Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise and Other Bribes and Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to community and videos such as No Grades + No Homework = Better Learning that focus on building classroom communities and caring students while teaching curriculum that catches our students attentions!
Kohn's Theory
Alfie Kohn believes that in order for teachers to really teach their students we need to take a step back and allow students to do some of the planning. Kohn believes that teachers need to build a classroom community where students' needs and interests are met. When this is done students will be open to the learning that needs to happen in the class. One key component of Alfie Kohn's theory is exploration. Kohn says that students need to be given the freedom to discover, explore and struggle with ideas in order to truly learn. Another aspect of Kohn's theory is that we need to show respect for our students and make our classrooms a safe place for learning, relationship building, and development to occur.
My thoughts...
I really appreciate Kohn's theory because I, myself believe that classroom communities are the most important part of teaching. Nothing can be accomplished in a classroom until the students feel safe with you and with their peers. Once this has been established you need to respect your students enough to appreciate their interests and ideas and the way that teachers can do this is by allowing students to explore and discover. If we as teachers make school something that is relevant and not just something to fill time, we can create a generation of students who will revolutionize the world.
Alfie Kohn believes that in order for teachers to really teach their students we need to take a step back and allow students to do some of the planning. Kohn believes that teachers need to build a classroom community where students' needs and interests are met. When this is done students will be open to the learning that needs to happen in the class. One key component of Alfie Kohn's theory is exploration. Kohn says that students need to be given the freedom to discover, explore and struggle with ideas in order to truly learn. Another aspect of Kohn's theory is that we need to show respect for our students and make our classrooms a safe place for learning, relationship building, and development to occur.
My thoughts...
I really appreciate Kohn's theory because I, myself believe that classroom communities are the most important part of teaching. Nothing can be accomplished in a classroom until the students feel safe with you and with their peers. Once this has been established you need to respect your students enough to appreciate their interests and ideas and the way that teachers can do this is by allowing students to explore and discover. If we as teachers make school something that is relevant and not just something to fill time, we can create a generation of students who will revolutionize the world.
"Well, Duh!" is an article written by Alfie Kohn that describes the ten most obvious truths that teachers aren't always recognizing. I especially appreciate truths six and seven. Something that I definitely believe is important in a classroom is a feeling of safety and community. I believe that this develops students' skills as human beings but also facilitates a good learning environment where students are willing to really learn and explore.
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Sources:
"Alfie Kohn Homepage." Alfie Kohn Homepage. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2014. <http://www.alfiekohn.org/index.php>
Charles, C. M. Building Classroom Discipline. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2010. Print.
Achievement vs. Learning. Perf. Alfie Kohn. N.d. Youtube. 27 Jan. 2009. Web. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sywMkf5QhI>.
"Alfie Kohn Homepage." Alfie Kohn Homepage. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2014. <http://www.alfiekohn.org/index.php>
Charles, C. M. Building Classroom Discipline. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2010. Print.
Achievement vs. Learning. Perf. Alfie Kohn. N.d. Youtube. 27 Jan. 2009. Web. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sywMkf5QhI>.