5 Challenges That May Arise When Using Extrinsic Rewards

Extrinsic Rewards

Extrinsic rewards can work in the moment to elicit wanted or expected behavior, but do little to build intrinsic motivation.

Why extrinsic rewards don’t work:

• Implies that behaving appropriately is contingent upon receiving a prize or reward
• Can be manipulative
• Often singles out individual students
• Can breed resentment or disengagement if students who are behaving appropriately don’t get gifted with a tangible reward while others do
• Students who have challenges with behaving appropriately seldom earn prizes or tokens, which leads to resentment, and likely continued or elevated misbehavior
• Diminishes intrinsic motivation/students will behave for the reward

What to try instead:

• Use reinforcing teacher language when students are doing the “right thing.” Students need both reinforcement, reminders and redirection to internalize positive habits.
• Remember it is the misbehavior that you are addressing, not the character of the student. AKA…the kid is not the problem. The behavior is the problem. Address the behavior. It’s not personal.
• Use non-biased words like “I notice…” and “I see…” instead of “I love…” or “I like…”
• Notice and reinforce steps toward mastery of a routine. IE, “Ronny, I saw you look toward the door. That tells me you know where you are supposed to be right now. Let’s get there.”
• Unify the group by noticing and naming positive group behaviors. Instead of naming individual students by name, support them with cues such as “Nearly, everyone is ready for gym,” or “I noticed that everyone was cleaning up the art supplies quickly, quietly, and safely,” or, “I see half the class is ready for recess.”

Try these tips in your classroom as you begin the new school year and see how it impacts the community in your classroom!