Body Quote by Alfie Kohn
“What is wrong with encouraging students to put "how well they're doing" ahead of "what they're doing." An impressive and growing body of research suggests that this emphasis (1) undermines students' interest in learning, (2) makes failure seem overwhelming, (3) leads students to avoid challenging themselves, (4) reduces the quality of learning, and (5) invites students to think about how smart they are instead of how hard they tried.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Punished by Rewards, 1993
Focusing on grades over effort reduces motivation, increases fear of failure, and harms deep learning.
In simple terms: Grades over effort harms learning.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize effort and growth.
Themes
education
motivation
assessment
growth mindset
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
educational
psychological
When to use this quote
- classroom teaching
- parental guidance
- self‑assessment
Key Concepts
intrinsic motivation
self-determination theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we value effort without grades?
- What alternatives to grading exist?
A Different Perspective
Grades can still motivate some learners.
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
