I recently read three pieces addressing student motivation by authors that I follow because they each trigger my thinking with their insights and examples: In an Education Week article , Alfie Kohn commented on the current interest in the “Marshmallow Studies” (past blog) and “Grit” (past blog ). He raised the concern that the enthusiasm […]

While observing in classrooms in several schools these past few weeks, I was re-engaged in the examination of the language teachers and students use when describing the tasks in which students are engaged. It is often described as the “work” that students are to do.  I’m wondering how that concept interferes with students’ focus on […]