by Genenda Milloy

Created on: June 06, 2009

Offering monetary compensation for good grades may be effective for some children, but not for others. The trick is to find out which means of motivation work best for your child. Educators are taught about two means of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation involves a person's sense of self and accomplishment, while extrinsic motivation involves outside forces which encourage a person to behave in a certain manner. Personally, I believe that a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation is the best way to motivate children toward anything, including grades.

When I was a child, I recall looking forward to report card day. My family did not offer large amounts of money- to a young child, receiving a dollar for every A and fifty cents for every B is enough to make a person rich. I remember eagerly bringing my report card home and sitting through the ritual in which my father and grandfather would exaggerate the amount of time it took them to add up how much money I would get. Sometimes they would make mistakes in counting up the money, and I would have to be vigilant to make sure I was getting the right amount. This, in itself, was their way of teaching me to count money.

My family's attitude toward school was that it was my job. They told me that when I grow up, I would have to work hard to make money, and that getting good grades now would reap the same benefits. I believe that this prepared me for life. Today, I have a strong work ethic and take great pride in a job well-done. As a matter of fact, I am a teacher, and I often combine intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. If paying children for good grades is not productive, can the same not be said of giving them stickers on an A assignment? The reward is not just a prize; it is recognition of a job well-done.

More important that the financial motivation, my family told me how proud they were, as I was being rewarded for my good grades. At the time, I thought it was the money that mattered, but when I look back, I can still remember the sense of pride I felt when my parents told me how smart I was for getting all A's and B's or that they knew I was going to grow up and be the first in the family to go to college. When using money or any form of extrinsic motivation with children, the key is to combine it with intrinsic motivation to help the child feel a sense of accomplishment.

Think about your own experiences at work. You can go to your job and go through the motions, just for a paycheck. However, you can also put in extra effort and take pride in knowing that you have done well. If your boss tells you that this extra attention to detail is appreciated, it makes you feel good. Yes, the paycheck motivates you to do enough, but that intrinsic motivation of self-accomplishment encourages you to keep pushing yourself. Therefore, the combination helps you to become a better worker. Can the same not be said of children and their schoolwork?

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