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Breaking Into the Heart of Character: Self-Determined Moral Action and Academic Motivation
The moral failures that made the headlines over the past decade did not take place because the guilty parties did not know the right thing to do, or because they did not know how to do the right thing. Too many ethical lapses took place, and take place, because someone just did not feel like acting for the common good. What helps kids feel like doing the right thing? Breaking into the Heart of Character outlines a compelling case with documented strategies that get past character talk and improve character action. Compiling evidence-based practices, this book focuses on educators' ability to catalyze internal motivation, and promote social growth and moral climates. The practices outlined in this book can be implemented by every teacher, in every class, every day.
- GenresEducation
103 pages, Perfect Paperback
First published April 23, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 8, 2016
David Streight's Breaking into the Heart of Character is an exceptional introduction into helping students to become intrinsically motivated to behave respectfully by creating the optimal nurturing environment around them. It starts by showing how adults respond in a similar fashion to environmental pressures and then methodically explains how children aren't so different. Educators and parents can catalyze the transition from extrinsic to intrinsic motivation in children.
Unfortunately, it also becomes quickly evident that many of the incentives we traditionally use are counterproductive to nurturing character. Providing bonus for extra work or pay for chores are examples of destroying intrinsic motivation.
Streight does not skimp on supporting research, with research citations everywhere and seven pages of references. There are a number of applied examples, which help immensely, but the book would be truly complete if it contained more examples to round out its technical precision.
Unfortunately, it also becomes quickly evident that many of the incentives we traditionally use are counterproductive to nurturing character. Providing bonus for extra work or pay for chores are examples of destroying intrinsic motivation.
Streight does not skimp on supporting research, with research citations everywhere and seven pages of references. There are a number of applied examples, which help immensely, but the book would be truly complete if it contained more examples to round out its technical precision.
August 11, 2016
Redundant throughout. I learned nothing new. The redeeming quality is that it did force me to evaluate how I interact with people and how I might motivate them to grow as a person.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2016
This is a quick but rich read that I would recommend for any educator or parent. Particularly interesting and useful for me were the chapters on autonomy, relatedness and motivation. I literally did not feel like a single minute was wasted reading this book. Every word was thought-provoking and I certainly gained strategies I can implement immediately. I look forward to reading one of the other books the author suggested toward the end of the last chapter.
October 30, 2015
The book had some good insights and was well organized; there were appropriate examples and it didn't read slowly. A rather short book at 110 pages or so. I liked a lot of the authors' assumptions and solutions.
September 10, 2016
It's fine, although simplistically written. There are good points here, much more compelling presented on the page than they were in person when I heard the author speak.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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