Motivating Students Chatboard

Sep 14, 2014

In order for students to pull their hands out of their pockets and climb up the ladder, we need to help them understand that the climb can be made with effort.

Click below to read how effort can be taught!

10 Reasons to Work Hard in School

Sep 11, 2014

Use these 10 tips to motivate your students, answer their questions about why school is important for them... why it matters to work hard, value education, and take school seriously.

Share with students: !0 Reasons to Work Hard in School

Aug 20, 2014

To share with your students: Ten important reasons why it matters to work hard, value education, and take school seriously.

Our Finest Hour - A unique, silent mentoring program

Aug 19, 2014

Our Finest Hour - A silent mentoring program - by Todd Bloomer

Todd's school is mentoring students in a very different way. "The key to our program is that the student is not told they are part of a mentor program." Click below to read all about it...

Danger! Assuming Students Understand Our Words Fails Them

Aug 12, 2014

Assuming That Students Understand Our Words Fails Them

"I thought I understood. I really did! I thought they understood what I was saying."

gazette.teachers.net/gazette/wordpress/susan-fitzell/assuming-students-understand/

Introverted Children in Extroverted Schools

Jul 21, 2014

Some of the most misunderstood aspects of introverted temperaments, and how teachers can help introverts succeed in the classroom.

What's Behind Claims that Kids Are Coddled, Overcelebrated?

In his article "Trophy Fury - What's Behind Claims that Kids Are Coddled and Over-celebrated?" Alfie Kohn writes:

"The last time I checked, a web search for the phrases 'everyone gets a trophy' and 'trophies just for showing up' produced more than 700,000 hits. The links mostly point to expressions of outrage that a thanks-for-playing toke...See More

Jul 14, 2014

Welcome to the Student Motivation Chatboard!

by Bob Reap (Teachers.Net)

Jun 12, 2011

Welcome to the Student Motivation Chatboard. This chatboard is for teachers to discuss student motivation, participation, and rewards in the classroom.

Bookmark this resource and contribute often!

(17)

view previous comments

Darren Van Soye On 6/13/11, Jeanette wrote: > Technology can be used in so many different ways to support > learning. Think about using video, music, multimedia and all > sorts of technological strategies to introduce and support the > learning of a particular concept. Also, real world activities > where students have the opportunity to create somet...See MoreOn 6/13/11, Jeanette wrote: > Technology can be used in so many different ways to support > learning. Think about using video, music, multimedia and all > sorts of technological strategies to introduce and support the > learning of a particular concept. Also, real world activities > where students have the opportunity to create something is a > motivator.

Hi. First, I have to admit that I'm not an educator. But, I do believe that I have some ideas that might be of interest.

My wife and I are taking a 400-day around the world trip with the goal of improving geo-literacy. During our journey, we will be making materials available including weekly 4-page PDF files that highlight the areas where we are visiting. We also plan to send emails, videos and pictures. Finally, we are hoping to have a two-way conversation with teachers and students while we are on the road by given them an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers.

We realize that teachers today already have so much on their plate with required curriculum so we have designed our materials as "enrichment materials". The idea is that they could be used to kick-off a lesson on geography, social studies or even history. We have an example of the enrichment materials on our website here:

[link removed]

There are other opportunities to use our materials including student-led activities (e.g., ask for a volunteer to point on the globe were we are this week, ask students to present a short report on one of the countries we have visited after looking at some of the websites we have included in the materials, allow advanced students to "remix" our photos and video and add a voice-over to form a student-created documentary).

Please let us know if you have any ideas on how best to integrate these materials into the curriculum as a way to increase student engagement/motivation. I should mention that we are doing this trip as a public service. This trip is self-funded and all of the materials are available under Creative Commons (free).

Thanks, Darren

Jun 20, 2011

Songer On 6/12/11, Bob Reap (Teachers.Net) wrote: > Welcome to the Student Motivation Chatboard. This chatboard > is for teachers to discuss student motivation, > participation, and rewards in the classroom. > > Bookmark this resource and contribute often!

I recently led a workshop on 'Student Engagement and The Fully-Resourced Tea...See More

Aug 5, 2011

Perfect Timing

by sherry 3 sc

Jun 13, 2011

This is perfect timing. My students from last seemed to be motivated by nothing. I can't wait to read all of the great ideas. It's great because now that summer is here, I have more time to read about and think about implementing some of these for my students next year.

(2)

Amanda On 6/13/11, sherry 3 sc wrote: > This is perfect timing. My students from last seemed to be > motivated by nothing. I can't wait to read all of the great > ideas. It's great because now that summer is here, I have > more time to read about and think about implementing some > of these for my students next year.

Do you mean th...See More

Jun 13, 2011

Katie I teach a middle school self-contained classroom. I have the same problems. I've tried many techniques (lots of extrinsic rewards..hoping it would turn to intrinsic as I faded them out). I recently read "Motivating Students Who Don't Care" by Allen N. Mendler. There were some good tips. I recommend reading that book. If you don't get anything out o...See More

Jun 13, 2011

Intrinsic vs Extrinsic motivation

by Stellaluna

Jun 13, 2011

I have fought this battle over the years.....usually lose the argument when discussing with other teachers who like giving rewards... but win in my classroom by the way my students behave! (I teach kinder)

I do not want my students to do the right thing (in learning, behavior, etc.) because they are going to get a reward.... I want my stu...See More

(13)

view previous comments

Madeleine On 2/22/12, JBeachDavey wrote: > On 6/13/11, Barbara wrote: >> On 6/13/11, Stellaluna wrote: >>> I have fought this battle over the years.....usually lose >>> the argument when discussing with other teachers who like >>> giving rewards... but win in my classroom by the way my >>> students behave! (I tea...See MoreOn 2/22/12, JBeachDavey wrote: > On 6/13/11, Barbara wrote: >> On 6/13/11, Stellaluna wrote: >>> I have fought this battle over the years.....usually lose >>> the argument when discussing with other teachers who like >>> giving rewards... but win in my classroom by the way my >>> students behave! (I teach kinder) >>> >>> I do not want my students to do the right thing (in >>> learning, behavior, etc.) because they are going to get a >>> reward.... I want my students to do the right thing because >>> it is the right thing to do. >>> >>> It takes a LOT longer to teach this behavior but I believe >>> that in the long run teaching kids to be kind, to problem >>> solve and to be empathetic to others will serve them >>> better. >>> >>> JMHO. :) >> >> I agree, in the long run students with intrinsic motivation >> will go further and do more regardless of rewards; however, >> when beginning this behavior lesson, we must start where the >> kids are and that's usually Extrinsically motivated. The >> really hard part is the transition from one to the other--I've >> got this issue with my own child :(. Any advice on the >> transition? > > > I feel like consistent praise is such an undervalued "reward" that > can instigate intrinsic motivation in students. My Pre-K students > obviously love stickers and treats, but getting down to their > level and telling them sincerely that they did a good job, or that > the way they solved that problem all on their own was so wise, > goes such a long way. And my students are only four!After i take > the time to praise, I see the change in their interactions with > their friends, using my words to encourage them and congratulate > them. It's a great site to see.

I agree with a lot that has been said. However, kids that depend upon their teacher's praise or approval become insecure in their own accomplishments. They are still receiving a reward - a verbal reward. I do believe a little encouragement is great because you need to assess your students. But I also believe that excess praise lays out a shaky foundation for them. They are happy because their teacher (who they admire and look up to) thinks they are great instead of being happy because they did something themselves and feel great about it

Apr 5, 2012

ann I see extrinsic reward as necessary to gain a student's attention. I see rewarding for good behavior as a good thing. I do not favor rewards for academic success unless it is very small and when using such for mastery in certain areas or little areas. This is good, especially for special Ed students who may be mastering a certain operation or succe...See MoreI see extrinsic reward as necessary to gain a student's attention. I see rewarding for good behavior as a good thing. I do not favor rewards for academic success unless it is very small and when using such for mastery in certain areas or little areas. This is good, especially for special Ed students who may be mastering a certain operation or success where other students are also receiving rewards for mastery along the way and that does not hurt the motivation of other students. As for intrinsic reward, this is more wonderful. Intrinsic reward is that which enables the student to enjoy the work they are performing sufficiently to do their homework and work independently. To gain Intrinsic Reward we must use the effect our environment plays on our mind’s ability to learn. This is something that should be looked at from all levels of education, but especially for grades 4 through 12. I link motivation to intrinsic reward and see its formula as “mental reward received for mental work expended”. I see all students as capable of improving their long-term motivation or intrinsic reward when seen correctly as more mental energy to perform a task. I see two areas we can improve intrinsic reward. The first involves understanding that the old idea of just trying hard does not work very well for intrinsic reward. The harder we try, the more agitation we are creating and thus hurt our thinking, learning, and intrinsic reward. Here, all teachers can begin helping students learn the wonderful skill of slowing down when learning new things. As those students learn more about a task, their pace and intensity will increase naturally. This delicate way of approaching new things is a wonderful way to help keep and maintain intrinsic reward. The second is more complex. Try to see our minds as dealing with not just a task at hand but also other things in our lives at the same time. The more things our minds are dealing with, the harder we have to work to think, learn, and “enjoy the learning process”. By showing students and parents how their individual environments are helping or hurting their thinking, this will help all students respect others much more so in terms of our individual environments. By providing students and adults with tools to reduce some of the excess work our minds are working on in our lives by helping ourselves and our students learn to approach their lives more delicately, students can learn to have a more peaceful mind or a mind with less other mental work going on in their lives. As students get older, explain how our average stress is made up of different things our minds are dealing with. Help them learn to understand, resolve and perhaps change some weight or value that may be creating needless mental work in their minds. As students learn to remove some needless mental work, this becomes also and every increasing way to improve intrinsic reward or mental reward received for mental work expended.

Apr 23, 2012