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Motivating Students Chatboard

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by Mpachank

Nov 3, 2011

I teach general level American history. The majority of my students are happy making a D- and moving on. I can tell them until I'm blue in the face that the better they do in class the better they'll do on their state testing or that they can do much better than they are doing. I try to encourage them when they do well, but nothing seems to work.

I have to follow a pretty strict comprehensive curriculum and pacing guide, so there's not a lot of wiggle room to do projects and things not specified by the state. It's not like I can spend time discussing the history of basketball, reality TV, or violent movies.

I get very little parental support. I can't tell you the number of times parents never returned my call or calling a number that's no longer working.

I feel like a failure. I see Stand and Deliver, Freedom Writers, and Dangerous Minds and ask "why can't I do that?"

Why can't I get my students to want to acheive and do their best?

My stud...See More

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Steve On 11/03/11, Mpachank wrote: > I teach general level American history. The majority of my > students are happy making a D- and moving on. I can tell > them until I'm blue in the face that the better they do in > class the better they'll do on their state testing or that > they can do much better than they are doing.

Hmm. Do...See MoreOn 11/03/11, Mpachank wrote: > I teach general level American history. The majority of my > students are happy making a D- and moving on. I can tell > them until I'm blue in the face that the better they do in > class the better they'll do on their state testing or that > they can do much better than they are doing.

Hmm. Do you know that for a fact? Have you checked their records? Do they have any history of success in any class? Unless you know that, they'll think you're blowing wind in their face. And kids don't care about state testing.

I try to > encourage them when they do well, but nothing seems to work.

On what do they do well? That would help to know. Nothing works or encouraging them when they do well doesn't work? >

> > I get very little parental support. I can't tell you the > number of times parents never returned my call or calling a > number that's no longer working.

The parents have no answers and their parents also had a history of not being successful in school. The parents think we're the professionals and we should know how to handle it. Their parents are just getting by if they're getting by. > > I feel like a failure. I see Stand and Deliver, Freedom > Writers, and Dangerous Minds and ask "why can't I do that?"

And if we consider those movies, then consider this. Michelle Pfeiffer DEFINITELY varied the curriculum in Dangerous Minds. She taught them judo and had contests and took the winner out to dinner. She did not 'stick to the established curriculum' as you say you have to do. Same with Freedom Writers. You say you have no freedom to change anything up but then compare yourself to two teacher who did change things up and a lot. > > Why can't I get my students to want to acheive and do their > best?

Change things up. Show them one or both of those movies and ask your students - how do we do that here? > > My students learn, and I do prepare them for the state > tests, but I'm not motivating them!

That makes no sense based on everything else you've said. Are they being prepared for the state tests by accident? How are they learning anything if they're not motivated? How do you know they're learning? > > I often feel more of a prison guard and test prep > facilitator than an educator.

If all you're allowed to do is stick with the established curriculum and don't have time for even a side discussion, that's what you are except what you're guarding is the curriculum.

I feel someone with a GEE, a > copy of the state curriculum and pacing guide and the > teacher's manual could do my job and all my education in > history (21 hours of grad level history) is going to waste.

You don't really need a lot of advanced training in history to teach high school history. You do need to build bridges with students - all of us do - and I'm not sure that advanced training in history gives us any special abilities in the building bridges department.

Nov 8, 2011

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mpachank Hmm. Do you know that for a fact? Have you checked their > records? Do they have any history of success in any class? > Unless you know that, they'll think you're blowing wind in > their face. And kids don't care about state testing.

I can tell by talking to them that they're capable of making more than a D-. I can tell by the boo...See MoreHmm. Do you know that for a fact? Have you checked their > records? Do they have any history of success in any class? > Unless you know that, they'll think you're blowing wind in > their face. And kids don't care about state testing.

I can tell by talking to them that they're capable of making more than a D-. I can tell by the books I see them reading for fun (none of which ever have anything to do with history by the way! :-( ) > > I try to >> encourage them when they do well, but nothing seems to work. > > On what do they do well? That would help to know. Nothing works > or encouraging them when they do well doesn't work? I encourage them when the do well. I tell them I know they can do better. I always acknowledge good questions and good answers.

>> >> I get very little parental support. I can't tell you the >> number of times parents never returned my call or calling a >> number that's no longer working. > > The parents have no answers and their parents also had a > history of not being successful in school. The parents think > we're the professionals and we should know how to handle it. > Their parents are just getting by if they're getting by. >> >> I feel like a failure. I see Stand and Deliver, Freedom >> Writers, and Dangerous Minds and ask "why can't I do that?" > > And if we consider those movies, then consider this. Michelle > Pfeiffer DEFINITELY varied the curriculum in Dangerous Minds. > She taught them judo and had contests and took the winner out > to dinner. She did not 'stick to the established curriculum' as > you say you have to do. Same with Freedom Writers. You say you > have no freedom to change anything up but then compare yourself > to two teacher who did change things up and a lot. >> >> Why can't I get my students to want to acheive and do their >> best? > > Change things up. Show them one or both of those movies and ask > your students - how do we do that here?

My principal has a rule (I'm not making this up), we can show no more than 10 minutes of a movie/video during a class!

>> >> My students learn, and I do prepare them for the state >> tests, but I'm not motivating them!

> That makes no sense based on everything else you've said. Are > they being prepared for the state tests by accident? How are > they learning anything if they're not motivated? How do you > know they're learning?

It doesn't take much to get a "basic" on the state tests. I don't think that takes much effort on my part. But what if I want to go for national board certification, and I can't show i'm motivating my students to be more than "basic"?

>> >> I often feel more of a prison guard and test prep >> facilitator than an educator. > > If all you're allowed to do is stick with the established > curriculum and don't have time for even a side discussion, > that's what you are except what you're guarding is the curriculum. > > I feel someone with a GEE, a >> copy of the state curriculum and pacing guide and the >> teacher's manual could do my job and all my education in >> history (21 hours of grad level history) is going to waste. > > You don't really need a lot of advanced training in history to > teach high school history. You do need to build bridges with > students - all of us do - and I'm not sure that advanced > training in history gives us any special abilities in the > building bridges department.

But I spent a lot of time and money getting my MLA, and it's not doing me much good!

Nov 8, 2011

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Steve br> > I can tell by talking to them that they're capable of making more > than a D-. I can tell by the books I see them reading for fun > (none of which ever have anything to do with history by the > way! :-( )

Well, that's very interesting. So these kids can read and do read for fun? Most kids don't read history books for ...See More

Nov 8, 2011

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mpachank On 11/08/11, Steve wrote: > >> >> I can tell by talking to them that they're capable of making more >> than a D-. I can tell by the books I see them reading for fun >> (none of which ever have anything to do with history by the >> way! :-( ) > > Well, that's very interesting. So these kids can read and do read...See More

Nov 8, 2011

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Steve On 11/08/11, mpachank wrote: > On 11/08/11, Steve wrote: >> >>> >>> I can tell by talking to them that they're capable of making more >>> than a D-. I can tell by the books I see them reading for fun >>> (none of which ever have anything to do with history by the >>> way! :-( ) >> >>...See More

Nov 8, 2011

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