Dawn Mackey Post 3

TEACHING TECHNIQUES FOR MOTIVATING STUDENTS

by Lois and Dawn Mackey

What Is Student Motivation?

Student motivation naturally has to do with students' desire to participate in the learning process. But it also concerns the reasons or goals that underlie their involvement or noninvolvement in academic activities. http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content2/Student_Motivatation.html

Motivation is a complex issue, with a number of causes.

Go to http://chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/col/motivation/motivate.html for further clarification about each category.

YET we HAVE to motivate our students to learn on a day to day basis, REMEMBERING that. . . . .

SO. . . here's some IDEAS that you may find useful in motivating your students:

THE 4 A's

* ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY

* ASKING QUESTIONS

* SEEKING ANSWERS

* ANALYZING INFORMATION

Learning by asking questions is a never ending treadmill for students ----so to find out more about this process go to http://www.motivation-tools.com/youth/education_links.htm

PROJECT-BASED LEARNING

Project-based learning (PBL) is a model for classroom activity that shifts away from the classroom practices of short, isolated, teacher-centered lessons and instead emphasizes learning activities that are long-term, interdisciplinary, student-centered, and integrated with real world issues and practices.

One immediate benefit of practicing PBL is the unique way that it can motivate students by engaging them in their own learning. PBL provides opportunities for students to pursue their own interests and questions and make decisions about how they will find answers and solve problems.

PBL also provides opportunities for interdisciplinary learning. Students apply and integrate the content of different subject areas at authentic moments in the production process, instead of in isolation or in an artificial setting.

Find out more on project-based learning by going to http://pblmm.k12.ca.us/PBLGuide/WhyPBL.html

DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES

GIVING YOU STUDENTS A LEARNING STYLES INVENTORY IS A GOOD WAY TO START THE SCHOOL YEAR. There are many different ones to be found on the web, but here is the one we liked http://www.oswego.edu/~shindler/plsi/plsi48a.htm

REWARDS

When giving students rewards, it is important to find things that your students may actually enjoy receiving.Also, be sure your rewards are things that you are willing to(and are able to) give.

Possibilities may include:

*stickers*

*computer games*

*candy*

*inexpensive prizes*

*'no homework' pass*

*pizza*

*lunch with the teacher*

ETC., ETC.,ETC. . .

THERE'S STILL MORE TECHNIQUES OUT THERE--go forth and find them!!!!!

Well, I hope we have been able to give you some motivational techniques that you can use in your classroom. Remember, that every student is an individual--what works for one may not work for another. Also, a students difficulty may extend beyond motivational issues, if necessary, don't be afraid to look elsewhere(even to the child).