Be the change that lights the learning fire.
Facing a classroom of attentive, focused, and ready-to-learn students is a teacher’s dream. Nevertheless, this is not always the reality, and pulling students along when they don’t seem interested is frustrating. Too often, a teacher’s daily experience does not align with the dream.
This book is here to show how you, as a classroom teacher, can generate enthusiasm, confidence, and joy in your students. You can affect motivation and make a difference in their lives. Delve into the what, why, and how by reflecting on your own experiences and unpacking multiple factors that affect motivation. Then, learn how to spark motivation using practical, research-informed strategies that address how to
- Hone student grouping, rewards, technology, and competition for positive impact
- Confront and disarm testing conflicts to make assessments a pleasant student experience
- Examine and empower teacher–student relationships
- Rethink rules and procedures to improve behavioral outcomes
Read this book and you’ll come away prepared to implement strategies that rekindle a love for learning.
Inhoudsopgave
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Introduction
The Power of a Teacher to Impact Student Motivation
Rationale for This Book
Organization of the Book
Some Final Words
PART I: AN INTRODUCTION TO MOTIVATION
Chapter 1. What Is Motivation?
Understanding Your Own Motivation
Defining Motivation
Needs
Beliefs
Goals
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation
Revisiting Our Definition of Motivation
Summing Up
Applying What You Have Learned
Chapter 2. Who Shapes Student Motivation?
Understanding Your Own Motivation
Students’ Personalities
Teachers
Parents
Schools
Communities, Neighborhoods, and Society
How Do We Get All of These Parties to Work Together?
Summing Up
Applying What You Have Learned
Chapter 3. The Secret Sauce
Understanding Your Own Motivation
The Secret Sauce
Instructional Strategies for Building Students’ Self-Efficacy
An Important Note About Self-Efficacy
Modeling
Setting Short-Term Goals
Providing Appropriate Feedback
Summing Up
Applying What You Have Learned
Chapter 4. The Second Secret Sauce
Understanding Your Own Motivation
The Second Secret Sauce
Influences on Achievement Values
Making Content Enjoyable and Interesting
Making Content Useful and Important
Summing Up
Applying What You Have Learned
PART II: TEACHER PRACTICES TO SPARK MOTIVATION
Chapter 5. How Should I Teach?
Understanding Your Own Motivation
A Daily Question: How Do I Teach?
How Do I Present New Material to My Students?
Practicing and Perfecting
Grouping Students
Using Technology
To Reward or Not to Reward?
To Compete or Not to Compete?
Teaching to Students’ Preferred Learning Styles
Promoting Growth Mindsets
Summing Up
Applying What You Have Learned
Chapter 6. What About Testing?
Understanding Your Own Motivation
The Purpose of Testing
Why Does Everyone Hate Tests?
Why Am I Giving This Test?
Testing and Time
What Are the Consequences of the Test?
How Much Do I Talk About Tests?
What About Those High-Stakes Tests?
Cheating and Testing
Providing Feedback
Testing and Motivation Don’t Have to Be Like Oil and Vinegar
Summing Up
Applying What You Have Learned
Chapter 7. Should I Be Nice?
Understanding Your Own Motivation
Your Relationships With Your Students
Caring About Our Students
Effects of Positive Teacher-Student Relationships
All Are Welcome Here
Teacher-Student Relationships Across the Years
Culture, Diversity, and Teacher-Student Relationships
Strategies for Promoting Positive Teacher-Student Relationships
Summing Up
Applying What You Have Learned
Chapter 8. What About Behavior Management?
Understanding Your Own Motivation
Why Are We Talking About Behavior Management in a Book About Motivation?
Rules and Procedures
Engagement
Summing Up Engagement
Proactive or Reactive?
Supporting Student Motivation While Managing Behavior
Summing Up
Applying What You Have Learned
Chapter 9. How Do I Make This All Work?
Remember That Quiz?
Be the Bravest
Appendix: Daily Motivation Planning
References
Index