My first reaction to this scenario as an educator of special needs students is to check on the child’s physical and mental well being. Apathy can come from undiagnosed medical conditions or from stresses and/or turmoil in the home or personal environment.
If the student has no physical, emotional, or mental reasons for the apathy and lack of motivation then it is time to address the curriculum and delivery methods.
I think allowing the students to help design the learning projects can frequently motivate students to participate who wouldn’t normally. Students will be more motivated when they feel some ownership or autonomy in the lessons. By allowing students to determine the subject for essays when doing creative writing, the subjects for examples in story problems, and even allowing students to select the format of project that they can use for assessment of their skills will motivate learners.
Dr. Walizer in my Reading methods course told a story about using a mystery involving a missing candy jar in the classroom as a lesson format. I think this “stuffing vegetables in cake” routine is an excellent way to bring up student motivation and involvement. By creating an anomaly from the normal routine relating to something the students have personal involvement in which requires the students to take some form of action you can create wonderful hand-on learning and problem solving lessons. When students think they are playing a game or engaged in “fun” activities instead of regular classroom lessons they are more apt to be involved. I think this addresses several of the aspects for motivation discussed in the text and the handouts including personalizing the learning, providing intrinsic motivation, reason for joyful persistence, and removing a fear of failure from the learning experience.
If the student is apathetic and not motivated at all, I would try to use extrinsic motivation to solve this issue. I would offer rewards for completing the assignments or for doing a good job on a test. I would also offer bonus points for contributing in class discussion.
I would also try to keep the lesson interesting and fun for the student. It would relate to something that they are interested in and try to keep them motivated to learn.
My brother lacked motivation in math and reading. One of his teachers did state that if you could paint this on the side of a tractor, he would learn it. For example on this type of motivation, if i assigned an assignment on a type of agriculture, I would encourage this student to do his/her report on farming. Have him research how farming has changed and where it is going in the future. Use information that this student likes and is interesting in learning.
I will also encourage this student not to be worried about failure. Even if they do not do the best that he/she can on the assignment, we will go over the material to show that they were on the right tract. Show this student that this failure can be used to make the next time better.
If after many attempts to motivate this student with no success, I will use the resources available in the school and ask the special education teacher what I can do differently. I will then use these suggestions to motivate the student.
I agree that keeping the lesson fun in some way will help keep the students motivated. I also agree that letting the students help plan the activities or projects in class will motivate he/she to learn. I somewhat mentioned this idea with encouraging the student to write about something they are interested in and further their knowledge on the subject.
I find that I agree with your comments regarding focusing lessons on areas of interest to motivate students. Extrinsic motivators come with so many problems. I was party to a conversation among one group of teachers this week discussing what they could use for extrinsic motivators since their school no longer allows them to use candy/food for reward/motivators. I am glad to see schools considering healthier options, but it is certainly removing an “old standby” and forcing teachers to rethink their behavioral motivation methods. Which is probably a good thing!
There are so many reasons students may feel apathetic in a classroom. I would have to say that the majority of reasons would probably stem from some type of family issues. Parents/guardians who do not seem to care about hwo well their child does in school would probably be the major reason, in my opinion. Those children who do not receive any kind of encouragement often feel like they aren't capable of doing exceptional work.
My brother is a good example of this. I raised my brother and sister, since my mother was never around. When helping my brother out with some of his math homework, I noticed he was exceptionatly good at it. He just never tried, because he never had any reason to. Once I started working with him, he found reasons to do well in class. He figured out how good it felt to be doing math at the high school level (when he was in 6th grade). I loved watching him fly through his math. In fact I was jealous because my little brother could do math I only with I could do half as well.
My brother found out that the feeling of being able to do something right, and getting the praise for it felt pretty good. It motivated him to do well in the rest of his classes, which I was so proud of him for.
Sadly, when my mother moved away, and I stayed behind, he began to do poorly in class again. He didn't have that praise from his family that kept him motivated. Obviously he didn't receive any from his teachers either.
Motivating students, for whatever reason, is often a hard task. It is important to identify the students who lack that motivation, then give them a reason to become motivated in the classroom.
I would begin by administering the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire mentioned in the book. I think it would be important to first have students assess how they perceive their own motivation before attacking the issue myself. Once students are aware of their motivation or lack thereof, I would have them each set their own personal goals related to this issue. They would also need to self monitor their progress of this skill. If students are not able to see that progress is being made, they need to determine what changes need to be made in their attempts to improve motivation. Students need to figure out what motivates them. Maybe the material is too boring or hard to interpret. How can this be changed? Do they need to be provided with examples, pictures, diagrams, or videos? Do they need more one on one time or to have the material broken down into smaller, easier to follow steps?
I also believe it would be important for me to have a high sense of efficiency in believing that I can help students become more motivated to learn. I feel the most effective strategy would be to model motivational skills for my students. Some things to keep in mind when modeling this skill would be to model the behaviors and attitudes I want my students to learn as well as using peer models as examples for the other students. It is also necessary to ensure that the students are able to see that positive behaviors lead to reinforcement for other behaviors. Students need to see the benefits that arise from being motivated to learn.
Finally, I would want to get the parents involved in the effort to improve student motivation. Families can improve motivation through modeling, encouraging their children, helping with goal setting/monitoring, and offering strategy ideas to their children. Not only could students collaborate with their families, but they can collaborate with each other. They can provide each other with ideas of how to stay motivated as well as assessing one another’s progress.
I really like your post. I think that this is a tough issue because this challenge can only be overcome by the student. We can say as much as we want about how we can motivate students, but the success is up to them and whether or not they are willing to make the effort. It is also hard for teachers to fix the things that have evolved from being from a certain type of home environment. These things get embedded into the student’s minds and become part of who they are. Like you said about your brother, the motivation usually comes from finally experiencing success and praise and then enjoying that feeling. The tough part is getting to that initial point of receiving praise and being successful. If teachers do not accentuate the positive, then students will never find that true motivation from doing something well.
I would have to really agree that involving the parents in the students motivation. By carrying the motivation from the classroom to the home, will encourage the student to do well because they are receiving praise from both ends. This will also keep the teacher in the loop about what could be going on at home that could affect how the student acts in class.
Jacque said: I think the biggest thing that you can do for students who are apathetic and totally uninterested in school is to get the students involved in something school related activities. Trying to encourage them a, that they have a choice and they have control over their own life to make their own decisions. Most of them if you model positive thinking skills to them and encourage them to change their negative thinking and relate to the students that school can be fun and exciting for them. The students that I deal with in High School are (MR) students and some of them may go to college or vocational training school. Encourage them to do research about activities at school and also explore career choices of what they can do when they get out. I would also have them do some planning of their own goals what they want out of life. Have them be in charge of that have them think of what they want to do with their life. I would also use intrinsic rewards and also extrinsic rewards and explain what those are.
Jacque reply to Jessica T and Kirby: What a great idea to get the parents to help in the motivation process. I agree that if parents can help the students may do what they need to do. I also wonder if parents aren’t around and don’t care, then how would you guys try and handle this situation?
If parents aren't around, or don't care, it is important that the teacher step in as role model. Students, ESPECIALLY young ones, need someone who they can lean on and someone they can look up to. If the parents aren't going to be parents and provide their students with motivation, the teacher must do so.
The first thing I would do is try to build a relationship with these students. By doing so I would be able to find out what is at the bottom of the perceived apathy and I would also be showing the students that I am truly concern. After gaining some knowledge about the students, I would begin planning. I would create and implement several instructional and motivational strategies to help them learn in the classroom.
For example, I would capitalize on the student's existing needs. I would use incentives to motivate them to learn, I would hold high but realistic expectations for my students because students need to develop the drive to achieve, I would provide many opportunities to help students become active participants in learning. Very importantly, I would provide support and guidance in and out of the classroom and I would demonstrate enthusiasm for learning. This is a crucial factor in student motivation. If a teacher becomes bored or apathetic, the students will too. Therefore, I would demonstrate confidence, excitement about the content, and a genuine pleasure in teaching. I believe this would create a positive leaning environment for all students.
Re: Jacque Great response! I also believe getting the students involved in school related activities is a great way to keep them engaged and motivated. Also collaborative learning could be an incentive since some students like to work with their buddies. I think the main factor is for teachers to be consistent in making their students feel welcome and included. I believe this would motivate students to come to school and learn.
I use two methods to help increase motivation with those that are apathetic in my class. One is that I take time to find out something about that student, such as, what are their interests. Case in point...I have a student in my leadership class that is a good kid, but can be, at times, very lazy in the classroom. He is a typical senior that is wondering how his classes will relate to his life. The one thing that truly interests him is music as he wants to become a youth worship leader. I have found that when I incorporate an example with music, such as, how he could use this in his profession he immediately perks up and begins participating in discussion. Another way I work to get the apathetic student going to to throw the class a "curve ball". What I mean by that is that we will do some bell work activities on subjects that do not pertain to the classroom, but are fun for the students. It gets them going because it is different and it breaks the monotony that the apathetic student feels towards school. An example, and you won't find this in a textbook, that I used the other day was a class competition that involved 10 questions over Disney movie trivia. The groups had 5 minutes to answer the questions and then we compared answers and the winning group got a small reward. After the contest, we began with our lesson and the involvement by everyone was tremendous. The bottom line is in order to accomplish the academic standards in the classroom you have to make the environment as fun as possible. In our school, we adopt this mentality...Make school a place where they want to be. They have to be there...now work to make them want to be there. That mentality just assisted us in making standard of excellence in math and reading for the first time. I am a firm believer in it.
Re: Jessica T. I am a believer in getting to know your students on what makes them "tick". You obviously knew what made your brother go. You can adopt this same mentality by taking the time to get to know your students' interests in life.
Re: Mallory K. I totally agree with you that the learning enviroment needs to be a fun one. This is a great way to ignite those students that are apathetic in the classroom. Also, the more you can work to incorporate interests of students in your lessons, the better of you will be in, potentially, reaching that student.
One of the things I would try to do is assess the child and figure out where the apathy is coming from. It may be just a lack in a few subjects and it carries over to the rest, it could be from home and issues there or it could be not understanding the subject matter or even it being to much to comprehend. The next step I would do after testing/assessing the child is to figure out how to encourage learning in a fun and relaxed environment. If the students apathy towards school was coming from not liking a certain subject or more then I would try to make it so that I arraged the subjects from one that was not liked to one that is and so forth. Then we would work on doing more engaging activities in that area to make the not liked subject more enjoyable. I coach Junior Bible Quiz and we have a few kids that have a hard time on some questions so I try to make it fun by taking some of the answers and turing them into games. We have one that asks who are the 4 prophets from the old testament and the answer is Jeremiah, Ezekial, Daniel and Isaiah. They had a hard time remembering this until I told them they were J.E.D.I's of the Bible. We went to our first quiz match and that came up and they got it right! I was so happy. I know also that kids need that person to care for them and to give them reassurance. Just that hey you did a good job is very important to them and helps them not just in school, but in life as they go on!
reply Brandon P., I love your idea of a curve ball. I think that is a very interesting way to throw something at the students that gets their attention and gets them to see the subject matter in a new way. It is so important that we find that way that a child connects to the subject and how to get them interested. You have done a great job at this!
Reply to Alison M., I love how you talk about building that relationship with your students. You seem to have this natural ability to want that connection with them and it shows in your blogs. We all need that as teachers and caregivers of children. You have unique ideas to reach them and they will definitely appreciate your attempts and caring ways. You will have a confident, supported and fun educated class! Great post!
One of the first things that should be considered is the student’s physical and emotional needs. The student may not be getting their basic needs adequately met, (food, sleep, etc.) which is causing them to not care about school. Depression or other mental illness should also be considered, and whether or not the student feels safe enough to participate in the environment of the classroom. The level of material may also be hindering the student’s participation, and accommodations may be necessary to make the tasks attainable for the student. Another way to encourage student participation/motivation for all ages is to include them in planning their projects and activities. The lessons should be based on the students’ interests and if it is driven by their natural curiosity they will be intrinsically motivated. Altering the way information is presented or how students demonstrate mastery can also be changed. Using hands on and authentic assignments will usually always generate more student interest and motivation than long lectures from the teacher based on aspect that is difficult to apply outside the classroom.
The teacher may also need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture to determine what the student’s needs are, and to see if they are helping or providing for those needs. My cousin has ADHD and is having trouble paying attention in 5th grade. He has a teacher that has said he “doesn’t buy into” the difference in brain processes of my cousin, and seems to just see him as a problem. However, the teacher has been doing very little to help him or work with him; he just expects my cousin to be able to work like all the other students in the class. My aunt has been getting very frustrated because of the situation, and if the teacher would just step back and think about what HE can do to help my cousin instead of just expecting the 5th grader to fix it himself.
In response to Jessica T I agree that it would be very difficult to motivate students without praise. However, individual preferences still need to be considered; some students will do best with public praise, while others will only be embarrassed by this. In addition, the individual who can best motivate the student will also differ for different students (i.e. teacher, peers, family, etc.). Ideally, the student should also do things for their own sense of accomplishment, but it may take others to recognize and appreciate their effort before they themselves do.
Motivating students who seem apathetic or unwilling to learn is something that I have struggled with every semester since beginning teaching last year. I have talked to parents, asked my mentor, went to counselors who all give me little help. One counselor even told me that there was nothing I or anyone else could do, and I should just let the child fail.
This semester I took a different approach. When I noticed that I had a young man who did not want to do the work in my keyboarding class, I pulled him out into the hall and asked him what he wanted from life. He was very upset and told me that he didn’t even see himself living until he’s 18. This was a powerful conversation that I didn’t really bargain for right there in the hall, but I wasn’t going to stop, he went on to say that no one expected him to do well in school, and no one expected him to make anything of himself. I just let him vent and get all of that off of his chest and then I let him get a drink of water and told him that I didn’t want him to fail, and I knew that he was capable of doing the work, so we would have to come to some sort of agreement. Since then he has not fell asleep in my class once, and has handed in over half of the assignments we have done. (A 50% improvement!) I always make sure to touch base with him when he comes into the room, to see how he’s doing. When I talked with his father at Parent Teacher Conferences his dad said, that most of the other teachers just talk about how lazy his son is and never mention his potential, he gave me a heartfelt thank you for being sincere.
This story ties into Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. If a student’s basic needs are not met then they will not worry about school, or doing homework. This student was a perfect example of that. Making sure that students needs are met are not always easy, because they may not feel like they can confide in you about those needs. The most important way to motivate a student is to make a connection.
I know that not every student I encounter will respond like this one, and I don’t expect this approach to work with every student, but it is worth the effort.
"My brother found out that the feeling of being able to do something right, and getting the praise for it felt pretty good. It motivated him to do well in the rest of his classes, which I was so proud of him for."
This is a perfect example of how you helped him do it for himself which gave him the best motivation ever, self-esteem. So often we think that we can tell a student (or our own children) to feel good about themselves and tehy will do it, but self-esteem doesn't work that way. You have to set up success. Excellent example!
The first step to motivating a student is to set them up for success. I recently accepted a para job in the special education department in the junior high level. Numerous teachers commeneted that I will have my hands full with the particular student becuase he significatly below his grade level in every class, and he has no motivation. This is a student who is an 8th grader who functions cognitivley at a 2nd grade level. My first day, I was delivering the math lesson. This lesson was simple addition of 3 addends. The first thing I told this young man was, "At the end of this year, you will be the smartest 8th grade math student I know!"
I just set this young man (as well as myself!) up for success. I truely beleive the key to motivation is self-efficacy, believing you can do something.
The next component is being organized within the environment so the students do not feel overwhelmed and frusterated. Teachers can help their students stay organized by creating folders with class name.
Another compenent of motivation is goal setting. Here, teachers can encourage students to create long and short term goals. Teachers should also encouarage these students to write the goals down in a place where they can view them frequenlty throughout the day.
Teachers should also be a great role model. Explain to students the intrinsic value of achieving a goal. Give extrinsic rewards when students reach personal goals. Give praise, even if the student has only progressed an inch or two.
So back to the student that was mentioned before, the first math lesson I told him my goal of him becoming the smartest 8th grade student. This sparked his interest, and I held his attention for the entire 45 minute class period. He asked questions related to the problems. I know he wants to excel in math because at the end of the first lesson, he asked me to copy some additional problems off so he could show his mother how easy math is!! Let me tell you, this is great motivation for myself!! Now the student and I are on our way to getting orgainzed as we have folders and a poster that hangs in his locker of materials he is to bring to every class.
Each and every student will present different problems in the classroom. The teacher will need to know the individual and what sparks interest.
EmberD, You bring out a very important aspect of motivation, and that is getting to know every student in your classroom. The easiest solution would be to label the student lazy, instead of digging deeper and realizing the real reasons behind his behavior. The student has built a trust relationship with you, and this will make you a better teacher. Kudos to you for learning the reasons to the behavior of the student.
If I had a student that was apathetic or low in motivation, I would first attempt to draw the child out and see if he could tell me what he sees as the problem or how he is feeling about what is being done in class. Next, I would try to figure out what does motivate him -- to identify the settings, situations, and conditions that he responds to and that can be used to foster his interests. According to the text, it is important to allow the student to experience positive academic and social experiences. An assignment that is given in class can be structured so the beginning is relatively easy, hopefully giving him confidence to move on through the rest of the assignment. I could also let the student have a say in the assignments that he completes - perhaps giving him a choice of three assignments that he can choose from. I can also find out some of the student's interests and try to integrate those interests into my lessons or classroom activities. This can also include hands-on activities to spark interest, and especially those activities that tie in to real life situations. Part of this interest must come from me and the excitement that I bring to the classroom and to learning in general. When the student is given an assignment, the tasks can be broken down into smaller parts so that it is easier to achieve, and by focusing on the student's own individual improvement rather than on his performance relative to his classmates. Finally, it might be helpful to ask his parents for assistance in what might help the student in the classroom and for their support at home as well.
I agree that when working with students who are apathetic and unmotivated you first need to look at their personal situation. Making sure there are no outside factors such as problems at home, family or any medical reasons that may be causing the student problems should be determined first. If it is determined that everything is o.k. and the student just isn’t motivated to learn then you must find strategies to get them excited about learning.
As a teacher, being excited about teaching and what you are teaching would be a first step in getting students excited about learning. Making the learning activities fun and geared to the individual students needs may also encourage their motivation. Also allowing them to take an active role in the learning process, such as determining which activity they would rather do, or which project would be of more interest to them. I also feel that by not putting all the emphasis on grades, but rather the reward they get from accomplishing a project may give them the encouragement they need. Overall, I feel that students will become more motivated if they are given an environment where they can express and be themselves and where fun learning activities are promoted.
Jessica, The comments regarding your brother is a heart-breaking reality of many children in classrooms today. Kudos to you for being such a supportive sister - he will always remember your support and know that you will be there when he needs someone! I agree that many times, the teacher might be the sole support of encouragement and the builder of confidence. It will be important for all children to be motivated wherever they are at and encouraged to learn, however, those without a support system at home will need the extra time and assistance that can be given to them by the teacher during class time or at after school tutoring sessions. While substitute teaching, it always warms my heart to see a child that struggles answer a question correctly and the wide grin that overtakes that child's face - so full of confidence and happiness at that moment - I wish it could stay that way!
Lacey K., I really like how you motivated this student with positive encouragement and the idea that he can succeed. Students may feel unmotivated because they feel that they are not like everyone else and can not understand the material. Having someone tell them that they can do it while showing them different learning strategies helps them slowly gain confidence in themselves. I too agree that creating an organized environment where outside factors can not discourage their learning will also help.
I didn't talk about this in my assignment but I think that a great way to get students motivated is to use a token economy. This is where you can reward students for good behavior or work ethic. I would have each student receive multiple pennies or something along those lines each morning. As long as they didn't get into trouble too much that day, then those pennies would go into a large pot that they can then at the end of the week cash in or use to buy a prize. Another great thing that I have recently been a part of is a "super frog" assembly. The school has an assembly every 2 or 3 weeks and students that have not been sent to the office for behavior get to attend. At this assembly they get really pumped up and give out prizes. At the end the students get to watch a slideshow of pictures from that 2 or 3 week period. The students really seem to love it and get so excited and into it. I think that would be a great way to incorporate the whole school.
I think that it is so empowering that you got to witness first hand the power of motivation and relationships. I truly believe in the self-fufilling prophecy. This states that students will usually work up to your expectations but you think that they can't do it they probably won't. Students need to know that we care for them and that we want them to succeed, otherwise they may not think that anyone believes in them. This is why I want to do monthly "evaluations" with my students to let them know how they are doing and what I expect of them, plus I want them to tell me how I am doing.
I think the first step in that situation is to find out what makes that student "tick". We are all motivated by different things. For example, a walk to the park with mom when chores are completed without complaining is not going to interest my 14 year old daughter as much as it would my 8 year old son. Likewise, my daughter could care less if I send her to her room, but take away her cell phone and she is putty in my hands. This is true in the classroom as well. There is a particular boy in school that has bought into the label that he is a dumb trouble maker. In my opinion, he enjoys the attention he gets when he misbehaves. In order to motivate uninterested students, it is necessary that you make an attempt to understand why they feel and act as they do and then give them a goal to reach doesn't seem unreachable. It is my opinion that most students are unmotivated because they do not want to risk looking bad to their friends and themselves. It is a fear of failure I believe. The key is to give each student a purpose and a task in order to help them realize for themselves that they have unique abilities.
Tricia, BRAVO!!! I loved your post! I think you hit everything key to real motivation and life-long learning! I think extrinsic rewards are okay to some extent, but it is the intrinsic rewards that matter the most! Awesome post!
First off, I would find what the student is interested in. If a student is not interested in the coursework being taught, then they will be apt to learning it. By capturing the student’s interest, they are most likely to be motivated to learning the lessons. I also think that students will seem “unmotivated” to put up a front. Perhaps the student doesn’t understand, and as the lessons progress, they feel more and more lost. To get to the bottom of the student, I would talk to the student in private. At this point I would start by finding out the student’s interest. If the student sees that you are taking time to get to know them, they will hopefully open up, and the teacher can see what is bothering the student in their classroom. Finally, I would make a goal for the student. I would encourage them through words, and offer something like a sticker chart (lower elementary). When setting the goal, we would also set the reward, so the student knows what they are working for. The reward might include an extra recess, playing a game after school with the teacher, or a draw from the treasure chest.
In response to Dani R. I have always wanted to try a token reward system too. I figured I would use it at the age where students are either learning to count money, or older (2nd-3rd grade +). My thought was to get money stamps, and stamp papers with a certain amount depending on the students work effort. The harder you work or “try” the more money you can earn. Then at the end of a certain period, student can buy things from the “store”. It would take a lot of work on the teachers part, but I feel it would be fun and beneficial for the students, which makes it totally worth it!
There is always a reason a student is not motivated in the classroom. The key is to find out why this student is not putting forth any effort. This can be from many things, including the information is presented at a level too high for the student, the student already knows the information and is bored, the student has other issues going on in their life that has a greater significance than what is being taught, or maybe the student is just stressed and tired. As a teacher it is my job to find out why the student is apathetic or at least figure out what we can do to overcome it.
A student who starts out the year with no motivation is much different than one who loses motivation half way through the semester. One who starts out with no motivation should be taken aside and talked to. If the student has no desire to be in the class maybe there is an alternative class. Or maybe I can find a part of the class the student is interested in and I could have them help teach that part of the class. There are many areas in physical education that my students will be better at demonstration than I will be. This is a great opportunity for me to get students involved in their education. With a student who suddenly loses motivation it is important for either the teacher or a school counselor to find out why.
In the physical education classroom, many students are motivated by competition at the middle and high school levels. Competition is easy to incorporate into these classes. Also asking students what activity they would like to participate in is a great motivational tool. If they are allowed to pick the activity they are more than likely going to be at class that day and participate in their activity.
I definitely agree with you and a lot of causes of apathy parents/guardians. Unfortunately I have seen this too often in my high school. Your brothers story is very neat. It does not take a lot to motivate students. Many think teachers have to spend a large amount of money or large amounts of time in order to get students motivated. But often a simple "Good job" or "I'm proud of you," can do the trick. Everyone likes attention, and most of us prefer attention for doing something right over doing something wrong. Your brother is a great example of this. You are definitely right, we need to identify those students who are in need and give them a reason to be motivated in the classroom.
Mallory Lammers What can you do with students who seem apathetic and totally unmotivated to learn in your classroom? When trying to motivate an apathetic and totally unmotivated student I like to begin by looking inward then move out. First I like to look at what I am doing to motivate this student. Do I know what motivates my student? Am I setting achievable goals? What else can I do? What is causing the student’s lack of motivation? Does my classroom provide a safe learning environment?
To keep students motivated in my classroom I will do several activities and methods. First I will make time to know my students and their parents/guardians. If you know your students, you understand where they come from. When you understand where the student comes from you understand any outside forces that might cause unmotivated behavior. As a teacher, knowing your student and the parents/guardians can help you to determine “triggers” for lack of motivation. For example you might find through getting to know your student and their parents/guardians that a student might be going through a difficult time emotionally. I also plan to let the students know that I have high expectations for them. If a student does not do well on an assignment, I will have a student-teacher conference. I will explain to the student that I was surprised to see poor results since I know how intelligent they are. I will then make it a point to mention their strengths and help the student to come up with a plan to better their understanding of the subject matter. I also like the idea of using portfolios of a student’s best work. I would have the student build their own portfolio so the student can review his/her own work and decide if he/she is growing. I like this method because it puts more of an emphasis on learning/self improvement as oppose to earning the grade. My classroom walls will be plastered with my students’ work. I want my students to know that I am proud of them. As a teacher I will show enthusiasm for learning. If I can’t get excited to learn then why would I expect my students to be excited? I will also make sure that what we are learning is relevant to my students. To accomplish this I will relate as much of the curriculum to real life problems as possible.
I plan to make my classroom into a safe learning environment. I will help students to understand that there is no such thing as failure but simply learning opportunities. My students will be encouraged to speak out in class. My student will create their own rules for the classroom. We will work as a community. This blog is only a few ideas I will use to motivate my students.
Mallory Lammers In response to Jessica T… Thank you for sharing your story with us. Your brother is very lucky for having such a wonderful and supportive sister. Your brother sounds like he is very gifted and talented. You really provided something very important to your brother. I agree with you that students need encouragement. It is so important for teachers to let their students know that they are proud of their students. I view teaching as sometimes being a personal cheerleader for students. It is amazing what a little encouragement can do!
In response to Lyn B… I loved Dr. Walizer’s candy jar mystery! When she shared that with our class I asked her if she had any classroom management issues since it seemed like such a large process. She informed me that her students were so excited about learning that she didn’t have to worry about classroom management problems. You also make many great points. I can tell your students will have no trouble being motivated in your classroom!
Like Lyn B, I too would start off by checking the students’ health and living situation and then act upon that. If the student is not motivated because of one of these reasons then I will be willing to take my time to find out what the situation is. If there is a problem with their health I will be willing to help the parents setup a test for their child and make sure that the child will be able to follow through with the doctors’ diagnosis in order to improve that students’ motivation for learning. I am willing because I am a student who has a problem to motivate myself if I do not use my accommodations that I was given. In my case, my motivation to read is poor because I have Irlen Syndrome which is a type of perceptual processing problem that negatively affects reading and writing-based activities causing visual fragmentation, strain, and fatigue. It can be corrected by using a certain color of Irlen Overlay(s), colored glasses, or for the severe ones like me, colored contacts. With that in mind, I am willing to find the correct accommodations that my students will need. If their lack of motivation is from their living situation than I will make sure to give them time in class to finish all their assignments even if that means reducing the assignment in order for that child to finally get some rest. Overall, I want to motivate all students by giving them a great learning environment that they feel comfortable and safe in. Most likely I will be motivating these students with extrinsic rewards until I can boost their level of motivation of willingness to learn to intrinsic and reward the students on a random base to keep the students motivated to learn. However, the rewards will not be food or toys but rather a group project, guest speakers, or even a field trip that the students can learn from. Therefore, with an appropriate intrinsic motivation strategy, their lives will be enhanced and my future students will be highly motivated to keep learning the unknown knowledge in life.
Re: Lyn B
Wow, you really know your stuff. I agree with you on your ways of motivating students. I especially agree with you when you first looked at their undiagnosed medical conditions or from stresses and/or turmoil in the home or personal environment. Some teachers tend to leave these factors out of the picture so it sometimes harms the students. I also like the fact that you’re trying to motivate the students by having them design a learning project. What a great way on keeping students on track!
Re: Jacque
Thanks for the input on what you do with MR students. That’s a great insight since I’m getting my minor in special education and I have not yet got to experience MR students. I slightly recall of a few of my high school classmates who were in special education, whose goal was to get and maintain a job and improve in it. I thought at that time, they were one step ahead of some of my other classmates since they have jobs until I learned that their job was a part of their curriculum since it takes longer for them to learn and adjust to different environments. But I also like the fact that you are going to let them plan their own goals in life.
The most important thing to do for a child who it not motivated is to give them a say in what is going on. A child who is part of putting together the curriculum or the assignments seem to enjoy doing the activities more. Another thing that I have dealt with personally with my son is possibility of mental or medical conditions that make them non-interested. My son is going through testing for ADHD. He is currently going through testing but with this we are realizing that part of the reason he has not been motivated it because he did not know what to do anymore.
Re Jessica and Kerstyn I agree with yall on the fact that we have to realize the importance of parents involvement. I did not really think about the fact that a childs interest and motivation would be from parent involvement but a child who has no parental backing will not be as motivated
One of the first things that I would do, would be to investigate they why of the situation. Rule out any learning disabilities, mental disabilities, and home life problems. Once I have taken those steps there a number of different things that I would do to help get the student motivated.
Fist thing would be to make a connection with the students. Find a way to connect the material to what he/she enjoys. For example you have a student who helps the father on the farm; you can connect math to that, reading, writing, and any other subjects. The same can also be done with any other hobby the student may have.
Next I would have a motional chart, and once the student gets X number of stickers/punches they get a prize from the prize box. On the motivational chart would be things such as; does work in class, brings back completed homework on time, and puts forth an active effort in class.
One thing that I would like to do, but would need to do some more research into, would be to allow the student to take more of a lead in what they are doing and their education. This I believe would have to be an incentive, a goal to reach, once the student started showing more motivation. I fear that if you started off with this the student would not get much accomplished.
RE: Lyn
I agree with checking to make sure that their is no physical or mental reason to why this is happening. That can be very easily overlooked.
RE; Mallory
It is a good idea to keep lessons interesting, it helps grab attention and to keep attention of the students. It is a great tool for those that have little motivation, but also for the other students. If a teacher does not keep lessons interesting she/he can and will loose the interest of the other students.
Students that walk into your classroom with no interest in what you are teaching can be a challenge. I have tried to find out their interest and try and relate. This doesn't always work. Once a student knows you care and they tend to show more interest and effort in class. I had a student who was very disruptive and refuse to do work. I noticed he liked to draw and told him I enjoyed drawing in my spare time. I brought some of my work I had done in high school and college. He responded very well and brought some of his work to class to show me. I encouraged him to enter his work in the league contest and academic olympics. He began to pay attention in my class and show more effort in class, This was a student in my computer class. Little things make a difference. Another example that has worked, I think it was mentioned in an earlier blog, is allowing the the students to choose their own topic. I used this when teaching powerpoint presentation. They showed a lot more passion and were very informative.
First off I would take a look at the child and see if this is a normal behavior or if it is maybe coming from somewhere else. Is this coming from somewhere at school? Is it a result of a specific subject they may be strugging in? Do the issues stem from something that is going on at home? All of these quesitons are important to figure out what to do when a child is acting differently. I need to look at my environment and see what factors may be inhibiting their learning or what I can change to make the learning environment more comfortable. The student may be bothered by something in the classroom, another student, something going on at home or maybe just a lack of liking a specific subject. As a teacher it is our job to make sure all of our students are engaged. If one student isn't enjoying themselves, we have to figure out how to make them want to be involved.
In response to Crystal, You are right. One of the most powerful tools you can give a student is a voice. At some point though, this could become an issue that we can't conform to at all times. A student should be given choices and should also be given an opportunity to speak out, but not always. Communication is key, and I like that you go straight to the student when you see a problem.
In response to Kelly F., I agree with your first part that you should look for any issues on the outside first. I hadn't thought about the motivational chart in this circumstance. I think that is a great idea. That is what I love about this class, is getting other peoples thoughts that don't instantly come into our minds. Thanks.
I am glad you mentioned that we should check to see if another student was causing an issue for this particular student. I have seen a couple of issues in classrooms where one student (for one reason or another) chooses to target another student and basically "make their life miserable." This can greatly impact the student's ability and motivation in the classroom.
RE: Brandon I too like the "curve ball" concept. I keep a selection of brain teaser and mind puzzle books on hand. When my students are particularly unmotivated I will get one out and we will work through a mind bender as a class, or I will let them work on it individually or in small groups. The students see it more as a game than a learning warm up and it gets them in the mood to work.
What can you do with students who seem apathetic and totally unmotivated to learn in your classroom?
ReplyDeleteThis blog is due October 30.
My first reaction to this scenario as an educator of special needs students is to check on the child’s physical and mental well being. Apathy can come from undiagnosed medical conditions or from stresses and/or turmoil in the home or personal environment.
ReplyDeleteIf the student has no physical, emotional, or mental reasons for the apathy and lack of motivation then it is time to address the curriculum and delivery methods.
I think allowing the students to help design the learning projects can frequently motivate students to participate who wouldn’t normally. Students will be more motivated when they feel some ownership or autonomy in the lessons. By allowing students to determine the subject for essays when doing creative writing, the subjects for examples in story problems, and even allowing students to select the format of project that they can use for assessment of their skills will motivate learners.
Dr. Walizer in my Reading methods course told a story about using a mystery involving a missing candy jar in the classroom as a lesson format. I think this “stuffing vegetables in cake” routine is an excellent way to bring up student motivation and involvement. By creating an anomaly from the normal routine relating to something the students have personal involvement in which requires the students to take some form of action you can create wonderful hand-on learning and problem solving lessons. When students think they are playing a game or engaged in “fun” activities instead of regular classroom lessons they are more apt to be involved. I think this addresses several of the aspects for motivation discussed in the text and the handouts including personalizing the learning, providing intrinsic motivation, reason for joyful persistence, and removing a fear of failure from the learning experience.
If the student is apathetic and not motivated at all, I would try to use extrinsic motivation to solve this issue. I would offer rewards for completing the assignments or for doing a good job on a test. I would also offer bonus points for contributing in class discussion.
ReplyDeleteI would also try to keep the lesson interesting and fun for the student. It would relate to something that they are interested in and try to keep them motivated to learn.
My brother lacked motivation in math and reading. One of his teachers did state that if you could paint this on the side of a tractor, he would learn it. For example on this type of motivation, if i assigned an assignment on a type of agriculture, I would encourage this student to do his/her report on farming. Have him research how farming has changed and where it is going in the future. Use information that this student likes and is interesting in learning.
I will also encourage this student not to be worried about failure. Even if they do not do the best that he/she can on the assignment, we will go over the material to show that they were on the right tract. Show this student that this failure can be used to make the next time better.
If after many attempts to motivate this student with no success, I will use the resources available in the school and ask the special education teacher what I can do differently. I will then use these suggestions to motivate the student.
RE Lyn B:
ReplyDeleteI agree that keeping the lesson fun in some way will help keep the students motivated. I also agree that letting the students help plan the activities or projects in class will motivate he/she to learn. I somewhat mentioned this idea with encouraging the student to write about something they are interested in and further their knowledge on the subject.
RE: Mallory K:
ReplyDeleteI find that I agree with your comments regarding focusing lessons on areas of interest to motivate students. Extrinsic motivators come with so many problems. I was party to a conversation among one group of teachers this week discussing what they could use for extrinsic motivators since their school no longer allows them to use candy/food for reward/motivators. I am glad to see schools considering healthier options, but it is certainly removing an “old standby” and forcing teachers to rethink their behavioral motivation methods. Which is probably a good thing!
Lyn
There are so many reasons students may feel apathetic in a classroom. I would have to say that the majority of reasons would probably stem from some type of family issues. Parents/guardians who do not seem to care about hwo well their child does in school would probably be the major reason, in my opinion. Those children who do not receive any kind of encouragement often feel like they aren't capable of doing exceptional work.
ReplyDeleteMy brother is a good example of this. I raised my brother and sister, since my mother was never around. When helping my brother out with some of his math homework, I noticed he was exceptionatly good at it. He just never tried, because he never had any reason to. Once I started working with him, he found reasons to do well in class. He figured out how good it felt to be doing math at the high school level (when he was in 6th grade). I loved watching him fly through his math. In fact I was jealous because my little brother could do math I only with I could do half as well.
My brother found out that the feeling of being able to do something right, and getting the praise for it felt pretty good. It motivated him to do well in the rest of his classes, which I was so proud of him for.
Sadly, when my mother moved away, and I stayed behind, he began to do poorly in class again. He didn't have that praise from his family that kept him motivated. Obviously he didn't receive any from his teachers either.
Motivating students, for whatever reason, is often a hard task. It is important to identify the students who lack that motivation, then give them a reason to become motivated in the classroom.
I would begin by administering the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire mentioned in the book. I think it would be important to first have students assess how they perceive their own motivation before attacking the issue myself. Once students are aware of their motivation or lack thereof, I would have them each set their own personal goals related to this issue. They would also need to self monitor their progress of this skill. If students are not able to see that progress is being made, they need to determine what changes need to be made in their attempts to improve motivation. Students need to figure out what motivates them. Maybe the material is too boring or hard to interpret. How can this be changed? Do they need to be provided with examples, pictures, diagrams, or videos? Do they need more one on one time or to have the material broken down into smaller, easier to follow steps?
ReplyDeleteI also believe it would be important for me to have a high sense of efficiency in believing that I can help students become more motivated to learn. I feel the most effective strategy would be to model motivational skills for my students. Some things to keep in mind when modeling this skill would be to model the behaviors and attitudes I want my students to learn as well as using peer models as examples for the other students. It is also necessary to ensure that the students are able to see that positive behaviors lead to reinforcement for other behaviors. Students need to see the benefits that arise from being motivated to learn.
Finally, I would want to get the parents involved in the effort to improve student motivation. Families can improve motivation through modeling, encouraging their children, helping with goal setting/monitoring, and offering strategy ideas to their children. Not only could students collaborate with their families, but they can collaborate with each other. They can provide each other with ideas of how to stay motivated as well as assessing one another’s progress.
Jessica T:
ReplyDeleteI really like your post. I think that this is a tough issue because this challenge can only be overcome by the student. We can say as much as we want about how we can motivate students, but the success is up to them and whether or not they are willing to make the effort. It is also hard for teachers to fix the things that have evolved from being from a certain type of home environment. These things get embedded into the student’s minds and become part of who they are. Like you said about your brother, the motivation usually comes from finally experiencing success and praise and then enjoying that feeling. The tough part is getting to that initial point of receiving praise and being successful. If teachers do not accentuate the positive, then students will never find that true motivation from doing something well.
Kirby:
ReplyDeleteI would have to really agree that involving the parents in the students motivation. By carrying the motivation from the classroom to the home, will encourage the student to do well because they are receiving praise from both ends. This will also keep the teacher in the loop about what could be going on at home that could affect how the student acts in class.
Jacque said:
ReplyDeleteI think the biggest thing that you can do for students who are apathetic and totally uninterested in school is to get the students involved in something school related activities. Trying to encourage them a, that they have a choice and they have control over their own life to make their own decisions. Most of them if you model positive thinking skills to them and encourage them to change their negative thinking and relate to the students that school can be fun and exciting for them. The students that I deal with in High School are (MR) students and some of them may go to college or vocational training school. Encourage them to do research about activities at school and also explore career choices of what they can do when they get out. I would also have them do some planning of their own goals what they want out of life. Have them be in charge of that have them think of what they want to do with their life. I would also use intrinsic rewards and also extrinsic rewards and explain what those are.
Jacque reply to Jessica T and Kirby: What a great idea to get the parents to help in the motivation process. I agree that if parents can help the students may do what they need to do. I also wonder if parents aren’t around and don’t care, then how would you guys try and handle this situation?
ReplyDeleteJacque,
ReplyDeleteIf parents aren't around, or don't care, it is important that the teacher step in as role model. Students, ESPECIALLY young ones, need someone who they can lean on and someone they can look up to. If the parents aren't going to be parents and provide their students with motivation, the teacher must do so.
The first thing I would do is try to build a relationship with these students. By doing so I would be able to find out what is at the bottom of the perceived apathy and I would also be showing the students that I am truly concern. After gaining some knowledge about the students, I would begin planning. I would create and implement several instructional and motivational strategies to help them learn in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteFor example, I would capitalize on the student's existing needs. I would use incentives to motivate them to learn, I would hold high but realistic expectations for my students because students need to develop the drive to achieve, I would provide many opportunities to help students become active participants in learning. Very importantly, I would provide support and guidance in and out of the classroom and I would demonstrate enthusiasm for learning. This is a crucial factor in student motivation. If a teacher becomes bored or apathetic, the students will too. Therefore, I would demonstrate confidence, excitement about the content, and a genuine pleasure in teaching. I believe this would create a positive leaning environment for all students.
Re: Jacque
ReplyDeleteGreat response! I also believe getting the students involved in school related activities is a great way to keep them engaged and motivated. Also collaborative learning could be an incentive since some students like to work with their buddies. I think the main factor is for teachers to be consistent in making their students feel welcome and included. I believe this would motivate students to come to school and learn.
I use two methods to help increase motivation with those that are apathetic in my class. One is that I take time to find out something about that student, such as, what are their interests. Case in point...I have a student in my leadership class that is a good kid, but can be, at times, very lazy in the classroom. He is a typical senior that is wondering how his classes will relate to his life. The one thing that truly interests him is music as he wants to become a youth worship leader. I have found that when I incorporate an example with music, such as, how he could use this in his profession he immediately perks up and begins participating in discussion.
ReplyDeleteAnother way I work to get the apathetic student going to to throw the class a "curve ball". What I mean by that is that we will do some bell work activities on subjects that do not pertain to the classroom, but are fun for the students. It gets them going because it is different and it breaks the monotony that the apathetic student feels towards school. An example, and you won't find this in a textbook, that I used the other day was a class competition that involved 10 questions over Disney movie trivia. The groups had 5 minutes to answer the questions and then we compared answers and the winning group got a small reward. After the contest, we began with our lesson and the involvement by everyone was tremendous. The bottom line is in order to accomplish the academic standards in the classroom you have to make the environment as fun as possible. In our school, we adopt this mentality...Make school a place where they want to be. They have to be there...now work to make them want to be there. That mentality just assisted us in making standard of excellence in math and reading for the first time. I am a firm believer in it.
Re: Jessica T.
ReplyDeleteI am a believer in getting to know your students on what makes them "tick". You obviously knew what made your brother go. You can adopt this same mentality by taking the time to get to know your students' interests in life.
Re: Mallory K.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you that the learning enviroment needs to be a fun one. This is a great way to ignite those students that are apathetic in the classroom. Also, the more you can work to incorporate interests of students in your lessons, the better of you will be in, potentially, reaching that student.
One of the things I would try to do is assess the child and figure out where the apathy is coming from. It may be just a lack in a few subjects and it carries over to the rest, it could be from home and issues there or it could be not understanding the subject matter or even it being to much to comprehend.
ReplyDeleteThe next step I would do after testing/assessing the child is to figure out how to encourage learning in a fun and relaxed environment.
If the students apathy towards school was coming from not liking a certain subject or more then I would try to make it so that I arraged the subjects from one that was not liked to one that is and so forth. Then we would work on doing more engaging activities in that area to make the not liked subject more enjoyable.
I coach Junior Bible Quiz and we have a few kids that have a hard time on some questions so I try to make it fun by taking some of the answers and turing them into games. We have one that asks who are the 4 prophets from the old testament and the answer is Jeremiah, Ezekial, Daniel and Isaiah. They had a hard time remembering this until I told them they were J.E.D.I's of the Bible. We went to our first quiz match and that came up and they got it right! I was so happy.
I know also that kids need that person to care for them and to give them reassurance. Just that hey you did a good job is very important to them and helps them not just in school, but in life as they go on!
reply Brandon P.,
ReplyDeleteI love your idea of a curve ball. I think that is a very interesting way to throw something at the students that gets their attention and gets them to see the subject matter in a new way. It is so important that we find that way that a child connects to the subject and how to get them interested. You have done a great job at this!
Reply to Alison M.,
ReplyDeleteI love how you talk about building that relationship with your students. You seem to have this natural ability to want that connection with them and it shows in your blogs. We all need that as teachers and caregivers of children. You have unique ideas to reach them and they will definitely appreciate your attempts and caring ways. You will have a confident, supported and fun educated class! Great post!
One of the first things that should be considered is the student’s physical and emotional needs. The student may not be getting their basic needs adequately met, (food, sleep, etc.) which is causing them to not care about school. Depression or other mental illness should also be considered, and whether or not the student feels safe enough to participate in the environment of the classroom. The level of material may also be hindering the student’s participation, and accommodations may be necessary to make the tasks attainable for the student. Another way to encourage student participation/motivation for all ages is to include them in planning their projects and activities. The lessons should be based on the students’ interests and if it is driven by their natural curiosity they will be intrinsically motivated. Altering the way information is presented or how students demonstrate mastery can also be changed. Using hands on and authentic assignments will usually always generate more student interest and motivation than long lectures from the teacher based on aspect that is difficult to apply outside the classroom.
ReplyDeleteThe teacher may also need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture to determine what the student’s needs are, and to see if they are helping or providing for those needs. My cousin has ADHD and is having trouble paying attention in 5th grade. He has a teacher that has said he “doesn’t buy into” the difference in brain processes of my cousin, and seems to just see him as a problem. However, the teacher has been doing very little to help him or work with him; he just expects my cousin to be able to work like all the other students in the class. My aunt has been getting very frustrated because of the situation, and if the teacher would just step back and think about what HE can do to help my cousin instead of just expecting the 5th grader to fix it himself.
In response to Jessica T
ReplyDeleteI agree that it would be very difficult to motivate students without praise. However, individual preferences still need to be considered; some students will do best with public praise, while others will only be embarrassed by this. In addition, the individual who can best motivate the student will also differ for different students (i.e. teacher, peers, family, etc.). Ideally, the student should also do things for their own sense of accomplishment, but it may take others to recognize and appreciate their effort before they themselves do.
Motivating students who seem apathetic or unwilling to learn is something that I have struggled with every semester since beginning teaching last year. I have talked to parents, asked my mentor, went to counselors who all give me little help. One counselor even told me that there was nothing I or anyone else could do, and I should just let the child fail.
ReplyDeleteThis semester I took a different approach. When I noticed that I had a young man who did not want to do the work in my keyboarding class, I pulled him out into the hall and asked him what he wanted from life. He was very upset and told me that he didn’t even see himself living until he’s 18. This was a powerful conversation that I didn’t really bargain for right there in the hall, but I wasn’t going to stop, he went on to say that no one expected him to do well in school, and no one expected him to make anything of himself. I just let him vent and get all of that off of his chest and then I let him get a drink of water and told him that I didn’t want him to fail, and I knew that he was capable of doing the work, so we would have to come to some sort of agreement. Since then he has not fell asleep in my class once, and has handed in over half of the assignments we have done. (A 50% improvement!) I always make sure to touch base with him when he comes into the room, to see how he’s doing. When I talked with his father at Parent Teacher Conferences his dad said, that most of the other teachers just talk about how lazy his son is and never mention his potential, he gave me a heartfelt thank you for being sincere.
This story ties into Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. If a student’s basic needs are not met then they will not worry about school, or doing homework. This student was a perfect example of that. Making sure that students needs are met are not always easy, because they may not feel like they can confide in you about those needs. The most important way to motivate a student is to make a connection.
I know that not every student I encounter will respond like this one, and I don’t expect this approach to work with every student, but it is worth the effort.
In response to Jessica T:
ReplyDelete"My brother found out that the feeling of being able to do something right, and getting the praise for it felt pretty good. It motivated him to do well in the rest of his classes, which I was so proud of him for."
This is a perfect example of how you helped him do it for himself which gave him the best motivation ever, self-esteem. So often we think that we can tell a student (or our own children) to feel good about themselves and tehy will do it, but self-esteem doesn't work that way. You have to set up success. Excellent example!
The first step to motivating a student is to set them up for success. I recently accepted a para job in the special education department in the junior high level. Numerous teachers commeneted that I will have my hands full with the particular student becuase he significatly below his grade level in every class, and he has no motivation. This is a student who is an 8th grader who functions cognitivley at a 2nd grade level. My first day, I was delivering the math lesson. This lesson was simple addition of 3 addends. The first thing I told this young man was, "At the end of this year, you will be the smartest 8th grade math student I know!"
ReplyDeleteI just set this young man (as well as myself!) up for success. I truely beleive the key to motivation is self-efficacy, believing you can do something.
The next component is being organized within the environment so the students do not feel overwhelmed and frusterated. Teachers can help their students stay organized by creating folders with class name.
Another compenent of motivation is goal setting. Here, teachers can encourage students to create long and short term goals. Teachers should also encouarage these students to write the goals down in a place where they can view them frequenlty throughout the day.
Teachers should also be a great role model. Explain to students the intrinsic value of achieving a goal. Give extrinsic rewards when students reach personal goals. Give praise, even if the student has only progressed an inch or two.
So back to the student that was mentioned before, the first math lesson I told him my goal of him becoming the smartest 8th grade student. This sparked his interest, and I held his attention for the entire 45 minute class period. He asked questions related to the problems. I know he wants to excel in math because at the end of the first lesson, he asked me to copy some additional problems off so he could show his mother how easy math is!! Let me tell you, this is great motivation for myself!! Now the student and I are on our way to getting orgainzed as we have folders and a poster that hangs in his locker of materials he is to bring to every class.
Each and every student will present different problems in the classroom. The teacher will need to know the individual and what sparks interest.
EmberD,
ReplyDeleteYou bring out a very important aspect of motivation, and that is getting to know every student in your classroom. The easiest solution would be to label the student lazy, instead of digging deeper and realizing the real reasons behind his behavior. The student has built a trust relationship with you, and this will make you a better teacher. Kudos to you for learning the reasons to the behavior of the student.
If I had a student that was apathetic or low in motivation, I would first attempt to draw the child out and see if he could tell me what he sees as the problem or how he is feeling about what is being done in class. Next, I would try to figure out what does motivate him -- to identify the settings, situations, and conditions that he responds to and that can be used to foster his interests. According to the text, it is important to allow the student to experience positive academic and social experiences. An assignment that is given in class can be structured so the beginning is relatively easy, hopefully giving him confidence to move on through the rest of the assignment. I could also let the student have a say in the assignments that he completes - perhaps giving him a choice of three assignments that he can choose from. I can also find out some of the student's interests and try to integrate those interests into my lessons or classroom activities. This can also include hands-on activities to spark interest, and especially those activities that tie in to real life situations. Part of this interest must come from me and the excitement that I bring to the classroom and to learning in general. When the student is given an assignment, the tasks can be broken down into smaller parts so that it is easier to achieve, and by focusing on the student's own individual improvement rather than on his performance relative to his classmates. Finally, it might be helpful to ask his parents for assistance in what might help the student in the classroom and for their support at home as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree that when working with students who are apathetic and unmotivated you first need to look at their personal situation. Making sure there are no outside factors such as problems at home, family or any medical reasons that may be causing the student problems should be determined first. If it is determined that everything is o.k. and the student just isn’t motivated to learn then you must find strategies to get them excited about learning.
ReplyDeleteAs a teacher, being excited about teaching and what you are teaching would be a first step in getting students excited about learning. Making the learning activities fun and geared to the individual students needs may also encourage their motivation. Also allowing them to take an active role in the learning process, such as determining which activity they would rather do, or which project would be of more interest to them. I also feel that by not putting all the emphasis on grades, but rather the reward they get from accomplishing a project may give them the encouragement they need. Overall, I feel that students will become more motivated if they are given an environment where they can express and be themselves and where fun learning activities are promoted.
Jessica,
ReplyDeleteThe comments regarding your brother is a heart-breaking reality of many children in classrooms today. Kudos to you for being such a supportive sister - he will always remember your support and know that you will be there when he needs someone! I agree that many times, the teacher might be the sole support of encouragement and the builder of confidence. It will be important for all children to be motivated wherever they are at and encouraged to learn, however, those without a support system at home will need the extra time and assistance that can be given to them by the teacher during class time or at after school tutoring sessions. While substitute teaching, it always warms my heart to see a child that struggles answer a question correctly and the wide grin that overtakes that child's face - so full of confidence and happiness at that moment - I wish it could stay that way!
Lacey K.,
ReplyDeleteI really like how you motivated this student with positive encouragement and the idea that he can succeed. Students may feel unmotivated because they feel that they are not like everyone else and can not understand the material. Having someone tell them that they can do it while showing them different learning strategies helps them slowly gain confidence in themselves. I too agree that creating an organized environment where outside factors can not discourage their learning will also help.
I didn't talk about this in my assignment but I think that a great way to get students motivated is to use a token economy. This is where you can reward students for good behavior or work ethic. I would have each student receive multiple pennies or something along those lines each morning. As long as they didn't get into trouble too much that day, then those pennies would go into a large pot that they can then at the end of the week cash in or use to buy a prize. Another great thing that I have recently been a part of is a "super frog" assembly. The school has an assembly every 2 or 3 weeks and students that have not been sent to the office for behavior get to attend. At this assembly they get really pumped up and give out prizes. At the end the students get to watch a slideshow of pictures from that 2 or 3 week period. The students really seem to love it and get so excited and into it. I think that would be a great way to incorporate the whole school.
ReplyDeleteReply to Ember:
ReplyDeleteI think that it is so empowering that you got to witness first hand the power of motivation and relationships. I truly believe in the self-fufilling prophecy. This states that students will usually work up to your expectations but you think that they can't do it they probably won't. Students need to know that we care for them and that we want them to succeed, otherwise they may not think that anyone believes in them. This is why I want to do monthly "evaluations" with my students to let them know how they are doing and what I expect of them, plus I want them to tell me how I am doing.
I think the first step in that situation is to find out what makes that student "tick". We are all motivated by different things. For example, a walk to the park with mom when chores are completed without complaining is not going to interest my 14 year old daughter as much as it would my 8 year old son. Likewise, my daughter could care less if I send her to her room, but take away her cell phone and she is putty in my hands. This is true in the classroom as well. There is a particular boy in school that has bought into the label that he is a dumb trouble maker. In my opinion, he enjoys the attention he gets when he misbehaves.
ReplyDeleteIn order to motivate uninterested students, it is necessary that you make an attempt to understand why they feel and act as they do and then give them a goal to reach doesn't seem unreachable. It is my opinion that most students are unmotivated because they do not want to risk looking bad to their friends and themselves. It is a fear of failure I believe. The key is to give each student a purpose and a task in order to help them realize for themselves that they have unique abilities.
Tricia,
ReplyDeleteBRAVO!!! I loved your post! I think you hit everything key to real motivation and life-long learning! I think extrinsic rewards are okay to some extent, but it is the intrinsic rewards that matter the most! Awesome post!
First off, I would find what the student is interested in. If a student is not interested in the coursework being taught, then they will be apt to learning it. By capturing the student’s interest, they are most likely to be motivated to learning the lessons.
ReplyDeleteI also think that students will seem “unmotivated” to put up a front. Perhaps the student doesn’t understand, and as the lessons progress, they feel more and more lost. To get to the bottom of the student, I would talk to the student in private. At this point I would start by finding out the student’s interest. If the student sees that you are taking time to get to know them, they will hopefully open up, and the teacher can see what is bothering the student in their classroom.
Finally, I would make a goal for the student. I would encourage them through words, and offer something like a sticker chart (lower elementary). When setting the goal, we would also set the reward, so the student knows what they are working for. The reward might include an extra recess, playing a game after school with the teacher, or a draw from the treasure chest.
In response to Dani R. I have always wanted to try a token reward system too. I figured I would use it at the age where students are either learning to count money, or older (2nd-3rd grade +). My thought was to get money stamps, and stamp papers with a certain amount depending on the students work effort. The harder you work or “try” the more money you can earn. Then at the end of a certain period, student can buy things from the “store”. It would take a lot of work on the teachers part, but I feel it would be fun and beneficial for the students, which makes it totally worth it!
ReplyDeleteThere is always a reason a student is not motivated in the classroom. The key is to find out why this student is not putting forth any effort. This can be from many things, including the information is presented at a level too high for the student, the student already knows the information and is bored, the student has other issues going on in their life that has a greater significance than what is being taught, or maybe the student is just stressed and tired. As a teacher it is my job to find out why the student is apathetic or at least figure out what we can do to overcome it.
ReplyDeleteA student who starts out the year with no motivation is much different than one who loses motivation half way through the semester. One who starts out with no motivation should be taken aside and talked to. If the student has no desire to be in the class maybe there is an alternative class. Or maybe I can find a part of the class the student is interested in and I could have them help teach that part of the class. There are many areas in physical education that my students will be better at demonstration than I will be. This is a great opportunity for me to get students involved in their education. With a student who suddenly loses motivation it is important for either the teacher or a school counselor to find out why.
In the physical education classroom, many students are motivated by competition at the middle and high school levels. Competition is easy to incorporate into these classes. Also asking students what activity they would like to participate in is a great motivational tool. If they are allowed to pick the activity they are more than likely going to be at class that day and participate in their activity.
Re: Jessica T
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you and a lot of causes of apathy parents/guardians. Unfortunately I have seen this too often in my high school. Your brothers story is very neat. It does not take a lot to motivate students. Many think teachers have to spend a large amount of money or large amounts of time in order to get students motivated. But often a simple "Good job" or "I'm proud of you," can do the trick. Everyone likes attention, and most of us prefer attention for doing something right over doing something wrong. Your brother is a great example of this. You are definitely right, we need to identify those students who are in need and give them a reason to be motivated in the classroom.
Mallory Lammers
ReplyDeleteWhat can you do with students who seem apathetic and totally unmotivated to learn in your classroom?
When trying to motivate an apathetic and totally unmotivated student I like to begin by looking inward then move out. First I like to look at what I am doing to motivate this student. Do I know what motivates my student? Am I setting achievable goals? What else can I do? What is causing the student’s lack of motivation? Does my classroom provide a safe learning environment?
To keep students motivated in my classroom I will do several activities and methods. First I will make time to know my students and their parents/guardians. If you know your students, you understand where they come from. When you understand where the student comes from you understand any outside forces that might cause unmotivated behavior. As a teacher, knowing your student and the parents/guardians can help you to determine “triggers” for lack of motivation. For example you might find through getting to know your student and their parents/guardians that a student might be going through a difficult time emotionally. I also plan to let the students know that I have high expectations for them. If a student does not do well on an assignment, I will have a student-teacher conference. I will explain to the student that I was surprised to see poor results since I know how intelligent they are. I will then make it a point to mention their strengths and help the student to come up with a plan to better their understanding of the subject matter. I also like the idea of using portfolios of a student’s best work. I would have the student build their own portfolio so the student can review his/her own work and decide if he/she is growing. I like this method because it puts more of an emphasis on learning/self improvement as oppose to earning the grade. My classroom walls will be plastered with my students’ work. I want my students to know that I am proud of them. As a teacher I will show enthusiasm for learning. If I can’t get excited to learn then why would I expect my students to be excited? I will also make sure that what we are learning is relevant to my students. To accomplish this I will relate as much of the curriculum to real life problems as possible.
I plan to make my classroom into a safe learning environment. I will help students to understand that there is no such thing as failure but simply learning opportunities. My students will be encouraged to speak out in class. My student will create their own rules for the classroom. We will work as a community. This blog is only a few ideas I will use to motivate my students.
Mallory Lammers
ReplyDeleteIn response to Jessica T…
Thank you for sharing your story with us. Your brother is very lucky for having such a wonderful and supportive sister. Your brother sounds like he is very gifted and talented. You really provided something very important to your brother. I agree with you that students need encouragement. It is so important for teachers to let their students know that they are proud of their students. I view teaching as sometimes being a personal cheerleader for students. It is amazing what a little encouragement can do!
In response to Lyn B…
I loved Dr. Walizer’s candy jar mystery! When she shared that with our class I asked her if she had any classroom management issues since it seemed like such a large process. She informed me that her students were so excited about learning that she didn’t have to worry about classroom management problems. You also make many great points. I can tell your students will have no trouble being motivated in your classroom!
Like Lyn B, I too would start off by checking the students’ health and living situation and then act upon that. If the student is not motivated because of one of these reasons then I will be willing to take my time to find out what the situation is. If there is a problem with their health I will be willing to help the parents setup a test for their child and make sure that the child will be able to follow through with the doctors’ diagnosis in order to improve that students’ motivation for learning. I am willing because I am a student who has a problem to motivate myself if I do not use my accommodations that I was given. In my case, my motivation to read is poor because I have Irlen Syndrome which is a type of perceptual processing problem that negatively affects reading and writing-based activities causing visual fragmentation, strain, and fatigue. It can be corrected by using a certain color of Irlen Overlay(s), colored glasses, or for the severe ones like me, colored contacts. With that in mind, I am willing to find the correct accommodations that my students will need. If their lack of motivation is from their living situation than I will make sure to give them time in class to finish all their assignments even if that means reducing the assignment in order for that child to finally get some rest.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I want to motivate all students by giving them a great learning environment that they feel comfortable and safe in. Most likely I will be motivating these students with extrinsic rewards until I can boost their level of motivation of willingness to learn to intrinsic and reward the students on a random base to keep the students motivated to learn. However, the rewards will not be food or toys but rather a group project, guest speakers, or even a field trip that the students can learn from. Therefore, with an appropriate intrinsic motivation strategy, their lives will be enhanced and my future students will be highly motivated to keep learning the unknown knowledge in life.
Re: Lyn B
Wow, you really know your stuff. I agree with you on your ways of motivating students. I especially agree with you when you first looked at their undiagnosed medical conditions or from stresses and/or turmoil in the home or personal environment. Some teachers tend to leave these factors out of the picture so it sometimes harms the students. I also like the fact that you’re trying to motivate the students by having them design a learning project. What a great way on keeping students on track!
Re: Jacque
Thanks for the input on what you do with MR students. That’s a great insight since I’m getting my minor in special education and I have not yet got to experience MR students. I slightly recall of a few of my high school classmates who were in special education, whose goal was to get and maintain a job and improve in it. I thought at that time, they were one step ahead of some of my other classmates since they have jobs until I learned that their job was a part of their curriculum since it takes longer for them to learn and adjust to different environments. But I also like the fact that you are going to let them plan their own goals in life.
The most important thing to do for a child who it not motivated is to give them a say in what is going on. A child who is part of putting together the curriculum or the assignments seem to enjoy doing the activities more.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing that I have dealt with personally with my son is possibility of mental or medical conditions that make them non-interested. My son is going through testing for ADHD. He is currently going through testing but with this we are realizing that part of the reason he has not been motivated it because he did not know what to do anymore.
Re Jessica and Kerstyn I agree with yall on the fact that we have to realize the importance of parents involvement. I did not really think about the fact that a childs interest and motivation would be from parent involvement but a child who has no parental backing will not be as motivated
ReplyDeleteOne of the first things that I would do, would be to investigate they why of the situation. Rule out any learning disabilities, mental disabilities, and home life problems. Once I have taken those steps there a number of different things that I would do to help get the student motivated.
ReplyDeleteFist thing would be to make a connection with the students. Find a way to connect the material to what he/she enjoys. For example you have a student who helps the father on the farm; you can connect math to that, reading, writing, and any other subjects. The same can also be done with any other hobby the student may have.
Next I would have a motional chart, and once the student gets X number of stickers/punches they get a prize from the prize box. On the motivational chart would be things such as; does work in class, brings back completed homework on time, and puts forth an active effort in class.
One thing that I would like to do, but would need to do some more research into, would be to allow the student to take more of a lead in what they are doing and their education. This I believe would have to be an incentive, a goal to reach, once the student started showing more motivation. I fear that if you started off with this the student would not get much accomplished.
RE: Lyn
I agree with checking to make sure that their is no physical or mental reason to why this is happening. That can be very easily overlooked.
RE; Mallory
It is a good idea to keep lessons interesting, it helps grab attention and to keep attention of the students. It is a great tool for those that have little motivation, but also for the other students. If a teacher does not keep lessons interesting she/he can and will loose the interest of the other students.
Students that walk into your classroom with no interest in what you are teaching can be a challenge. I have tried to find out their interest and try and relate. This doesn't always work. Once a student knows you care and they tend to show more interest and effort in class.
ReplyDeleteI had a student who was very disruptive and refuse to do work. I noticed he liked to draw and told him I enjoyed drawing in my spare time. I brought some of my work I had done in high school and college. He responded very well and brought some of his work to class to show me. I encouraged him to enter his work in the league contest and academic olympics. He began to pay attention in my class and show more effort in class, This was a student in my computer class. Little things make a difference.
Another example that has worked, I think it was mentioned in an earlier blog, is allowing the the students to choose their own topic. I used this when teaching powerpoint presentation. They showed a lot more passion and were very informative.
First off I would take a look at the child and see if this is a normal behavior or if it is maybe coming from somewhere else. Is this coming from somewhere at school? Is it a result of a specific subject they may be strugging in? Do the issues stem from something that is going on at home? All of these quesitons are important to figure out what to do when a child is acting differently. I need to look at my environment and see what factors may be inhibiting their learning or what I can change to make the learning environment more comfortable. The student may be bothered by something in the classroom, another student, something going on at home or maybe just a lack of liking a specific subject. As a teacher it is our job to make sure all of our students are engaged. If one student isn't enjoying themselves, we have to figure out how to make them want to be involved.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Crystal,
ReplyDeleteYou are right. One of the most powerful tools you can give a student is a voice. At some point though, this could become an issue that we can't conform to at all times. A student should be given choices and should also be given an opportunity to speak out, but not always. Communication is key, and I like that you go straight to the student when you see a problem.
In response to Kelly F.,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your first part that you should look for any issues on the outside first. I hadn't thought about the motivational chart in this circumstance. I think that is a great idea. That is what I love about this class, is getting other peoples thoughts that don't instantly come into our minds. Thanks.
RE: elKrause
ReplyDeleteI am glad you mentioned that we should check to see if another student was causing an issue for this particular student. I have seen a couple of issues in classrooms where one student (for one reason or another) chooses to target another student and basically "make their life miserable." This can greatly impact the student's ability and motivation in the classroom.
RE: Brandon
ReplyDeleteI too like the "curve ball" concept. I keep a selection of brain teaser and mind puzzle books on hand. When my students are particularly unmotivated I will get one out and we will work through a mind bender as a class, or I will let them work on it individually or in small groups. The students see it more as a game than a learning warm up and it gets them in the mood to work.
RE: Kirby W.
ReplyDeleteI will try to get my "ideas" list edited over Thanksgiving and send out a link to anyone who is interested.
Anyone else that has a bank of good ideas to share, I would be interested in that too!
Lyn