Motivating Students

Learning how to motivate students is very complex but important for teachers. In our EDUC 421 class, we learned many different techniques that we can try in our classrooms.

The most important aspect to motivating students is relationship, getting to know each one of them. Understanding what the student is interested in so we can make conversation is very important. If the student doesn’t like the teacher, they will refuse to learn.

At Harwin, my partner and I learned that the class loved to colour and draw. We put a colouring and drawing aspect at the end of the lesson and the students were motivated to do their work well so they could colour and draw.

Taking time for brain breaks is important so the students don’t get overwhelmed, and moving the class from the carpet, to the desks, and then back to the carpet is great for them to stay on track. Giving a few different project choices for students can create interest for them and encourage them to try something new.

Feedback from peers helps to motivate students as well. For printing, I like the idea of the Daily Sign-in sheet. The students prints their name on the sheet when they arrive each morning. On Friday, the student looks at their name with a peer and they agree together which day had the neatest printing. Another way to motivate using peers is the “choose-swap-choose” activity for printing. The teacher will give a printing lesson and have the students print a letter 10 times. Then the student will circle which letters they think are the best. The student then swaps their papers with a partner and their partner circles which letters they think are the best. They then discuss which ones are best and why using the criteria the teacher has written on the board.

The last thing I want to mention is the fundamental principles of effective feedback. Effective feedback will give motivation because it will drive the student forward. Effective feedback should cause thinking, be more work for the student than the teacher, be focused, and relate to the learning goals and criteria that the teacher has provided.