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-using modern examples to explain history ((current trends, presidential election, modern debates))
- putting in group work from time to time
- using a students question to prob further into the lesson
- getting students to bring in related materials from home
- using videos and songs to teach part of the lesson
- connecting the lesson to skills they can find useful
- using creativity in projects (mixing it up with different materials and ideas being used, having students have options to finish the goal of the assignment to allow individuality but also incentive to try something new)

-setting up the classroom for students to have availability to all resources (having old work always on hand, having the right materials always available, having space for group and individual work)
-dishing out small/big rewards
-introducing and using new technologies
-using stories to boost understanding and create connectivity

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Students can be more enthusiastic about learning in class when their classroom environment looks good and is centered around learning. This is just one of many examples of articles showing plenty of ideas to help with decoration and organization. Every class will not look the same idea, but the ideas of functionality, looking good and pertaining to the curriculum should always be there.

This article shows that it can also be possible to put your own personal flair to your classroom and have a means of already introducing your students to yourself right as they walk into the classroom on the first day. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't strive to still personally greet your students as well!

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Decoration & Organization for the High School Classroom

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Decoration  Organization for the High School Classroom

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This article talks about the importance of being an enthusiastic teacher and how it can effect your classroom. It says the learning environment cannot improve if the teacher has a bad attitude, and students can be affected by this One statement points out that if your kids are in a good moon, the more eager they will be willing to learn.

It can be too easy to let the weeks slip by and do only easy lesson plans and have students do the barest of activities so you can exert the most minimum of effort. As a teacher you should strive to improve yourself and the way you educate your students. If something seems boring to you it will seem boring to them and there is always tons of materials/resources online and with other teachers that you can use to strive to find that new spark to make your classroom an interesting place again; not just for students but for you as well!

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Refuse to Be a Boring Teacher: 15 Ways to Have More Fun

We've all had that teacher-the one who speaks in a monotone voice and reads aloud from the textbook. And we've all had the opportunity to not be that teacher. We've even had our moments, recognising that flash of interest in our students' eyes, smiling as the bell rings because the energy is so high and no one wants the period to end. How do we extend these moments? How do we create an environment that keeps students stimulated and craving more? How do we have more fun?

One study of student boredom suggested that almost 60% of students find at least half their lectures boring, with about 30% claiming to find most or all of their lectures boring.

"Although a range of factors may contribute to these findings, they do prompt the question of what it is about the learning experience that might be deemed 'boring,'" says Dr Sandi Mann, a senior lecturer in occupational psychology at the University of Central Lancashire.

Mann and her colleagues found that students adopt a variety of strategies to cope with boring lectures. The most popular are daydreaming (75%), doodling (66%), chatting to friends (50%), sending texts (45%), and passing notes to friends (38%). Over a quarter of students leave the lecture at the mid-session break.

"This 'class cutting' is potentially the most serious consequence, since previous research has shown a link between attendance and grades."

One of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent boredom is to have fun yourself. If you are having a good time, chances are your students are too.

In a 2002 paper called The Ripple Effect: Emotional Contagion and its Influence on Group Behavior, Yale University researcher Sigal G. Barsade separated 94 business students into small groups, each with the same hypothetical task of allocating employee bonuses. Barsade secretly planted one student in each group to act out a different emotion: enthusiasm, hostility, serenity, or depression. When the infiltrator was enthusiastic, he smiled often, looked intently into people's eyes, and spoke rapidly. When he feigned depression, he spoke slowly, avoided eye contact, and slouched in his seat.

Barsade measured participants' moods before and after the exercise and found that students who caught the actor's positive emotions were perceived by others and by themselves as more competent and cooperative. The positive groups also believed they were more collegial than those in the bad-mood groups. But when Barsade asked the students what influenced their performance, they attributed it to their skills. "People don't realise they are being influenced by others' emotions," she says.

Mimicry is a basic biological mechanism that may confer an evolutionary advantage, says Peter Totterdell, PhD, senior research fellow at the University of Sheffield in England. "It helps you understand what another person is feeling and thinking-even when she's trying to hide it."

And research shows that if you can put your students in a good mood, they will learn more too.

"Brain research suggests that fun is not just beneficial to learning but, by many reports, required for authentic learning and long-term memory," writes Sean Slade for The Answer Sheet. Neurologist and educator Judy Willis's book "Research-Based Strategies to Ignite Student Learning: Insights from a Neurologist and Classroom Teacher" (ASCD, 2006) is one of many that have highlighted the learning benefits of fun:

"The truth is that when the joy and comfort are scrubbed from the classroom and replaced with homogeneity, and when spontaneity is replaced with conformity, students' brains are distanced from effective information processing and long-term memory storage."

"The highest-level executive thinking, making of connections, and "aha" moments are more likely to occur in an atmosphere of "exuberant discovery," where students of all ages retain that kindergarten enthusiasm of embracing each day with the joy of learning."

So fun actually seems to promote learning by increasing dopamine, endorphins, and oxygen in the brain. The question is, how can we make teaching more enjoyable for ourselves in order to make learning fun for students?

How to Have More Fun Teaching

1. Discover new things together.

It's much more fun for both parties when students and teachers learn new things together. Your job is, of course, to educate, but why can't that process include the joy of shared discovery? Make a point each day of letting down your authoritative guard, humbling yourself, and enjoying the lifelong journey together-even if it's just for a few mintues.

2. Incorporate mystery into your lessons.

Learning is the most fun when it's surprising. Don't just disseminate information; cloak it in mystery. Highlight the weird, the unusual, the unique. Ask questions. Start with a curious detail that can only be addressed by diving into the background of the subject and thoroughly exploring it. Pose a mystery at the beginning of the course and let your students work towards solving it throughout the term.

3. Be goofy; show you care.

Let loose; laugh; make fun of yourself. Don't worry about sacrificing your authority. In fact, the latest research says authority stems from showing you care about your students, and making them laugh and feel good is one way to do that.

4. Participate in projects.

I had a creative writing professor at uni who would bring his own material to class for the students to workshop. It was great fun for all of us, and enjoyable for him as well. Stepping down to our level and actually participating in an activity he assigned himself made us all more engaged in the task because he was willing to be a part of it.

5. Avoid "going through the motions."

If you feel yourself slipping into a rut, spending the same hours exactly the same way each day, stop and reassess your teaching process. It's so easy to let it all become automatic, especially after twenty-plus years in the field, and to use the same lessons and techniques year after year with different students. But if it's not fun for you, it won't be fun for your students either. Make an effort to be fresh, try new things, take risks, make mistakes, enjoy the moment.

6. Flip your lessons.

Flipping your lessons will help you avoid boring in-class activities. If students watch lectures or correct their own homework the night before, you can spend the course period focusing on deeper learning. Everyone will appreciate the chance to reflect on, instead of repeat, the material.

7. Review-but don't repeat-material.

It's important for learning and memory to review new material regularly and to integrate it into the bigger picture shaped by old material. Spend an hour or two each week reviewing material from the past few weeks, but always position it within old material so that students see how it all fits together. Simply repeating new information represents a missed learning opportunity.

8. Share your passions.

Show students how you have fun. Passion is contagious. If you're having a good time, chances are your students will too.

9. Laugh at your students' jokes.

The best teachers I've ever had got a genuine kick out of their students. It's one of the best ways to ensure teachers and students have fun: enjoy one another.

10. Replace lectures with conversations.

Why should teaching be so passive? Forget the sage on the stage and engage your students in a casual conversation like you would a good friend. This doesn't necessarily mean asking more questions, but it does require a stylistic shift whereby you and your students are actively exchanging ideas-not just responding to them.

11. Put on a performance.

In his books and workshops, Doug Lemov talks about what pace to move around the room, what language to use when praising a student, how to adjust the angle of your head to let students know you're looking at them. Teaching, he says, is "a performance profession." You don't have to be theatrical (though that might help), but you do have to be self-aware.

12. Enjoy yourself.

People with high confidence-people we respect and listen to-tend to have one important trait in common: they enjoy themselves. Quite literally. You'll have a significantly better time teaching if you work on nurturing your personal relationship with yourself. Your students will have a better time, too.

13. Make yourself available.

Don't go to the teacher's lounge during lunch; stay in your room and invite students to eat lunch with you. Keep your doors open after the bell rings at the end of the day. Make yourself available online for part of the evening. Hold one-on-one and group office hours. Invite students to your home for workshops or end-of-course celebrations.

14. Try being a student again.

Take a seat in the audience and let your students teach you for the day. Spend a week doing your own assignments. Let students grade you on projects or presentations.

15. Don't take yourself-or your subject-too seriously.

One complaint I hear from students is that teachers don't sympathise with the fact that their course isn't the only course students are taking. Students have to balance assignments and material from several courses at once (you had to do the same thing not so long ago). This doesn't mean loosening your rules or being lenient on late work; it means acknowledging that students have interests and priorities that might not line up with yours. Try to be understanding, and even express interest in other courses students are taking. Think of it as an opportunity to strengthen students' grasp of your subject by relating it to other disciplines.

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Refuse to Be a Boring Teacher: 15 Ways to Have More Fun - InformED

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We've all had that teacher-the one who speaks in a monotone voice and reads aloud from the textbook. And we've all had the opportunity to not be that teacher. We've even had our moments, recognising that flash of interest in our students' eyes, smiling as the bell rings because the energy is so high and...

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This article states 21 easy methods to creating a positive learning environment and to improve Student motivation. It does not restrict itself to talking about certain lesson plans or teaching plans, but incorporates classroom management and student involvement. They are almost easy but often over looked ideas that are sure to work in any classroom. I like number 4 and the idea of changing the look of the class to give a better feel for a learning environment.

The best part of this article is that the introduce the idea that creating student motivation can be simple and easy. Students want to learn and a little effort on the teacher's part to invoke that enthusiasm can go a long way. A lot of planning in lesson plans and classroom set up goes a long way, but the small things too can go a long way.

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by TeachThought Staff

The best lessons, books, and materials in the world won't get students excited about learning and willing to work hard if they're not motivated.

Motivation, both intrinsic and extrinsic, is a key factor in the success of students at all stages of their education, and teachers can play a pivotal role in providing and encouraging that motivation in their students. Of course that's much easier said than done, as all students are motivated differently and it takes time and a lot of effort to learn to get a classroom full of kids enthusiastic about learning, working hard, and pushing themselves to excel.

Even the most well-intentioned and educated teachers sometimes lack the skills to keep kids on track, so whether you're a new teacher or an experienced one, try using these methods to motivate your students and to encourage them to live up to their true potential.
21 Simple Ideas To Improve Student Motivation
1. Give students a sense of control.

While guidance from a teacher is important to keeping kids on task and motivated, allowing students to have some choice and control over what happens in the classroom is actually one of the best ways to keep them engaged. For example, allowing students to choose the type of assignment they do or which problems to work on can give them a sense of control that may just motivate them to do more.

2. Define the objectives.
It can be very frustrating for students to complete an assignment or even to behave in class if there aren't clearly defined objectives. Students want and need to know what is expected of them in order to stay motivated to work. At the beginning of the year, lay out clear objectives, rules, and expectations of students so that there is no confusion and students have goals to work towards.

3. Create a threat-free environment.
While students do need to understand that there are consequences to their actions, far more motivating for students than threats are positive reinforcements. When teachers create a safe, supportive environment for students, affirming their belief in a student's abilities rather than laying out the consequences of not doing things, students are much more likely to get and stay motivated to do their work. At the end of the day, students will fulfill the expectations that the adults around them communicate, so focus on can, not can't.

4. Change your scenery.
A classroom is a great place for learning, but sitting at a desk day in and day out can make school start to seem a bit dull for some students. To renew interest in the subject matter or just in learning in general, give your students a chance to get out of the classroom. Take field trips, bring in speakers, or even just head to the library for some research. The brain loves novelty and a new setting can be just what some students need to stay motivated to learn.

5. Offer varied experiences.

Not all students will respond to lessons in the same way. For some, hands-on experiences may be the best. Others may love to read books quietly or to work in groups. In order to keep all students motivated, mix up your lessons so that students with different preferences will each get time focused on the things they like best. Doing so will help students stay engaged and pay attention.

6. Use positive competition.
Competition in the classroom isn't always a bad thing, and in some cases can motivate students to try harder and work to excel. Work to foster a friendly spirit of competition in your classroom, perhaps through group games related to the material or other opportunities for students to show off their knowledge.

7. Offer rewards.
Everyone likes getting rewards, and offering your students the chance to earn them is an excellent source of motivation. Things like pizza parties, watching movies, or even something as simple as a sticker on a paper can make students work harder and really aim to achieve. Consider the personalities and needs of your students to determine appropriate rewards for your class.

8. Give students responsibility.
Assigning students classroom jobs is a great way to build a community and to give students a sense of motivation. Most students will see classroom jobs as a privilege rather than a burden and will work hard to ensure that they, and other students, are meeting expectations. It can also be useful to allow students to take turns leading activities or helping out so that each feels important and valued.

9. Allow students to work together.
While not all students will jump at the chance to work in groups, many will find it fun to try to solve problems, do experiments, and work on projects with other students. The social interaction can get them excited about things in the classroom and students can motivate one another to reach a goal. Teachers need to ensure that groups are balanced and fair, however, so that some students aren't doing more work than others.

10. Give praise when earned.
There is no other form of motivation that works quite as well as encouragement. Even as adults we crave recognition and praise, and students at any age are no exception. Teachers can give students a bounty of motivation by rewarding success publicly, giving praise for a job well done, and sharing exemplary work.

11. Encourage self-reflection.
Most kids want to succeed, they just need help figuring out what they need to do in order to get there. One way to motivate your students is to get them to take a hard look at themselves and determine their own strengths and weaknesses. Students are often much more motivated by creating these kinds of critiques of themselves than by having a teacher do it for them, as it makes them feel in charge of creating their own objectives and goals.

12. Be excited.
One of the best ways to get your students motivated is to share your enthusiasm. When you're excited about teaching, they'll be much more excited about learning. It's that simple.

13. Know your students.
Getting to know your students is about more than just memorizing their names. Students need to know that their teacher has a genuine interest in them and cares about them and their success. When students feel appreciated it creates a safe learning environment and motivates them to work harder, as they want to get praise and good feedback from someone they feel knows and respects them as individuals.

14. Harness student interests.
Knowing your students also has some other benefits, namely that it allows you to relate classroom material to things that students are interested in or have experienced. Teachers can use these interests to make things more interesting and relatable to students, keeping students motivated for longer.

15. Help students find intrinsic motivation.
It can be great to help students get motivated, but at the end of the day they need to be able to generate their own motivation. Helping students find their own personal reasons for doing class work and working hard, whether because they find material interesting, want to go to college, or just love to learn, is one of the most powerful gifts you can give them.

16. Manage student anxiety.
Some students find the prospect of not doing well so anxiety-inducing that it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. For these students, teachers may find that they are most motivated by learning that struggling with a subject isn't the end of the world. Offer support no matter what the end result is and ensure that students don't feel so overwhelmed by expectations that they just give up.

17. Make goals high but attainable.
If you're not pushing your students to do more than the bare minimum, most won't seek to push themselves on their own. Students like to be challenged and will work to achieve high expectations so long as they believe those goals to be within their reach, so don't be afraid to push students to get more out of them.

18. Give feedback and offer chances to improve.
Students who struggle with class work can sometimes feel frustrated and get down on themselves, draining motivation. In these situations it's critical that teachers help students to learn exactly where they went wrong and how they can improve next time. Figuring out a method to get where students want to be can also help them to stay motivated to work hard.

19. Track progress.
It can be hard for students to see just how far they've come, especially with subjects that are difficult for them. Tracking can come in handy in the classroom, not only for teachers but also for students. Teachers can use this as a way to motivate students, allowing them to see visually just how much they are learning and improving as the year goes on.

20. Make things fun.
Not all class work needs to be a game or a good time, but students who see school as a place where they can have fun will be more motivated to pay attention and do the work that's required of them than those who regard it as a chore. Adding fun activities into your school day can help students who struggle to stay engaged and make the classroom a much more friendly place for all students.

21. Provide opportunities for success.
Students, even the best ones, can become frustrated and demotivated when they feel like they're struggling or not getting the recognition that other students are. Make sure that all students get a chance to play to their strengths and feel included and valued. It can make a world of difference in their motivation.
This is a cross-post from onlinecollegecourses.com

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21 Simple Ideas To Improve Student Motivation

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by TeachThought Staff The best lessons, books, and materials in the world won't get students excited about learning and willing to work hard if they're not motivated. Motivation, both intrinsic and extrinsic, is a key factor in the success of students at all stages of their education, and teachers can play a pivotal role in providing and encouraging that motivation in their students.

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Inserting music and videos is a quick way I've noticed in getting interest into the classroom. For some students, music can really help them learn as they are more so audio learners then anything else. Just putting the effort to find things that align more to kids interests can help get them to be more enthusiastic about the course.

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The video talks about how it is easier to tell stories and to get people interested in stories than it is to get people interested in math. However, he makes the point of how adapting the structure of story building can help generate interest in the classroom, by relying on some of our most primitive dispositions to stories. Humans love stories and story telling, and putting this to other forms of learning can help increase the effectiveness of the lesson.

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Why teachers teach but kids don’t learn | Ben Richards | TEDxYouth@Haileybury