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by Susan Verner 512,676 views

Even the best students have days when they are not motivated for classroom learning. With a little nudge from you, you can turn those dreary days into successful classes in their ESL careers.

We have already discussed student motivation before. Here are 10 more ways you can motivate your students today.

10 Teacher-Tested Ways to Increase Your Students' Motivation Quickly and Easily

1. Children fulfill the expectations that the adults around them communicate. This does not mean that every student will score 100% on every test we write. It does mean that if you communicate to a child that he or she is failure, he or she will fail. If you communicate to that same child that he or she will succeed; you will often find that that is the outcome. With every opportunity, encourage your students that they are making progress in their language learning. Point out to them the areas in which you see progress and improvement. For areas in which a student struggles, try to portray a picture of what success will look like. Encouraging your students to visualize their success will aid them in accomplishing those goals you set before them.

2. Making sure you are teaching to all the learning styles in your classrooms is another way to motivate your students. It is unrealistic to expect an auditory learner to be successful and motivated if her sole instruction comes from reading a textbook. Likewise, a kinesthetic learner will be frustrated listening to his teacher lecture class after class. Make sure, as you plan your lessons, that you are teaching to all the learning styles in your classroom. If you do, you will engage students who might otherwise struggle to pay attention in class.

3. When a student disengages from class, it is a good opportunity for you the teacher to notice what methods you are using in class. Although some practices may be fine for most students, timed tests, independent learning time, self checking methods, for example, there will be students who not only do not connect with these methods but who suffer negatively when you use them in your classroom. If a student begins to disengage, be aware of the methods you are using and look for patterns. Though it is difficult to meet every need of a classroom full of language learners, you can take pains to avoid certain methods when it is possible to help certain students perform better in class. This will also help you be intentional about using a variety of methods with your class further engaging all of them.

4. Sometimes motivating your students is as easy as changing the material you are using. For most teachers, the school chooses a curriculum that they expect each teacher to follow in his or her classes. Even when this is the case, it does not mean that you cannot bring additional resources to class. Sometimes students are turned off by the style or approach of certain curriculum authors. Bringing a different perspective into the class will reengage your students who are turned off by your current materials. In addition, it will challenge those who are already seeing success from the assigned curriculum.

5. Varying your environment can also be just the thing a reluctant student needs to find fresh motivation. Field trips are always a great way to learn in a practical setting, but even if that is not possible, take your class outside for today's lesson. Your students may also benefit from a class meeting in the library or in another classroom. You can still meet your daily class goals even if you take your class beyond the classroom walls. Try setting your students to research at the library, observe another class, or listen to native speakers in a public area. There is always language to be learned, so meet your listening, speaking, and reading goals outside the confinement of students' tables.

6. Providing students with accountability is an important element of being a teacher. Without the idea of a deadline and a grade, many students would never have the self-motivation that is required to successfully learn a language. Be clear with your students when you tell them your expectations. Make sure they know the deadline for a project's completion and what standards you will use to assess that project. You may also consider contracting grades with your students who are at more advanced levels. When you contract grades, your students sign a contract which outlines the requirements to receive an a and a b. Do not give options for lower grades. The student selects which grade he or she will receive in the class and then must complete those requirements satisfactorily. From the start of class, your students know what they need to accomplish, and they know that their success is completely dependent upon themselves. This will get them to be self motivated learners and help them engage themselves in the learning process.

7. Have you ever seen a child, or perhaps you have one, who is angelic when in public and a terror at home? Some young people have similar behavior patterns when it comes to the classroom. For you they misbehave repeatedly, but a substitute teacher would never know it. You can break them out of this pattern by bringing outside influences into your classroom. Invite a guest speaker or trade classes for a period with a fellow teacher. The change in style and authority, even for a short period, may be enough to spark some motivation in your students who have become accustomed to your teaching style and expectations.

8. Competition is a great way to motivate students. We do not suggest posting grades publicly or otherwise embarrassing your students, but there are many ways to foster a friendly spirit of competition in your class. Games are fun for reviewing and they motivate and engage students. You can also group your class into teams and set them to a challenge. Who can collect the most authentic examples of the grammatical structure you are currently studying? Which team can write the most entertaining skit with this week's vocabulary words? Whatever you are studying, there is some way to add some competition to the mix.

9. One never fail motivational method you can use with your students is giving rewards. Tell your students that if everyone in class earns an 80% or higher on a test you will have a pizza party. Tell them that with successful completion of the class novel you wills spend a day to watch the movie together. Even something as little as a sticker on a teenager's paper can be enough to spark some giggles and winks but with it some fresh motivation. Design your rewards to your students' personalities, and tell them what your plans are. Students look forward to even the simple pleasures that you can dole out on an ordinary day.

10. Finally, though not as enjoyable as other techniques to motivate, consequences of certain actions can also be a motivator to students. Make your expectations clear, and communicate to your student what the consequences will be to certain behavior or work ethic. No one likes to be punished, but when positive reinforcement and lively change ups do not work, sometimes there has to be negative consequences to your student's actions. Keep your students after school if you have to. Communicate with a child's parents if possible and when necessary. Discipline should be a last resort motivator and only used sporadically.

Everyone struggles to be motivated at some point. When you see your students in that place, try some of these fun ways to engage and enliven your class. If all else fails, it may be time for some consequences.

Variety is enjoyable for students and teachers alike. Avoid getting stuck in a rut and your students will probably find themselves motivated without you even trying to make it happen.

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by Susan Verner 512,676 views We have already discussed student motivation before. Here are 10 more ways you can motivate your students today. Children fulfill the expectations that the adults around them communicate. This does not mean that every student will score 100% on every test we write.

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involve students with:

student teaching

well structured question conversation

interactive seminar

individaul thinking and writing exercises

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some things to engage students are physical activities that help kids unleash pent up

energy while others create private thinking time that encourages reflection

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As the beginning of the school year gets underway I ask myself this question:
What learning environment will I provide so that my students can't wait 'til the next class?
I believe that every person is unique and every child can learn, but I recognize that students learn best when engaged â€" where expectations are appropriately challenging within an environment that is both safe and that contributes to the dignity and self-worth of all. Students respond to encouragement and to a structuring of time and activities that reinforces their striving to meet and exceed those expectations while at the same time recognizing their increasing capacity to manage responsibility and independence.

I also believe that engagement depends on quality interactions resulting from connections that happen inside and outside of the classroom.

Here are some of the Connections = Engagement ideas I will use this year to make learning exciting and enjoyable in my Honors Physics classes:

1. I will engage my students by making connections to their passions. Some examples:

Our first major project is to design a special issue for a sports magazine (similar to "Sports Illustrated") for their selected sport. This project will engage them as they construct their knowledge of the concepts of kinematics and forces.

As part of our unit in waves and sound, the students will design and build their own musical instrument. Our last day of school before the holidays in December, my students will create and perform their own Physics Carols.

For the sixth year, my students will participate in the AAPT Photo Contest, taking their own photos and explaining the physics behind them. In the past two years we've had three students showcased at the AAPT Summer Meetings where their photos have been admired by hundreds of physics teachers and professors from around the world.

Take a look at their blog posts where they explain the physics concepts behind their photo projects:

2. I will engage my students by making connections to popular digital games.

Take a look at our classroom bulletin board: Students were thrilled when they found out that I am an Angry Birds fan (who isn't?).

We will have an opportunity to do a quantitative analysis of the game in order to answer some of these questions:

What is the mass of each of the Angry Birds?

What is the gravitational field in Angry Birds world?

Is momentum conserved when the blue bird splits into three?

Does the white bird accurately depicts projectile motion when it drops an egg?

Using energy conservation, calculate the coefficient of restitution when a bird bounces off the wall.

(Thank you to Frank Noschese for the great ideas!)

3. I will engage my students by making connections to the physics concepts through investigations and experimentation.

The development of physics concepts occurs best in a hands-on, inquiry-based environment. My students will design and test their own investigations as opposed to just following directions in cookbook type labs. Here is an example. For the unit of Simple Harmonic Motion, my students will investigate the factors affecting the period of a pendulum. The culminating activity of this unit will be their constructing their own snake pendulum just like this one:

4. I will engage my students by facilitating their connection to the world through their own blogs.

The use of digital tools will afford them the opportunity to deepen their skills in communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creation. At the same time, as part of a connected global community, my students will become self-starters who can model and coach while knowing how to learn and share with transparency and respect.

5. I will engage my students by enabling them to connect their learning progress to our physics learning objectives.

Our current educational systems, in both public and independent schools force the students to focus on their grades as opposed to focusing on their learning. I have modified my grading policy to shift this focus from " getting an A" to " becoming proficient " in physics. I will implement a modified version of performance-based assessment.

My students have received a copy of our Learning Objectives. As we move through the topics they have the responsibility of keeping track of their progress. Their final grades will reflect their most recent learning. One nice caveat of this approach is the opportunity to skip homework assignments if they have mastered a specific topic. (Shhh, don't tell them yet!)

6. I will engage my students by making professional connections:

a. With my colleagues at school.

Working together in vertical and horizontal teams will allow me to bring opportunities for cross-curricular activities that will enrich my students' learning experience.

b. By participating in vibrant learning communities through Twitter and blogs and connecting with members of my PLN (Personal Learning Network) I will continue to grow as a learner and an educator.
I would love to hear your strategies for having your students engaged through connections!
Image credits: Two figures; Heart, Social media

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How I'll Engage My Students as Learners: Six Ways to Make Connections

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I believe that every person is unique and every child can learn, but I recognize that students learn best when engaged â€" where expectations are appropriately challenging within an environment that is both safe and that contributes to the dignity and self-worth of all.

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Engagment is particularly important because it function as a behavioral pathway through

which students motivational process contribute to their subsequent learning development.

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Provide a visaul aid when posssible to explain abstarct concepts

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Friday February 28: Documenting Your Teaching for Promotion & Tenure
3:30 - 5:00 pm
Location: Gore Hall 208

Featuring a panel of recently promoted faculty at all ranks, participants will be able to hear first-hand about how to create successful teaching documents for their dossiers, as well as ask questions of the panelists. Join your colleagues for an informative and supportive discussion, and enjoy refreshments and conversation with faculty from across the university.
This special roundtable is presented in partnership with the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs.

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Center for Teaching and Assessment of Learning | CTAL - WordPress for UD site

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Friday February 28: Documenting Your Teaching for Promotion & Tenure3:30 - 5:00 pm Location: Gore Hall 208 Featuring a panel of recently promoted faculty at all ranks, participants will be able to hear first-hand about how to create successful teaching documents for their dossiers, as well as ask questions of the panelists.