What 'Currency' Motivates Your Students? by Sondra Hennessee https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents Esteem, Self-Actualization, Connection Greater Than Self en-us 2018-02-07 18:44:57 UTC 2018-02-08 18:42:40 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Lightdecrease.png Persuasive Writing https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229537117 Students have to construct a letter to the school board about a relevant topic either in favor of or against a hot-button issue. Examples include closing of schools, adding or deleting sports or fine arts programs, school uniforms, etc.]]> 2018-02-08 13:10:21 UTC https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229537117 https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229537552 We read a book, A Dog's Life in my class. This particular book seemed to appeal to many of my students because it was written from a dog's point of view. Most students' are familiar with dogs as pets and some of the ideas such as a Mama dog teaching her pups to hunt. For my students, getting them interested in reading a book is a trick in itself. Although all can read, they don't put forth the effort to read something that is more lengthy. I was able to pull in comprehension skills, vocabulary and reading fluency among other skills.]]> 2018-02-08 13:11:25 UTC https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229537552 Students were read an article about the environment and banning a particular harmful element. They were then asked if the article justified the claim that it was necessary to eliminate the chemical from the environment. They all voted yes. Then I congratulated them on wiping out the human race. The chemical in question was needed for life to exists. This happened in both regular and GT students. The importance of scientific literacy is extremely important. They will one day be the decision makers in their community, Understanding even basic science is needed to make sound decisions. https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229537721 2018-02-08 13:11:57 UTC https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229537721 https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229538463 On Fridays I regularly use quizizz.com to review material.  I offer a small reward for the top three finishers.  This is a very motivating activity that engages the whole class. ]]> 2018-02-08 13:13:46 UTC https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229538463 I have a section of class unofficially deemed “don’t want lounge” where students that don’t want to participate, behave and WORK, sit and NOT disturb the remaining students. In a matter of 2 weeks, 2 students have made the conscience decision to leave the lounge and “join” the rest of the class. In speaking with one of them privately, he tells me that even though he would really rather NOT work and instead socialize he has come to realize that in order to be successful in the class, and in school in general, he needs to change his focus. Cool, and frankly, delightfully surprising outcome. https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229539551 2018-02-08 13:16:32 UTC https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229539551 I have a section of class unofficially deemed “don’t want lounge” where students that don’t want to participate, behave and WORK, sit and NOT disturb the remaining students. In a matter of 2 weeks, 2 students have made the conscience decision to leave the lounge and “join” the rest of the class. In speaking with one of them privately, he tells me that even though he would really rather NOT work and instead socialize he has come to realize that in order to be successful in the class, and in school in general, he needs to change his focus. Cool, and frankly, delightfully surprising outcome. https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229539646 2018-02-08 13:16:46 UTC https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229539646 heatherbryant https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229598729 Every two weeks I measure students' growth in reading and math. The students are aware of the scores they have received previously on the probes and they know that if they score higher than their highest score, they will receive a reward.]]> 2018-02-08 14:56:59 UTC https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229598729 https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229598922 The lessons where students' curiosity has motivated them most have been hands on lessons. Dissecting frogs, flowers, and earthworms have been highly motivating and interesting to students. My students also love our days of looking at pond water under microscopes. ]]> 2018-02-08 14:57:18 UTC https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229598922 Students chose a Greek god or goddess to conduct research and create a Google Slides to present their findings. The students were intrigued by the upcoming Greek unit in social studies and wanted to learn more. dawnfitts https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229599295 2018-02-08 14:57:54 UTC https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229599295 As we finished a unit I gave an assignment of 7 word problems. Stamps were given to those that worked diligently and correctly. paulawilliams https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229599549 2018-02-08 14:58:18 UTC https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229599549 https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229617192 Students are always interested to learn new notes and rhythms because they know it will lead to being able to play new songs.  Sixth grade is always the most interested in learning these new concepts because they are always looking to be better and learn more.

]]> 2018-02-08 15:23:48 UTC https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229617192 We completed a project about Vienna, Austria, where students created a Google slide show after researching Vienna's famous composers and culture. This helped them connect to European culture to better understand our music system. They were excited to learn about many of the aspects of this culture. https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229617232 2018-02-08 15:23:52 UTC https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229617232 P.E https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229617812 In my Physical Education classes my students take the Practice Pacer Test during first week of class. Students are then given a "Growth Target" to try to reach. "Growth Targets can be adjusted as needed.

]]> 2018-02-08 15:24:46 UTC https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229617812 https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229618179 I like to have my students reflect on their passions and turn those passions into business ventures.]]> 2018-02-08 15:25:18 UTC https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229618179 One lil Jolly Rancher https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229746059 It is amazing what most students will do to compete or do for a tiny piece of candy.  Whether as a reward for hard work, completion, or competition, Jolly Ranchers give some students a purpose or reason to give some effort.]]> 2018-02-08 18:33:16 UTC https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229746059 Argumentative Writing https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229746534 In our Performance Writing books, we read articles about purchasing territory in outer space.  Then, students had to choose their claim based on the writing prompt, "Should people be able to claim territory in Outer Space?"  This sparked curiosity and exploration because students read about Elon Musk and Space X.  The new from Musk's launch sparked interest in this topic that we had been reading and writing about in class.  Many students wanted to "explore" more information about this topic because they were curious.

]]> 2018-02-08 18:34:03 UTC https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229746534 After learning about all 11 human body systems and testing on these systems we dissected frogs and compared their systems to the Human body. Students realized very quickly how this lesson/lab connected everything that they had completed and studied up to that particular point. https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229746808 2018-02-08 18:34:23 UTC https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229746808 Recently we used https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229746963 2018-02-08 18:34:37 UTC https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229746963 https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229747105 Recently, we used manipulatives to help students physically solve equations.  They started to truly engage with challenging problems because they found the work easier by using the math tools.

]]> 2018-02-08 18:34:51 UTC https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229747105 Drugs and Ninjas! https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229748530 Sometimes all you need to get the students curious is to spin it a little differently. Call it a Hook or just a more riveting story telling, but students were curious as to how they were going to learn about drugs (Opium Wars - SC Standard 7-3.6) and ninjas (Boxer Rebellion 7-3.6).]]> 2018-02-08 18:36:54 UTC https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229748530 I tend to interject bits of statistics in my class as students wrap up a final assessment. They get to create data displays that compare classes to see how they perform against their peers. https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229748579 2018-02-08 18:36:59 UTC https://padlet.com/sondrahennessee/MotivatingStudents/wish/229748579