Rethinking Student Motivation by Joanna Snodgrass

Joanna Snodgrass- My "Milkshake Moment"

snodgrass_j — 2015-01-24 16:15:44 UTC

Over last summer, I completed my pre-student teaching experience within Souderton School District during the ESY program. This school is Souderton was an hour away from my home in Willow Grove, sometimes and hour and a half depending on traffic. Needless to say, I was constantly in need of filling up my gas tank. About fifteen minutes away from the school, there was a Super Wawa. I innocently went there to get gas for the drive home, but then stopped in last minute to grab a quick candy bar to keep me occupied for the forty-five minute drive I had ahead of me. This turned in to getting a quick snack almost every day after my internship had lead out. By the end of the internship, I had gotten an actual hoagie lunch along with a candy bar to keep me occupied for the drive. I justified in my head that grabbing a quick hoagie to eat at home would be the easiest and most convenient option as I often had to go to my other job within an hour of returning home from Souderton. Reading this article made me reflect on this experience as I am definitely guilty of getting a quick-snack to keep me entertained on a "long, boring commute" (pg. 4).

Joanna Snodgrass- What "jobs" will my students require from me?

snodgrass_j — 2015-01-24 16:27:15 UTC

As I continue my educational career, I believe my students will require the job of creating hands-on and engaging lesson plans from me to help them learn in a way that is engaging and interactive. Using creative websites like Pinterest and TeachersPayTeachers will definitely help me accomplish this task. My students will also require time being allowed for group work or collaborative learning strategies that will help me respect their need for time spent with friends and social interaction. Lastly, I also believe my students will require regular feedback that is both constructive and positive so they can be aware of their strengths in a way that helps them feel successful. The article had mentioned that "teachers and administrators hold education as the job. It is not" (pg. 13). I believe this is an interesting point because it is my responsibility as the teacher to understand the jobs that my students are expecting from me so that I can reach the needs of all students within my classroom, and help them reach their highest learning potential.

Joanna Snodgrass- What did I "hire" to get tasks or goals accomplished?

snodgrass_j — 2015-01-24 16:38:38 UTC

Throughout my grade-school and high-school education, I often hired involvement with sports in order to allow me to spend time with friends and feel accomplished. I took pride in playing on the same team as my friends, and had a great sense of school spirit and personal confidence if our team succeeded. This occurred in high school when I was on the track team often, but I also found using a part-time job as something I could hire in order to get goals such as acquiring money and spending time with friends accomplished. Both of these activities led to personal feelings of fulfillment when I won a race or received a raise, and they both allowed me to see my friends on a regular basis. Also, throughout both activities, I would often receive feedback on progress, which acted as a huge motivation for me. These life experiences help me better understand the article as it describes the "challenge of student motivation" (pg. 13). I definitely believe that students need regular and meaningful feedback and time spent doing what interests them in order to reach their fullest potential within the classroom.

Gwynedd Mercy University

snodgrass_j — 2015-01-24 16:53:40 UTC

I also have always loved school, and it is a huge motivator for me to keep following my career path!

TeachersPayTeachers

snodgrass_j — 2015-01-24 16:55:20 UTC

This is also a highly helpful resource that allows me to create fun and engaging lesson plans for my students. I highly recommend this resource to all teachers, especially because it has so many helpful (and free) downloads!

Motivational Quotes

snodgrass_j — 2015-01-24 16:57:29 UTC

I also really find motivational quotes and messages help me get through some of the toughest school days. This quote is one of my all-time favorites!

Motivational Posters

snodgrass_j — 2015-01-24 17:05:23 UTC

I also am a huge advocate for having motivational posters on display within the classroom. Apart from making the room seem welcoming and adding color, these posters also act as subtle motivators for students. In my fourth and fifth grade year the teacher had a motivational poster that truly stuck out to me. It said this: