Motivation is Key
I've found that motivation is a two way street. We are taught we must find what motivates our students, while in turn my students actually motivate me. When they get excited because they have had that "A-HA!" moment and when we start to dialect back and forth on certain topics, it shows me that they get it and that is what motivates me!
LaTanya,
You are right about that. This why teaching is so much fun. We get to share our passion for our field with others and get paid for it. What's not to like?
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Definitelly that is one of the most important goals when I teach, because motivating my students means make them aware about their learning process, change their actitud toward the subject, and make the class time an enjoyable time.
Alexandra,
You make a very key point about how motivation needs to be present if students are going to stay engaged. The more activities, examples and experiences we can offer our students the better because they start to get excited about why they are in the program they are and how it will impact their future.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
What do you do when you have a class that you can't motivate I've had some groups that just wants a grad doesn't matter how low the grad is.
Tim,
You do all of the things that you know of to increase their engagement and motivation. I have found as have you though that there are some students that cannot or won't be reached by anything that I do. I continue to work hard with these students but I focus on my engaged students and enjoy their success. This way my negative students don't bring me down or take away from my enjoyment as an educator.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
When students are not motivated to learn, the teacher may feel a sense of failure and be less motivated. So yes, it is a two way street.
April,
This is a good point to consider. I am always sad when a student does not complete my class but it is still on the student to be successful. He or she must do the work and meet the standards of the course, if they don't then there are consequences that must be faced. I will provide them support but I will not compromise the requirements of the course. To do that would be unfair to the student since they would not be competent at the level that is required of our field. They need to understand that and if they chose to fail then they live with that choice.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
