50 ways to motivate kids.So often you tell us that motivation is the key to everything you do in the classroom. You want to motivate kids to read, write, and solve problems. You want to inspire them to take pride in a fluently-read paragraph or a simple act of kindness. You hope that your encouragement will help students to find their passions so they can become lifelong learners. It's an important job, and a big one. That's why we surveyed veteran teachers and experts for their tips on reaching kids. Everything's here, from advice on helping children to eat healthier to getting them to pick up a book. We hope this special back-to-school guide will serve as a resource throughout the year, as you turn a new group of kids onto learning. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 6 INSPIRING GROUND RULES 1 Here's a secret: You are your own most powerful motivational tool. Get to know each child as an individual. Let them know you. Building a cheerful community will set the stage for effective learning. 2 Run the classroom as a lead manager, not a boss. Focus on explaining what is expected, and how to meet those expectations, rather than threatening or punishing kids who don't comply. 3 Plan assignments that encourage critical thinking. When studying the American Revolution American Revolution, 1775–83, struggle by which the Thirteen Colonies on the Atlantic seaboard of North America won independence from Great Britain and became the United States. It is also called the American War of Independence. , have students role play journalists writing about the Boston Tea Party Boston Tea Party, 1773. In the contest between British Parliament and the American colonists before the Revolution, Parliament, when repealing the Townshend Acts, had retained the tea tax, partly as a symbol of its right to tax the colonies, partly to aid the . Kids are motivated by lessons built upon big ideas and by hands-on activities. 4 Focus on motivation to achieve, not motivation to avoid failure. Set realistic goals in small steps so students can experience success. To build confidence, praise progress and effort. 5 To motivate struggling students, get to know their individual strengths and weaknesses. You may need to make instructional and curricular adjustments more than motivational adjustments. Be ready to reduce the curriculum and accept reasonable effort--not just 100% effort all the time. 6 Rather than material rewards, talk about quality of life rewards from learning. That's what's important and what we can lose sight of. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] --JERE BROPHY, AUTHOR OF MOTIVATING STUDENTS TO LEARN 5 WAYS TO TEACH HEALTHY EATING 1 Have kids look at their lunches and group the items into the food pyramid food pyramid or Food Guide Pyramid, diagram used in nutrition education that fits food groups into a triangle and notes that, for a healthful diet, those at the base should be eaten more frequently than those at the top. . They'll see where they fall short and can make goals for the day, week, or year. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2 Stay away from talking about foods as "good" or "bad." Try calling desserts "once-in-awhile foods," and apples and carrots "all-the-time foods." 3 Try taste tests in class: Compare skim, whole, and two percent milk and see if you can tell the difference. 4 Plant a school garden. If you have a plot, the possibilities are endless. In the classroom, you can grow radishes, carrots, and herbs. 5 Don't use food as a reward. Try stickers, pencils, or extra recess time. And never punish kids by withholding recess or requiring extra physical activity. Kids follow our lead! --ANDREA GIANCOLI, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION The American Dietetic Association (ADA) is the United States' largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, with nearly 65,000 members. Approximately 75 % of ADA's members are registered dietitians and about 4 % are dietetic technicians, registered. 5 MOTIVATION SECRETS FROM TEACHERS 1 Give students the chance to contribute to your school. At my previous school, we developed a program where our 5th and 6th graders volunteered at 14 different school jobs. Office assistants sorted mail and answered the phones, the activity crew set up the sound system, and tour guides greeted visitors. Kids felt a part of the school and had a sense of purpose. Over two years, attendance improved and discipline referrals dropped.--DR. PAM NEWELL BRADLEY, MUSKOGEE 7TH AND 8TH CENTER, MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee CountyGR6. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh largest city in Oklahoma. 2 Connect learning to real life. Our students do a major "budget project" in which they research a career, buy a house and a car, and pay bills. The kids do stellar work and see math in the English classroom and the value of English skills in math. We do similar activities in social studies and science. --MICHELLE DAVIS Davis, city (1990 pop. 46,209), Yolo co., central Calif.; settled in the 1850s, inc. 1917. It is an education center with light industry; machinery, processed foods, and computer equipment are produced. The extensive Univ. , LANGUAGE ARTS language arts pl.n. The subjects, including reading, spelling, and composition, aimed at developing reading and writing skills, usually taught in elementary and secondary school. TEACHERS, IMPERIAL MIDDLE SCHOOL, LAHABRA, CALIFORNIA 3 We held a student skating skating: see ice skating; ice dancing; roller skating. skating Sport in which bladelike runners or sets of wheels attached to shoes are used for gliding on ice or on surfaces other than ice. party after the state assessments. Students who were "caught" using their "super test skills"--highlighting, underlining un·der·lin·ing n. 1. The act of drawing a line under; underscoring. 2. Emphasis or stress, as in instruction or argument. , and rereading--received special recognition. The next time, we noticed an increase in the use of these important strategies.--TERI FULTON, NEW CHELSEA ELEMENTARY, KANSAS CITY, KANSAS Kansas City, Kansas (KCK) is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Wyandotte County (WyCo); it is part of the "Unified Government"[2] which also includes the cities of Bonner Springs and Edwardsville. 4 Hold a poetry slam poetry slam n. A spoken-word poetry competition. ! When kids are given opportunities to perform and share in a public forum, they rise to the challenge. They put out their best effort to express themselves, and it takes the learning to a much deeper place.--SARAH FITZPATRICK, MERCER MIDDLE SCHOOL Mercer Middle School is the name of several schools in the United States:
 This page is protected from moves until disputes have been resolved on the .The reason for its protection is listed on the protection policy page. 5 I motivate my students with Fun Money. They earn class currency when they are showing responsibility, being caring of their classmates Classmates can refer to either:
--MIMI BLACKWELDER, DESTINY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL A Christian School is a school run on Christian principles or by a Christian organization. The nature of Christian schools varies enormously from country to country according to the religious, educational, and political culture. , SEAFORD, DELAWARE Seaford is a city located along the Nanticoke River in Sussex County, Delaware. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 6,997.[] 4 TIPS FOR KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS 1 Set up a learning environment that gives students with special needs an opportunity to succeed--and to bring home good grades. Differentiate: Make learning goals appropriate (and As and Bs achievable) for all. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2 Shorten the length of assignments when possible. If completion seems achievable, students will be much more motivated to keep trying. 3 Spend more time explaining assignments. Often, students with special needs may appear "unmotivated" but are actually unclear what to do or how to get it done. Walk through the assignments step-by-step. 4 Give special needs students the opportunity to work in groups and to take leadership roles. Participation fosters friendship, self-esteem, and motivation to succeed. --DR. GEORGE GIULIANI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS 5 TIPS FOR HELPING KIDS REACH OUT 1 As a class, try to identify community needs by brain-storming together about issues, conducting a survey to ask what kids' greatest concerns are, giving them a list to rank, or reading the local newspaper to find stories that point to community problems. 2 Check with your local Volunteer Center to find age appropriate and youth-friendly volunteer opportunities in your community by calling 1-800-VOLUNTEER or visiting www.1800volunteer.org. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 3 Consider common avenues for getting youth involved: * Working with other youth * Running drives * Working with the environment * Working with seniors * Working with hunger and homelessness. 4 Check out Kids Care Clubs, a program of the Points of Light Foundation, designed to develop compassion and the spirit of service in elementary-and middle-school-aged youth. Go to www.kidscare.org for information on new service projects each month centered on issues such as literacy, hunger, poverty and the elderly. You'll find instructions, meeting activities, related resources, and possible partners. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 5 Tie service into the seasons. The Seasons of Service (www.pointsoflight.org/programs/seasons) include national opportunities for students to volunteer for service projects and activities throughout the year, including Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, National Youth Service Day, National Volunteer Week, and Join Hands Day. In addition to the traditional holiday season, students can practice good deeds on Valentine's Day Valentine's Day: see Saint Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day Lovers' holiday celebrated on February 14, the feast day of St. Valentine, one of two 3rd-century Roman martyrs of the same name. St. , Earth Day, Veteran's Day, and during Random Act of Kindess Week. --KATHY SAULITIS, DIRECTOR, POINTS OF LIGHT FOUNDATION 3 IDEAS TO HOOK THEM ON BOOKS 1 Children like to read what they are familiar with. So expose kids to a little bit about a lot of books. Every day, share one fiction book, one non-fiction, and one that is something else, such as poetry. Hold it up and talk about it. Then put the books in your library and watch the kids snatch snatch removal of a newborn animal from the dam before it has an opportunity to suck. The objective is to rear it independently and free of colostrum-borne infection or of colostral antibodies. them up. You'll introduce them to 15 books a week. 2 Start a "Beloved Books Library." Ask for donations of gently used books from a non-profit or church. Create a library of about 200 books that can be used as gifts for students. On special occasions, give one to each student. Personalize per·son·al·ize tr.v. per·son·al·ized, per·son·al·iz·ing, per·son·al·iz·es 1. To take (a general remark or characterization) in a personal manner. 2. To attribute human or personal qualities to; personify. it with a name plate. It communicates that books and reading are highly valued. 3 Follow up silent reading with a "quick share." Have kids turn to a partner and tell something interesting, exciting, or puzzling about what they just read. They'll be more motivated to pick up the book again.--LINDA GAMBRELL, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF IRA Ira, in the Bible Ira (ī`rə), in the Bible. 1 Chief officer of David. 2, 3 Two of David's guard. IRA, abbreviation IRA. 5 HEART-THUMPING ENERGY BOOSTERS 1 Get into the groove with an active lifestyle by enrolling students and teachers in the President's Challenge, sponsored by the President's Council on Physical Fitness. You can win awards for daily physical activity. Go to www.fitness.gov for details. 2 Use a map to set a walking goal for your class. For example, find out how many miles from one border of your state to the other and over the course of the year try to log that distance as a class. Walk some at school and encourage kids to continue walking at home. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 3 Try teaching different types of dance in school, such as Latin jazz Latin jazz is the general term given to music that combines rhythms from African and Latin American countries with jazz and classical harmonies from Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and United States. The two main categories of Latin Jazz are Brazilian and Afro-Cuban. and rumba, to make it funky funky - Said of something that functions, but in a slightly strange, klugey way. It does the job and would be difficult to change, so its obvious non-optimality is left alone. Often used to describe interfaces. and cool for children to get moving. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 4 Make sure kids are actually playing and being active at recess and not just sitting around chatting. Encourage games and movement. Appoint a child to be the "fitness hero" for the day. Have him or her come up with fun movements on the playground. "Something that is peer-to-peer is most successful." 5 Bring in a high-profile person to motivate kids to be physically active. Check out the C.H.E.E.R. for Character Program, where the Harlem Globe Trotters do school assemblies in the 200 cities where they play games each winter. --MELISSA JOHNSON, DIRECTOR, PRESIDENTS COUNCIL ON PHYSICAL FITNESS AND SPORTS 6 MARILYN BURNS Mary Lynn Ann Burns (July 5, 1955) is an American actress, perhaps best known for her role in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974). Burns was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, and raised in Houston, Texas. She always had an interest in the arts. MATH MOTIVATORS 1 Success comes from understanding what you're doing, not just doing things by rote rote 1 n. 1. A memorizing process using routine or repetition, often without full attention or comprehension: learn by rote. 2. Mechanical routine. . Explain concepts rather than drill. 2 Math is not everybody's favorite thing. If math isn't your favorite thing, don't let your students know. You want the "I can" attitude. 3 Give kids a mental math problem. Have the kids think about the answer to themselves, then talk to a partner about it. It gives all of the students the chance to air their thoughts. 4 Pose problems that lend themselves to different strategies. After they've had a chance to think on their own, see how many ways there were for finding the answer. For example, ask if kids can think of three numbers that add up to 100. 5 Use children's books to motivate students to think mathematically. Students love being read to and books provide rich sources for learning math. Use references to numbers to encourage them to make predictions or solve problems based on the story. 6 Play math games, especially when the games involve some kind of strategic thinking.--MARILYN BURNS, FOUNDER OF MATH SOLUTIONS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (WWW.MATHSOLUTIONS.COM (1) (Computer Output Microfilm) Creating microfilm or microfiche from the computer. A COM machine receives print-image output from the computer either online or via tape or disk and creates a film image of each page. ) 4 INSPIRING TRUE STORIES 1 Once a month, I take 12 students for a limo ride and lunch with the principal--me! Only students with a record of positive behavior for the month--according to their teachers--are eligible for the drawing. The limo company donates the service for free, as do area restaurants.--FRAN DONALDSON, DEEP RUN ELEMENTARY, ELK RIDGE, MARYLAND [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2 Videotaping is a great tool for class self-assessment. I set up the camera and let it record my classroom for a couple of hours. Then we review it together and make observations. Are students listening to each other, talking out of turn, etc.? By capturing moments in the classroom, we can see them more clearly and make improvements together.--SARAH FITZPATRICK, MERCER MIDDLE SCHOOL, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 3 An old-fashioned debate is a great motivator. We have two or three a year. My fifth-graders vote on the topics and I divide them into teams. They spend weeks researching and preparing questions before the big event. Debates allow students to be active participants in charge of their own learning. When we're finished, we write a class book. --JACKIE LEVENSON, OAKLAND GARDENS SCHOOL, BAYSIDE bay·side adj. Situated very close to or on the shore of a bay: bayside cottages. , NEW YORK New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of 4 I have come to the conclusion that the best overall, all-around motivation tool is authentic student success. If we set clear goals and expectations for students and then do everything possible to see that they achieve their goals, they become successful. This success motivates kids to feel proud of themselves and do even more. What more could we want?--DAVE MONTAGUE, WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY, KENNEWICK, WASHINGTON Kennewick is a city in Benton County in southeastern Washington. It is the most populous of the three cities collectively referred to as the Tri-Cities (the others being Pasco and Richland). PHOTOS: GREG LORD; STYLING: JEFF Jeff boob who usually bungles Mutt’s schemes. [Comics: Berger, 48] See : Dimwittedness STYLES; GROOMING: JENNIFER WOBITO "When kids know that you believe in their potential, it's a potent motivator." --George Giutiani "False praise doesn't work. We need to give kids opportunities for authentic success." --Dave Montague RELATED ARTICLE: 3 Teachers' Favorite Motivation Mottos 1 Attitudes are contagious contagious /con·ta·gious/ (-jus) capable of being transmitted from one individual to another, as a contagious disease; communicable. con·ta·gious adj. 1. Of or relating to contagion. . Is yours worth catching? 2 When things go wrong, you don't have to go with them. 3 It is better to fail trying than it is to fail to try. |
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