Skip to main content

Twenty Tips on Motivating Students

By
Few teachers would deny that motivated students are easier to teach, or that students who are interested in learning do, in fact, learn more. So how do teachers motivate their students? Here are some practiced, tried-and true strategies to get (and keep) your students interested in learning.

  1. Know your students' names and use their names as often as possible.
  2. Plan for every class; never try to wing it.
  3. Pay attention to the strengths and limitations of each of your students. Reward their strengths and strengthen their weaknesses.
  4. If possible, set your room in a U-shape to encourage interaction among students.
  5. Vary your instructional strategies; use lectures, demonstrations, discussions, case studies, groups, and more.
  6. Review the learning objectives with your students. Be sure students know what they are expected to learn, do, know, etc.
  7. Move around the room as you teach.
  8. Make your classes relevant. Be sure students see how the content relates to them and the world around them.
  9. Be expressive. Smile.
  10. Put some excitement into your speech; vary your pitch, volume and rate.
  11. Give lots of examples.
  12. Encourage students to share their ideas and comments, even if they are incorrect. You'll never know what students don't understand unless you ask them.
  13. Maintain eye contact and move toward your students as you interact with them. Nod your head to show that you are listening to them.
  14. Provide opportunities for students to speak to the class.
  15. Be available before class starts, during break, and after class to visit with students.
  16. Return assignments and tests to students as soon as reasonably possible. Provide constructive feedback.
  17. Be consistent in your treatment of students.
  18. Make sure that your exams are current, valid, and reliable. Tie your assessment to your course objectives.
  19. Plan around 15-20 minute cycles. Students have difficulty maintaining attention after a longer period of time.
  20. Involve your students in your teaching. Ask for feedback.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

8 Simple Ways To Classroom Collaboration

By
The Collaborative Classroom is a model that honors all teachers and supports all students with intentional, field-tested practices that create safe environments. In Collaborative Classrooms, teachers facilitate an authentic exchange of ideas and children learn to become caring, principled people as well as thoughtful, disciplined learners. Teachers who use the Collaborative Classroom model make an intentional shift from having a classroom where they do the majority of the talking to constructing a learning situation and then facilitating it through student thinking and talking. Teachers are increasingly using digital tools to stay ahead of today’s digitally literate students. Here are eight ways they’re harnessing technology for collaborating with students, both in the classroom and online: 1. Digital Projectors – A LCD projector allows teachers to share digital content with students. The beauty of the digital projector is its versatility—it works with any digital ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Time flies and welcomes exams.

By
If ever there was a time to realize that time flies, it’s now. Well, the stores are not doing any of us favor when they brand their polyethene bags with Christmas trees or the mall putting up Christmas lights. Yes, the year is almost coming to a close and this is the only time we can realize that time flies. In January, we were all wondering how the year will punch us right back. Remember trying to come up with some list of things we’d like to change. How many have we achieved so far? Time is given in equal measure and quantity. If ever there was a gift more powerful than time, then all would be in vain. Many sayings have been coined with time. “Time is money”, “give time time”, “time waits for no man” and so many more. They all mean the same. That time is a very important aspect of life and we really need to understand this. In all its measure and wonder, we are still yet to fathom its meaning let alone its discipline. Philosophy aside, this post was dedicated to the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Revolution of Business and Software.

By
It’s a craze out there. Business is no longer just business anymore. In this 21 st Century, we have seen a revolution that has powered business beyond the realms of the normal. We have seen business move with technology to a point that we cannot differentiate the two anymore. How has software taken over business? How has business evolved? These are some of the questions that we might ask ourselves. Let’s take a look at some few thriving businesses and see what they have in common. Entrepreneurs remind themselves everyday of these companies and they live to be like them. So what does AirBnB, Facebook, Netflix, Alibaba, Instagram and Uber have in common? Simple, AirBnB which is the largest accommodation provider owns no real estate, Facebook which is the most popular media provides no content, Netflix which is the largest growing television network lays no cables, Alibaba which is the most valuable retailer has no inventory, Instagram which is the most valuable photo compan...
Post a Comment
Read more