Tips From a Teacher: How to Motivate Today's Students

As a teacher I am constantly looking for new and different ways to motivate my students to learn. Today's student is different from when even I was a student in school. So it is important to me as a teacher to seek out ways to challenge and encourage my students (every student) to succeed.

I did a little research and gathered some information on this topic. Most of my information comes from an article in the Clearinghouse onEducational Management (University of Oregon) and Education World. Both articles helped me discover that there are many things that can help me, help motivate my students to learn. As I read both of the articles, I learned that I was already doing some of the things recommended. I also learned some new ideas as well.

I have learned a great way to motivate my students. I must be excited about teaching. I must also be excited about my students learning as well. My excitement is sure to rub off. If we are to be a model to our students, teachers need to show we are motivated and excited about learning as well.

In one of the articles there was a teacher that explained that a great way to motivate his students was to give them choices. He would assign some math problems and tell his students to choose to do the even numbered problems or the odd numbered problems. He would then say if you are a really hard worker you could finish all the problems. He claimed ninety percent of his class usually did all the problems. This identified the students as "really hard workers." I tried this in my classroom and it works!