Sunday, April 4, 2010
MOTIVATING STUDENTS
Last school year I had some students who did not care about completing classwork, homework or any type of work to achieve a grade. I observed that I had quite a few students who didn't care about learning, more over to get work done. When I gave them homework, most of them did not turn it in. I realized that if these students continued with this attitude, they would be in for big trouble when it was time for the SOL exams. Even though I gave them incentives and praises when they did well or answered questions correctly, I knew that they needed more than that. I realized that they needed motivation, love, and attention as most of them said that they were going to fail anyway.I started encouraging my worse behaving students to attend afterschool remediation and gave them special incentives for attending as this was the time that I could give them more individual attention. I told them that they can achieve anything they want achieve in life if they just stay in school and work hard. I constantly told them how smart they were and that they will get a higher grade on their next test. These were the students who told me that other adults said, "You will not become anything in life and will drop out of school eventually". These students actually believed that they did not have a chance in society because they were dumb. Well I turned that around and almost all those students passed their 2009 SOL test and have moved on to the next grade. Everytime I see them, I continue to encourage them to do their best.So if any of you have students who think that they will not make it, just continue to encourage and praise them in class. Place them the spotlight when they do well or answer a question correctly. Remind them of how smart they are and how they can achieve anything they want to achieve if they believe in themselves.
Posted by Almarie at 3:46 PM
Labels: Almarie Ferguson
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Those students were lucky to have a teacher who was willing to make that extra effort! Just imagine where we would be if students were ALWAYS treated in such a positive way. Keep up the good work!!
ReplyDeleteThis is so true of soooo many of our students. They just need someone to believe in them and think higher of them than they do of themselves. Tara is right - imagine what could happen if all their teachers were as encouraging as you!
ReplyDeleteWOW.... I love your attitude. It just shows you what can be done. Almarie.... I have 10 things I do to motivate students... Have a look at http://www.thebigpicture.eu.com/blog/2010/02/how-not-to-motivate-students/
ReplyDeleteIt's true what you said about many young people not having motivation, love, and attention.... we all need it.... desperately. It's why i have a career !! www.thebigpicture.eu.com