Thursday, June 9, 2011

motivation

What motivates people who do not want to be motivated?  Taking things away or setting higher standards... I'm not sure. I have a mental list of what I want to attempt or to possibly conquer, but what I desire for myself is probably not the desires of others. All I can do is share my aspirations and show I am not afraid to stretch , hope or possibly fail. I am supposed to be a positive role model not a hands off do nothing to improve myself poor example. I think that the best motivator for my students is to be involved and communicate the fact that my future lies with them.  I have found that with even my "troubled" students, if they knew they were disappointing me they at least tried to be better - behaviorally if nothing else. In the high school  ( it seems to me that) once you gain trust and the individual has a sense of place- motivation soon follows.

4 comments:

  1. That was one of the first lessons I learned as a high school remedial teacher. The students needed to know I felt they could achieve, that I expected them to achieve, and that I knew that it was their choice to succeed or fail. They also taught me to value different types of success. One student agreed to read a book if I played in the student faculty basketball game. It was hard to hold up my end of the deal. My blood pressure was so high I couldn't give blood. Irealized that was how he felt about academics involving reading.

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  2. I agree that I need to gain my students' trust first. Now that I have taken them to the media center once, I hope more of them will allow me to help them select appropriate books. I try to choose books that will keep them on the edge of their seats.

    Also, it was funny reading Barb's comment to you. I just can't see Barb on the basketball court. What we won't do to help our students???

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  3. I forgot to tell you that I love your virtual kitty. The best part was making Maukie purr. I wonder if Maukie likes my kitty with the glasses.

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