Finally, and this is a big one, how do you praise these students? First, observe them. Find evidence of quality work. For example, “That is a powerful topic sentence.” Remember, these students are so used to being the focus of what they are not doing. You need to focus not on a particular behavior, but on a specific aspect of their work that they value; otherwise it will be fake praise.
This quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupery says it all: “If you want to build a ship, don’t recruit the men to gather the wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.”
The ultimate goal is to find that spark in every student so that they can yearn to learn. We are all motivated to do something, adults and children alike. All of us are more excited to learn when we have some autonomy, when we are connected to the task with relationship and/or purpose and when we receive accurate and timely feedback. When we find that small sense of success, then the yearn to learn has begun and the myth of demotivation has disappeared.
The College of Education helps prepare our students to become highly effective educators. Learn more about our philosophy and our degree programs by visiting our website or contacting us using the Request More Information button on this page.
References
- Barish, Ken, PhD. “He’s Not Motivated Part I.” April 2012. Retrieved from com/blog/pride-and-joy/201204/he-s-not- motivated-part-i
More About Dr. Knight:
Stephanie Knight, EdD, is an experienced 7th and 8th grade English Language Arts educator. She inspires students to think critically and creatively. With that, she loves to see her students grow in their writing with expressive flair. She, herself, continues to work on her own writing process. Stephanie earned her Bachelor of Science in Business at the University of Colorado in Boulder, her certification in K-8, 7-12, English as a second language, English, Principal, and her doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Arizona State University. She taught in Title One schools for eight years helping them grow from underperforming to excelling, then in an independent school, and now is part of GCU’s adjunct faculty where she teaches graduate level education and reading courses. She continues to be committed to seeing the next generation of teachers be successful in educating our youth to a bright future.