Teachers know that engaging and inspiring students initially requires building positive relationships and creating relevant learning experiences. Yet other key actions also matter: setting realistic expectations, creating a needs-satisfying classroom, and teaching students to self-evaluate and self-moderate. Students who are motivated and see meaning in what they learn progress faster and to higher levels, even when they start with knowledge or skill gaps. In fact, focusing on motivation and meaning is a classroom strategy that is often underutilized.
On this episode of the Whole Child Podcast, we’ll take a look at how teachers can spark inner motivation in all students—from those who are disengaged from school to those who strive to succeed—and create meaningful connections that get students excited about learning.
Listen to the episode below or download it here.
Panelists
- Richard Curwin is an author, trainer, speaker, and experienced education practitioner who is known internationally for providing thousands of educators and parents with practical, proven ideas to effectively manage children’s behavior in a manner that respects the dignity of each individual. Curwin is cocreator of the internationally recognized Discipline with Dignity program and coauthor of the book with the same title. Curwin’s recent publications include Meeting Students Where They Live: Motivation in Urban Schools, Affirmative Classroom Management: How do I develop effective rules and consequences in my school?, and the article “Can Assessments Motivate?” in this month’s issue of Educational Leadership. He is currently the director of the master’s program in behavior disorder at David Yellin College in Israel.
- Ashanti Foster is the academic dean at Oxon Hill Middle School in Ft. Washington, Maryland. She has been a national staff developer for 13 years, providing teaching and learning experiences to students and teachers of Prince George’s County Public Schools and beyond, and is also a National Board–certified teacher and an ASCD Emerging Leader. In addition to her roles in the education field, she is also a Girl Scout troop leader, blogger, dancer, wife, and mother of six. Connect with Foster on Twitter @NBCTeacherMommy.
- John Hines is a world history and AVID teacher at Todd Beamer High School in Federal Way, Washington. He is the vice president of the Washington State Council for the Social Studies, an ASCD Emerging Leader, and a proud, lifelong resident of Tacoma, Washington. Connect with Hines on Twitter @jhhines57.
How do you encourage effort and spark motivation for learning with your students?
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The Whole Child Podcast: Changing the Conversation about Education seeks to inform and engage educators, parents, and community members about what works in today’s schools. Guests include educational leaders, practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and students from around the globe who share their insights about sound education policies and practices that ensure that each student is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.
