So right now i have the opportunity to go to a certain high school in the Hattiesburg public school district. At this high school i constantly see students not doing their work, not caring, ditching class, trying to get the teacher off topic, etc. This past week when i was there, i almost fell asleep in one of the classes i was observing. My eyes were literally getting so heavy, and i was STANDING UP! This immediately began to make me mad. The teachers of this school are doing NOTHING to make school fun, interesting, and desirable for these students. They tell the students to turn to a page in their book, do the work and turn it in, all while they are seated at their desk eating, talking on the phone, and playing games on the computer! These teachers are feeding the fire of destruction in each of these students lives. These students and teachers are all stuck in this bubble and world that they complain about constantly yet do nothing to better themselves. These students don't even know how to better themselves, because the very people who are supposed to help them and teach them how, are holding them back! UGH! It angers me. I know everyone really doesn't care to read my dissertation on this so i will move on.
Needless to say, motivation is very important to me. I believe school should be fun, something students look forward to, and feel held accountable for. School should be the place where students learn not only their academics, but who they are, what they love, and how to do exactly what it is they want to do. Nothing makes me more angry then week after week watching this one student in particular look like he is so miserable he would rather be dead! This is where the teachers come in. We as teachers need to provide an environment for our students where they feel challenged, yet not intimidated. They need to be motivated, assisted, and guided when doing their work. Every student needs to feel that they are a needed and valuable part of the community of learners. This is when students begin to learn, and desire to explore the world of knowledge around them.
Something in the book that made me say AMEN!
"Teachers who are skillful in understanding their students as individuals and a product of their experiences are in a good position to motivate. When teachers fail to acknowledge what students know, they risk alienating them by ignoring a big part of their personal identity."
(Pg.190 under "The prior knowledge-Motivation Connection)
First of all just the heading makes my heart happy. Of course there is a prior knowledge motivation connection. Not every student is going to be motivated the same way. Not every students is going to be motivated for the same things. Find out what the students enjoy, what they are good at, and what will wake them up in the morning excited to go to school. For some students it is as simple as getting an A on their report card. For some students, its getting a better grade than their friend. For some its race cars and dirt bikes, others may be horses and teddy bares! For some students, the teacher needs to dig around and see what experiences they have that they can use to motivate them. "When teachers fail to acknowledge what students know, they risk alienating them by ignoring a big part of their personal identity." This is some good stuff!!!!!
