Articles for Teachers
A teacher's role in creating a classroom where students are motivated to learn is paramount to the education process. Students look forward to school when they get to participate in a classroom where the teacher has carefully planned what they will learn and how they will learn it. Motivation in students makes all the difference in the world, and students can be motivated by their teachers to reach heights of excellence in school.
Classroom Organization
Good classroom organization is important for keeping students on-task during planned learning activities. The opposite scenario is a classroom where students spend too much unfocused time goofing off. A teacher must motivate students to learn by setting high expectations and effective teaching procedures for how the classroom should run. This gives students a level of comfort. Once they know what to expect and know proper class procedures, they can turn to learning.
Expecting All to Learn
The classroom is organized and students know how to behave. Now the teacher must set an expectation for all students to learn every day. A teacher must convey her belief that everyone can learn and everything she says must reinforce this belief. If she doesn't believe it and sell it, some students will believe their learning is not important. They will only live up to what the teacher expects, and they won't be motivated to learn.
Caring and Respect
A teacher must also show caring and respect to students. He wants students to believe that he cares about their achievement, but he also wants them to assume responsibility for learning. He can do this by explaining the rationale for rules and lessons and by encouraging self-regulating behaviors that encourage students to take responsibility for their role in the classroom. He models self-regulating behaviors in a caring and respectful manner and gives students enough opportunities to learn those behaviors in class.
Communication
A teacher can use compliance-gaining communication to motivate students. She can talk to students as individuals and provide opportunities for them to use their advanced abilities in making personal choices. Students can move to independent activities when they finish their work. In a well-organized classroom, students are motivated to do a good job on regular work so they can exercise or play if they have time remaining. This regular pattern gives the teacher time to work with students needing extra help.