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Welcome to the Project!
Greetings, friends. This will be the hub for our discussion in EDU 740. I'd like to take this opportunity to say what an honor and a privilege is it to b... awww, who am I kidding? I got stuck running this little show, so now you've got to put up with my sardonic humor between classes! For each section, remember that we need symptoms, a diagnosis, and suggested treatments. The diagnosis should pretty much be the title of the thread, but feel free to create sub-categories or spin-off questions if the mood hits you. The symptoms and treatments will be the bulk of the project.
Now get out there and start blogging!
Now get out there and start blogging!
Chocolate is the fix...it provides endorphines and boosts serotonin levels. Keep feeding the children chocolate! (Teachers too!) -Mary, Debbie, Hope
ReplyDeleteI sit the bag of candy on my desk and the kid can take what it wants. That way I don't get in trouble for giving candy to a kid, he took it when it just happened to be there. (semantics rules!!!) Oriental Trading- squishy bug eyed little rubber toys.
ReplyDeleteNan, would you quit calling the kid an it!! I agree though, just a little bit of sugar or chocolate goes a long way. Anything that is called "reward" is a treasure for an elementary student!
ReplyDeleteI find that motivating students is tricky, especially with gifted underachievers!! I have to work undercover to make my students think they are in control. :) If you can allow ownership to the assignments, students tend to work a little harder.
ReplyDeleteI use a token system to motivate and reward my students. Together my students and I develop a list of behavioral expectations at the beginning of the year. Each day or week, certain behaviors are highlighted and students can earn an “apple” token for being caught exhibiting the behavior. Students can redeem their apples for privileges determined by them. Privileges include 5 minutes of computer time, read to a younger student or another class in the school, run the Smartboard or assist the teacher for the day, bring a friend in during recess for a game or computer time, earn time to read or draw with a friend….. They love these rewards and they are free of cost and calories! This type of reward system works really well with individual students working on specific behaviors. Two important things to remember are allow students’ input on determining privileges and gradually extend the number of times the behavior has to occur before rewarding with tokens. An apple a day....
ReplyDeleteI play games... well, they thing they are just games, but they have educational value. Let's say my goal is to stay in the target language. I set up a goal (we can only slip up twice a class)... if we achieve, they get to play a game that following Monday. We play bingo, jeopardy, simon says, or something else I can come up with. It has worked and the kids like the challenge.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that motivates students in my classroom is actually doing work. You would not believe how many students come and say can we have a free day? blah blah blah let us have a free day. They wind up telling everyone that they did nothing in so and so's class and wonder why they have to be here. I tell my students I don't want to waste their time while they are in the classroom. If they are good enough to come to school, then I am good enough to teach them. Many of them don't want special treatment or "fun things" many of them want the opportunity to learn.
ReplyDeleteMake them think they are learning something they are not suppose to know yet. Competition has also worked for me.
ReplyDeleteGames are wonderful and I often participate with the students. This really gets them going to see if they can stump the teacher! I also use treats of all sorts and I brag on all of them when they are doing a great job. Regardless of the age level, they all love food and a PRAISE!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't get my kids to write in their journals.So I gave out pink happy face stickers, only to those who were working on their journals. When I later read them, all those who did not receive one wrote in their journals how upset they were not to have received one. Unbelievable. They are sophomores and juniors!!
ReplyDeleteI've tried setting aside time to call parents of students who are doing a great job in class. The first time I did this I learned that many parent screen their calls. I would have to leave a message. Surpisingly enough, as I was praising the student in my message parents would pick up the phone to talk to me. Students always come in the next day saying "you called my parents!" They were always surprised that I would call to say good things about them. This was highly motivating. It has the added bonus of making other phone calls concerning problems much easier to handle because you've already developed a relationship with the parent from the previous call.
ReplyDeleteI've also asked students if they would like me to tell a teacher good things about them. They all have their favorite teacher whose approval matters a lot to them.
Why is it so difficult to get students to complete homework these days? Is it still important for kids to have homework?
ReplyDelete