Motivation in the Classroom

Our Future

As we all know, the future of our world resides with the children of today. There is an ever present fire for education to provide services which will enhance the lives of our children. It is wonderful that we recognize the need to make our future brighter and better. However, how do we achieve this high stilted goal?

Changing Perspectives

I think that is it important to build relationships with fellow colleagues. During one of my many conversations this week another teacher shared some wonderful words of wisdom with me. There is an inherent need to change how our students view of school. Instead of viewing school as a place where students are forced to attend and follow the guidelines which are in place with curriculum, we need to show students why coming to school is important. We need to teach students how understanding and taking lessons into their own hands will be the greatest life lesson ever achieved. As an educator, I need to be the sole inspiration and support for what drives learning.

The challenge? Not all students come from a background where education is an important factor. School is free daycare. Education is no longer a gift and a place to test and strengthen abilities. The education system is largely a place where students can be safe from the horrors of home. These kiddos are the ones who need the most help. I believe that this challenge can be overcome. A Utopian view? You betcha. Obtainable? Of course, but this will take a lot of work. In the end all the hard work of shifting the views of students will pay off. Even if the shift in perspective is only marginal.

What We Aim For:

Shawn Cornally is a high school teacher and he has discovered a shift in the perspective of school. He is a wonderful inspiration to his students and fellow educators.

Shawn makes the point of how some students quit trying to do their best because of one error that happened in the past. He calls this the level of overjustification. Students should always be able to find the reward of completing an assignment and doing their best work. Just as we, adults, feel proud when we accomplish something that we have put our heart and soul in to, so do students. Education needs to be shifted over to the students so they can make and create assignments which will showcase a work they are proud of producing. This does not mean that total control of the classroom lies in the hands of the students. The point is that the education taking place in the classroom may be outlined by the teacher and supported by the teacher, but the learning rests on the students based upon their findings in the provided material. The material which is tested on provided by a curriculum company may not truly show the depth of knowledge of a student. Instead, we should focus lessons on taking a student from not knowing content to understanding content, and understanding it well.