Hi All!
One of the best ways that I have found to increase student's intrinsic motivation is to ask students if they felt good about finishing their work. By verbally discussing the good feelings that my kids get for finishing their tasks it serves as a reminder that we feel good without an extrinsic reward for it. Another conversation that I have had with some students is about their leadership role in the classroom. I talk to my students about how they are a leader in the room and that because of this I hold them to a higher standard. The students like being called a leader and I think that the title really weighs on them when they are trying to decide whether or not they will break a rule. It really is the little things that build work ethic and intrinsic motivation. The things that I do to build this are always positive things. I don't believe that criticism of misbehavior's help the students to improve in this aspect.
Julie
You share some pertinent examples of ways to promote intrinsic motivation so students move beyond "I'm doing this for a grade, or so my teacher likes me, or so my parents are happy with me", to the more substantial idea that learning (or leading or behaving well) has deeper value.
ReplyDeleteSome language I like to use with students include, "How did you figure that out?" • "What did you struggle with today and how did you solve the problem?"• "I notice that . . . " • "Why do you think you were able to do this?"
The effect on students' sense of agency ("I did this, and it was because of something specific I did to make it happen--it wasn't just luck!") is immediate when you start using noticing language and coach kids to name what they do as learners.