Transcript Understanding and Motivating Students

Understanding and
Motivating Students
Responsibility in the Classroom: A
Teacher’s Guide to Understanding and
Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Do you know a student who
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seeks attention or is susceptible to peer
pressure?
seeks power to control others or is
defiant?
seeks revenge or hurts others?
gives up easily or avoids tasks?
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Motivate Students By Giving
Them What They Need
The Four C’s
Connection- having the sense of belonging
Capability -having the ability to take
care of oneself
Counting -having the knowledge that one
can make a difference
Courage -believing one can handle what comes
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Motivate Students By Giving
Them What They Need
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The Four C’s
Connection-having the sense of belonging
Capability—having the ability to take care
of oneself
Counting—having the knowledge that one
can make a difference
Courage—believing one can handle what
comes
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
What are you currently doing
to help your students feel…
connected?
 capable?
 as though they count?
 courageous?
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Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
The Need to be Connected
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Survival depends on our ability to bond.
Through development we must move from total
dependency to interdependency.
Move from being dependent, to being someone
upon whom others can depend.
Children who don’t connect in constructive
ways feel insecure/isolated, seek attention
and are more susceptible to peer pressure.
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Connections
Children who feel
connected…
“I believe that
I belong.”
feel secure
 can reach out
 can make friends
 can cooperate
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Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
The Need to Develop
Competence and Feel Capable
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Upon moving from dependence to
interdependence, one must develop the ability
to be independent (some degree of selfsufficiency in performing certain tasks).
The foundation of feeling competent and
capable comes with the ability to take care of
oneself.
Children who don’t feel capable may try to
seek power, control others and/or become
defiant.
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Capable
Children who believe
they are capable…
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feel competent
have self-control
and self-discipline
assume
responsibility.
are self-reliant
“I believe I can
do that.”
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
The Need for SignificanceThe Belief That One Counts
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We want to feel we make a difference, that our
existence matters.
People who don’t believe they count through
constructive means try to prove that they
count through negative means. They may
seek revenge and hurt others.
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Counts
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Children who believe
they count…
 feel valuable
 believe they can
make a difference
 believe they can
contribute
“I believe
that I matter
and I can
make a
difference.”
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
The Need for Courage
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To take risks requires courage.
Children without courage focus on what
they can’t do. They often give up and
avoid.
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Courage
Children who have
courage…
 overcome fear
 feel equal, confident,
and hopeful
 handle challenges;
are resilient
 are willing to try
“I believe that
I can handle
what comes.”
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
What might you do to help your
students develop a sense of…
connectedness?
 capability?
 worth? (counting)
 courage?
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Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Essential Skills for
Academic Success
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Children need to be able to communicate
effectively in order to connect constructively.
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Children need self-discipline to become capable.
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Children need to believe that they count and
make a difference if they are going to be willing
to assume responsibility.
Children need good judgment if they are going to
use courage wisely and safely.
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Getting a Need Met
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When children succeed in getting a need
met, they gain courage for future tasks.
When children experience only failure,
they lose some of their courage and
become timid of future tasks.
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Misbehavior
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Children who don’t feel connected, capable or
that they count, develop misbehaviors.
When children don’t get their needs met in
constructive ways they find unconstructive
ways to feed their needs.
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Misbehavior
Students who feel
Act out by
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not connected
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seeking attention
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not capable
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seeking power
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they don’t count
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seeking revenge
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no courage
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seeking avoidance
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Please Remember
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Misbehavior is NOT the problem.
Misbehavior is the student’s attempt to
find a solution for a problem they feel
they have.
We have to help children find alternative
solutions.
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Helping Students Reflect on
Purpose of Behavior
Possible questions
“Do you know why you________
(describe specific behavior)?”
 “May I tell you what I think?”
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Helps confirms hypothesis about behavior
Helps students feel understood
Will not be effective if you punish or accuse
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Questions Related to
Specific Behaviors
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Attention
 “Could it be that you would like people to
notice you?”
 “Could it be that you would like more of my
time?”
Power
 “Could it be that you want to show people
that you can do what you want?”
 “Could it be that you want to show people
that they can’t make you do what they want?”
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Questions Related to
Specific Behaviors
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Revenge
 “Could it be that you sometimes feel that
others are hurting you and you want to show
them how it feels by hurting them back?”
 “Could it be that you feel others treat you
unfairly and you want to get even?”
Avoidance
 “Could it be that you’re convinced that you
will never measure up and you would rather
not try at all and perhaps you wish people
would just leave you alone?”
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Teacher Interventions:
Demanding Attention (Connection)
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Minimize the attention given to
misbehavior
Notice behaviors you want to encourage
Act, don’t talk
Act before there is a problem
Assign jobs that get positive attention by
being helpful to others
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Teacher Interventions:
Seeking Power (Capability)
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Think about what YOU can do rather than
what THEY should do
When correcting, focus on the behavior
not the child
Don’t allow situations to escalate
Give student real responsibilities
When possible, decide on rules as a class
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Teacher Interventions:
Seeking Revenge (Count)
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Make a list of positives about the child
Refuse to retaliate, escalate or humiliate
Before trying to resolve conflicts, allow
for cooling off period for both of you
Offer lots of chances for the child to
help others
Share responsibility for solving problems
with the child
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Teacher Interventions:
Practicing Avoidance (Courage)
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Create learning experiences from
mistakes
Set students up for success
Recognize effort and small improvements
Teach positive self-talk
Don’t give up
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Encourage vs. Praise?
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Encouragement-instilling courage by
helping students see their strengths and
developing a belief in themselves
Praise—pointing out what we think he/she
does well
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Helping Students Feel
Connected
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Provide opportunities for cooperative
interactions
Show an interest in each student
Give positive attention
Find and recognize strengths and talents
Show acceptance—separate the deed from the
doer
Send cards, messages, homework to absent
students
Conduct classroom meetings
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Helping Students Feel
Capable
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Create learning experiences from
mistakes
Build confidence
Offer participation in classroom meetings
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Helping Students Feel
They Count
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Through contributions
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By helping one another (peer tutoring)
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By helping the community
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Through recognition
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Through participation in classroom
meetings
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
Helping Students Feel
Courageous
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Don’t expect perfection of self or others
Point to strengths, not weaknesses
Don’t make comparisons with others
Ask questions of student
Ask questions of yourself
Allow students to experience natural consequences
Avoid criticism
Through participation in classroom meetings
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
The Three R’s of Logical
Consequence
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Related logically to misbehavior
Respectful in order to avoid humiliation
(firm and kind)
Reasonable—logical and understood by
adult and student
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther
What will you do in order to
understand and motivate your
students?
How will you help them feel…
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connected?
capable?
as though they count?(worthy)
courageous?
Responsibility in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding & Motivating Students
Dr. Amy Lew & Dr. Betty Betther