INCREASING MOTIVATION IN
CLASS

More than half of the students I work with come from one school in the area. This school does not seem to operate by using praise or other means of tangible recognition. The only feedback students receive is grades on papers and tests and report cards.

I was raised in a school that spent a lot of time praising children and I am now a teacher who strongly believes in praise as a means of increasing excitement and motivation for learning. Some of the methods I use are as follows.

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1 I have a series of empty picture frames in my teaching room. (I make sure that there is a frame available for each student if they want it.) These frames make up a “gallery” of work that all of the children and parents can enjoy. Each student is allowed to pick one page of work to display each week.

The principle is that each student can display some work that they are proud of and share it with the other parents and students. It has become an important ritual at the end of many lessons and most students will proudly bring their parents into the room and excitedly show their framed work.

Parents have come to look forward to this and I know of two families who now have frames at home for their children to display their work there as well. The simple act of putting the paper in a frame has the unspoken power of telling the children that their work is important and that their efforts are worthwhile.

An added bonus is that it gives me great joy to look at the gallery! of work each week and to know how proud each and every child is of their framed work.

2 Children love certificates that they can show to their parents and hang in their rooms. Almost none of the students I work with have received certificates in school although many have received them for sports or other extracurricular activities.

Many of my students have never developed a love of reading and I work hard to try and encourage them to enjoy reading and to see it as a pleasant activity.

These students usually have “homework” each week to read part of a book that we have selected together. Upon completion of each book they receive a “Reading Certificate” that says the name of the book and praises their effort.

Not every child is excited by the certificates, but most are thrilled to receive them. Parents report that almost all children hang the certificates proudly in their rooms and enjoy showing them off to friends and family members.

3 At the end of each lesson, children are allowed to pick two stickers that are awarded for attendance. They always receive two stickers - never more or less as punishment or reward for behavior or accomplishment.

They use them to decorate their tutoring binders. They enjoy selecting the stickers and are proud to see their collection grow.

Additionally, it provides a tangible record of their dedication to their lessons and the time they have spent doing work outside of school.

By a student on the Dyslexia Certificate course.

December 2002.