We All Need A Little Motivation...

Sunday, January 15, 2012
Motivation... 
Some students just don't seem to have it all of the time. 

This tears me up because if students have no motivation in elementary school, 
where does that put them in middle school, high school, and even beyond. 

          During my internship I was placed in a 4th grade classroom. Two of the boys in my class had a low reading level and despised reading. I made it my goal to get them to like reading. I would read with them every free moment we'd have and I would make myself available before school and during PE in case they wanted to read with me.  I made sure to get SUPER excited when something happened in the story and we would discuss each book they read. I would praise them when they read and tell them what a good job they were doing.

          At my school we have a big emphasis on A.R. and whenever they would make a 100 on a test I would break out into the "hundred's dance". I became known for this dance and students would tell me that they made a 100 at the worst times... in the middle of the lunchroom, walking down the hall, and in front of parents and teachers. No matter where I was... I would do a little jig and sing a little tune about how awesome it was that they had made a 100. I truly think they worked hard just so they could watch me a make a fool of myself, but hey, whatever works! I will seriously do anything to get a student excited about school, reading, and working hard! =)

I need some new ideas. 
What do you do to encourage your struggling or unmotivated students?
I would love some new/creative ideas!
Thanks and have a wonderful MLK Monday! =)
-Ms. Smith

4 comments

  1. On 100% spelling tests I always give my students a packet of Smarties candy! Then, they know they are Spelling Smarties! They LOVE it and work so hard :) I think the 100's dance is a great idea! I love the new template, looking cute :)

    Lisa :)
    Made In The Shade In Second Grade

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  2. What if you had a stuffed animal and called it a Motivation Monkey? When you notice students who are putting in 100% effort, Motivation Monkey could hang out on their desk for awhile. :) I often think that celebrating small moments of motivation leads to more of those 100% tests. :)

    Thank you SO much for stopping by my blog to become a follower and leave a comment. :) I'm your newest follower, as well! Leave me your e-mail address and I'll send you my Blubber Busters science experiment *freebie* for leaving your comment! :)

    Take care and cute blog!

    Second Grade Sugar and Spice

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  3. I recently became a new follower and am loving your blog! I would love for you to come follow me! I just posted about encouraging others yesterday. We actually have the job of an Encourager in our room. We have a We Care Bag that has various things in it that might help. We have a Cheerleader has one of Our School Family Jobs. That has really helped because the Cheerleader can celebrate kiddos who are working and trying their best. I have bubbles I use to celebrate the kiddos who are trying and the Cheerleader has a horn they blow. The stuffed animal is a cute idea and I might need to add a Motivational Monkey to our We Care Bag!

    We have use Smarties has brain food too!

    Heather
    Heather's Heart

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  4. How fun!! Love the idea of the hundreds dance!! I think one of the best things we can do is put ourselves "out there" for our students! :) Awesome! I like to make "Whiz" cards for the kids, Math Whiz, Reading Whiz, etc. When someone does something that I thought was pretty cool in a certain subject, I make a big deal telling them they are the Math Whiz or History Whiz and give them the paper. Sometimes I have the kids ask, does that make me the Language Whiz for today? It's fun!
    I also sometimes do a stuffed animal, it's a bear with glasses. I call him Mr. Educated Bear. He sits on the desk of the student who has done a really good job on a test or in a certain subject, it can be moved several times during the day. Sometimes I even make it so whoever has it at the end of the day can have a piece of candy or a prize from the prize box.

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