50 Tips on Motivating Students
1
Know your students and use their names as often as possible.
2
Plan for every class; never try to wing it.
3
Pay attention to the strengths and limitations of each of your students. Reward the strengths and strengthen the weaknesses.
4
Arrange your classroom in a U-shape to encourage interaction among the students.
5
Send lots of positive messages with posters, bulletin boards, and pictures.
6
Be sure that your classroom is comfortable; check the air circulation, temperature, lighting, and humidity.
7
Keep the lab spaces well-organized and efficient.
8
Vary your instructional strategies; use illustrated lectures, demonstrations, discussions, technology, peer mentoring, group projects, guest speakers, and more.
9
Review the class objective each day. Be sure the students see how the entire class session progresses.
10
Make your instruction relevant. Be sure your students see how the content relates to them and the world of work.
11
Open each presentation with an introduction that captures the interest of your students.
12
Move around the room as you teach; walk energetically and purposefully.
13
Be expressive with your face - SMILE!
14
Put some excitement into your speech; vary your pitch, volume, and rate.
15
Use demonstrative movements of the head, arms, and hands; keep your hands out of your pockets.
16
Use words that are highly descriptive; give lots of examples.
17
Accept students' ideas and comments, even if they are wrong; correct in a positive manner.
18
Maintain eye contact and move toward your students as you interact with them; be sure to nod your head to show that you are hearing what they say.
19
Give lots of positive feedback when students respond, offer their ideas, perform a task correctly, come to class on time, and bring their materials to class.
20
Foster an active student organization.
21
Use appropriate humor in your teaching and in tests, to relieve anxiety.
22
Post program-related cartoons, and use them on overheads and in handouts.
23
Provide opportunities for the students to practice presentation and speaking skills in front of their classmates.
24
Be available before class starts, during break, and after class to visit with students who wish to see you.
25
Return assignments and to students ASAP. Be sure to make positive comments and suggestions.
26
Teach by asking lots of questions during introductions, presentations, demonstrations, and lab work.
27
Plan lab activities so that all of the necessary tools, equipment, and materials are available when the students are ready to use them.
28
Give the students an opportunity to participate in the organization and management of the lab.
29
Be aware of those students requiring assistance, and then see that they get it.
30
Maximize the use of time so that the students keep busy with productive, relevant activities.
31
Be a model of the work ethic in your dress, language, support of the school, and respect for the profession.
32
Be consistent in your treatment of students.
33
Make sure that your tests are current, valid, and reliable. They must be based on your curriculum objectives.
34
Organize a "student of the month" award.
35
Invite parents, advisory committee members, and school administrators to visit your program for special activities.
36
Plan relevant field trips out of the school.
37
Bring dynamic subject matter experts into your classroom as guest speakers or project evaluators.
38
Recognize appropriate behavior and reward it on a continuing basis.
39
Use a surprise - an interesting film, special break, or similar activity - to reward the class for good behavior.
40
Use games and simulations to spark interest, provide a break in the routine, and to supplement a unit in your curriculum.
41
Praise students in front of the class; reprimand them in private.
42
Explain why rules are used, why activities are important, and why some requests must be denied.
43
Involve all of your students in your teaching.
44
Provide clear directions for program activities and assignments.
45
Plan around 15-30 minute cycles - students have difficulty maintaining attention after a longer period of time.
46
Provide opportunities for the students to read alone and in a group.
47
Make individual contact (in the summer) for new students entering your program.
48
Send "happy-grams" home to parents periodically.
49
Use task and job sheets to help students remember the steps to perform skills.
50
Be enthusiastic about yourself, your students, and your profession.
Excerpted from Sullivan, R. and Wircenski, J.L. Vocational Education Journal 63, 5.
1
Know your students and use their names as often as possible.
2
Plan for every class; never try to wing it.
3
Pay attention to the strengths and limitations of each of your students. Reward the strengths and strengthen the weaknesses.
4
Arrange your classroom in a U-shape to encourage interaction among the students.
5
Send lots of positive messages with posters, bulletin boards, and pictures.
6
Be sure that your classroom is comfortable; check the air circulation, temperature, lighting, and humidity.
7
Keep the lab spaces well-organized and efficient.
8
Vary your instructional strategies; use illustrated lectures, demonstrations, discussions, technology, peer mentoring, group projects, guest speakers, and more.
9
Review the class objective each day. Be sure the students see how the entire class session progresses.
10
Make your instruction relevant. Be sure your students see how the content relates to them and the world of work.
11
Open each presentation with an introduction that captures the interest of your students.
12
Move around the room as you teach; walk energetically and purposefully.
13
Be expressive with your face - SMILE!
14
Put some excitement into your speech; vary your pitch, volume, and rate.
15
Use demonstrative movements of the head, arms, and hands; keep your hands out of your pockets.
16
Use words that are highly descriptive; give lots of examples.
17
Accept students' ideas and comments, even if they are wrong; correct in a positive manner.
18
Maintain eye contact and move toward your students as you interact with them; be sure to nod your head to show that you are hearing what they say.
19
Give lots of positive feedback when students respond, offer their ideas, perform a task correctly, come to class on time, and bring their materials to class.
20
Foster an active student organization.
21
Use appropriate humor in your teaching and in tests, to relieve anxiety.
22
Post program-related cartoons, and use them on overheads and in handouts.
23
Provide opportunities for the students to practice presentation and speaking skills in front of their classmates.
24
Be available before class starts, during break, and after class to visit with students who wish to see you.
25
Return assignments and to students ASAP. Be sure to make positive comments and suggestions.
26
Teach by asking lots of questions during introductions, presentations, demonstrations, and lab work.
27
Plan lab activities so that all of the necessary tools, equipment, and materials are available when the students are ready to use them.
28
Give the students an opportunity to participate in the organization and management of the lab.
29
Be aware of those students requiring assistance, and then see that they get it.
30
Maximize the use of time so that the students keep busy with productive, relevant activities.
31
Be a model of the work ethic in your dress, language, support of the school, and respect for the profession.
32
Be consistent in your treatment of students.
33
Make sure that your tests are current, valid, and reliable. They must be based on your curriculum objectives.
34
Organize a "student of the month" award.
35
Invite parents, advisory committee members, and school administrators to visit your program for special activities.
36
Plan relevant field trips out of the school.
37
Bring dynamic subject matter experts into your classroom as guest speakers or project evaluators.
38
Recognize appropriate behavior and reward it on a continuing basis.
39
Use a surprise - an interesting film, special break, or similar activity - to reward the class for good behavior.
40
Use games and simulations to spark interest, provide a break in the routine, and to supplement a unit in your curriculum.
41
Praise students in front of the class; reprimand them in private.
42
Explain why rules are used, why activities are important, and why some requests must be denied.
43
Involve all of your students in your teaching.
44
Provide clear directions for program activities and assignments.
45
Plan around 15-30 minute cycles - students have difficulty maintaining attention after a longer period of time.
46
Provide opportunities for the students to read alone and in a group.
47
Make individual contact (in the summer) for new students entering your program.
48
Send "happy-grams" home to parents periodically.
49
Use task and job sheets to help students remember the steps to perform skills.
50
Be enthusiastic about yourself, your students, and your profession.
Excerpted from Sullivan, R. and Wircenski, J.L. Vocational Education Journal 63, 5.
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