keeping students focused
below are three ways that you can encourage students to get on the right path to staying motivated.
Encourage them to think positively. Reinforce for them that there’s power in thinking about what they do well. By creating a mindset in which they focus on the positive and tell themselves they can work to improve upon their areas of weakness — instead of focusing on the things they don’t do as well and becoming discouraged and less motivated — they’ll feel more inspired to work harder.
Remind students that motivating themselves is their responsibility alone. If they work hard to attain good grades, it’s because they put in the effort to study and build on what you’ve taught them. If they didn’t give it their best shot, blaming anyone else won’t change that.
Tell them that persistence pays off. The attitude that they can work through any challenge by keeping at it will make it more likely that they’ll see progress toward their learning goals.
Janice,
They really perk up when you tell a story I am sure. Students love to hear these stories because the content comes alive and they see both application and relevance in what is being taught.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I teach and still work in the medical profession. They love to hear stories when I return to the classroom
Stories are wonderful but keeping them fouced sometimes may be difficult due to the subject you might be teaching. We as instructors sometimes sit through classes that lose our focuse as well. So we really need to find away to teach that subject different so not to lose our students focuse.
GORDON,
These stories help to make the content come alive plus they show relevancy and application. So keep sharing those stories with your students, I know they appreciate them.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree on sharing some personal stories from the trade. It helps students relate to the trade and what they might encounter in the trade.
Deb,
I do to. Sharing examples and experiences from the field helps the students to see the value of the content being taught and increases their engagement.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I also believe it is important to be able to share tidbits of your professional life to drive home the encouragement.
Anthony,
You are helping this to see what hard work will do for them. By showing them evidence of how their efforts will pay off you are increasing their motivation opportunities and moving them forward in their career development.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
