attetude
Is there a way to motivate students that are always negative?
I also try to figure them out, the human factor. I also find that there is something nice and good in everyone(some are harder to find). I wonder how long it has been for some students,if ever,it has been since they have heard something good about themselves. Taking time to give them sincere observations about themselves really helps. It takes time but slowly they begin to feel better about themselves.
Negative students are often the students that need the most time to share their stories.
Motivating a student with a negative attitude is always the most challenging in motivating students in general. Ones that have negative attitudes on a regular basis needs to addressed asap, as it can have an effect on the rest of the class. One bad apple can spoil the basket and as a leader or an instructor you need to adapt to all student needs and find what will reach the negative student as quick as possible. Sometimes it is as little as finding out what is going on with the student outside of class, to what interest them, to just understanding them. Finding what reaches the student makes them feel understood and finding their interest sparks enthusiam from them most of the time.
Hi Catharine,
Good strategy. Many times the individual attention is all that it takes to get them into a positive mood and ready to engage in the class. Also, by talking with them they know you care about their success.
Gary
I have some students that come into class with very negitative attitudes. I try to figure out by talking to them 1 on 1 to see if their attitude has do deal with problems at home, car break downs or just in a bad mood. I then try and redirect them as to why they are in class, and motivate them to change their attitude as they would have to do in the work place, and point out that in the real world they can lose their job for poor attiudes.
Hm, students that "always" have a negative attitude are extremely unusual. Perhaps try to talk with them one-on-one before or after class to show that you are approachable and a nice person. Also, ask them specific questions about relevant life experiences that tie in with the class to try and get them excited about the material. Either way, try to make things as interesting as possible, and perhaps the negativity will be a thing of the past...
