Motivation
I feel student's learn and retain instruction when there is a high level of positive energy in the classroom, that will create an exciting learning environment.
Hi Ali,
Absolutely! The instructor has to have his/her game face on daily!! Students depend on us to be up lifting.
Patricia Scales
I agree. The instructor's job is to inspire and teach at the same time. In order to keep the students engaged and inspired, the instructor must stay positive.
Hi Francisco,
Excitement really starts at the top with the instructor. First, the instructor has to be excited about the course in order to get the students excited about the course.
Patricia Scales
The tone of the class is set the first day. If the positive energy is introduced in the beginning, then the class will remain excited and motivated. Once things derail, the energy cannot be easily recaptured and motivation will be lessened.
I agree. The instructor's attitude is 50% of what it takes to keep students motivated. If the instructor is in total buy in and is excited about what they have been hired to do then he/she will find ways to make it exciting and motivating.
On the first day I make the students feel special. I make name tags for everyone so I can also remember all their names but it shows that I have taken the time to make them special. Being organized and showing you are set up and ready to go, being on time, being fair, and most of all creating fun in the classroom. A lot of times students get bored the first day because it is all about what the class is about but in fact it should be the exact opposite approach. How exciting it is going to be for you to achieve your goals? How exciting for you to be able to get closer to what you are wanting in your life?
If the instructor is not motivated and not wanting to instruct why even go to class. It is crucial that the instructor feeds their students the inner drive to want to achieve for what they really want. I have seen students faces light up when I would say, you can have whatever you want. But you have to achieve what you want. You can have it though. Knowing that you can ACHIEVE is exciting and creating that excitement in the classroom starts from the instructor.
motivation and positive energy definitely help with the interest of the classroom. With the motivation it will help generate movement in action or thought process to make things happen for themselves. The positive energy helps with keeping everything "UP" and making it safe for them to proceed with their dreams. It is so important to give these tools to our students to let them go for it. A lot of times people come from places in which they were never encouraged to dream or even achieve. Put students in these type of enviroments and which them thrive.
Hi Lindsay,
Positivity is key! I love your policy! You really get from students what you expect.
Patricia Scales
I agree with you! In my classes I try keep things positive all the time. I teach clinical classes and the students tend to get nervous and want to give up sometimes. I have a "no negativity" policy..lol. Instead of saying, "I can't do it," they say,"I want to try again!" I've found that if I stay positive and keep motivated them forward that my retention always improves.
Hi Faith,
I like it! I imagine the fun you had with this, and the other side that you got to see from your students.
Patricia Scales
I used the reading of a Dr. Seuss book-Oh, the Places You'll Go in a communications class. After the student read a page, each handed off the book to a next student of their choice. There was a lot of laughing and dramatic effort, being chosen had an energizing effect. I learned a lot about my students that afternoon...even that some of them could actually talk. Nonsense???I observed a great deal of student postures, voices and Go With The Flow responses of my students.
Sometimes you just throw something in...unexpected and excellent.
Hi Deborah,
Students love it when we make learning apply to the real world.
Patricia Scales
An Instructors attitude with the students is paramount in their becoming enthusasic about procedures in my lab classes. They are very interested in prior experiences I can share about the job force. It gives them something to look forward to.
Hi Robert,
I agree! Students need the excitement to keep them motivated, and when we give them a spark as to what will happen tomorrow, it makes them want to come tomorrow!
Patricia Scales
It's extremely important to broadcast a high level of positive energy into delivery of your daily lesson plan. This really helps me to engage the students, inspire them, and keep them motivated! It also helps to excite the student into what is on the plate for tomorrow's lesson plan. I teach at a culinary school, pun intended!
Hi Pam,
I agree! Negativity is certainly contagious! We have to always diffuse negativity quickly!
Patricia Scales
I too believe that a high level of positive energy in the classroom will create a fantastic learning environment. And this positive energy needs to come from both the instructor and the students. The instructor sets the overall mood, but the students contribute to it. All it takes is for one student to become negative, for whatever the reason, and the entire atmosphere can change. And with today's immediate contact technology, that negative feeling can travel fast and overtake the classroom. We have to be on top of it all. And sometimes that is hard to do. Especially if your class size is large.
Hi Latif,
The first day makes a lasting impression. The first day is a leeway into the entire grading period. We have to make every day fun and exciting for our students.
Patricia Scales
