| Do your students suffer from a lack of motivation? | | | | juniors: |
| In the midst of holiday parties and on the brink of a | | | | I tried implementing a rewards chart using stickers. |
| break, it’s difficult to focus student attention on | | | | The first couple of weeks I could not see any |
| learning rather than plans of vacation. | | | | response. Then one day, I forgot to update the |
| Before you reach your breaking point, try these tips | | | | chart. One of my “tough” guys came up and |
| to motivate students and keep them interested in | | | | said, “Hey, where is my sticker?” Since then |
| their own learning. Because once they can see their | | | | I have noticed how often the kids are actually talking |
| progress, students are more likely to want to | | | | about the stickers and congratulating each other. |
| progress. Take a look at these tried-and-true ideas | | | | Works…even for the old kids. |
| teachers across the country are using to motivate | | | | Use this sticker template and 1-inch round sticker |
| their students. | | | | sheets (Avery 5410 work well) to print your own |
| Graph Their Growth A teacher in California had her | | | | stickers from home or school. |
| students make graphs of their grades after every | | | | Reward Good Behavior An ESL teacher in Oregon |
| reading assignment. Though skeptical at first, she | | | | used Imagine Learning English as a motivator for one |
| saw great improvement as the weeks passed: | | | | first grader. |
| Every time they read and answered questions, my | | | | In the past, he did not respond to disciplinary |
| students tallied up how many they got right and | | | | measures. But now, since he loves this program, he |
| posted it on their personal graphs. They could see | | | | can be reminded that he needs to behave to use the |
| their scores improve and dip, and it was amazing to | | | | program. A hyperactive student like Pepe, who is |
| see their reaction to that. They went from being a | | | | impulsive and has trouble sitting still, can still focus and |
| very reluctant group of readers to achieving a very | | | | learn. The pace of the program, the games, the |
| remarkable reading status. I did this for years, and it | | | | music, the visuals all appeal to a very active student |
| works. | | | | and keep him motivated to learn. |
| Students of any age can graph out their scores, | | | | Though some students will do anything for candy, |
| whether by bar graph, line graph, or even pictograph. | | | | the best rewards are ones that continue to |
| Stick to It Stickers. You’ve used them to track | | | | encourage learning. Rewards like computer time, |
| progress before, but did you ever wonder if they | | | | unique learning games, and team projects add |
| actually motivate? A literacy coach from Ohio shared | | | | something new to the day and help motivate |
| one teacher’s experience with her high school | | | | students to pay attention the rest of the day. |