Strategies for Motivating Students Blog

Strategies for Motivating Students Blog: Larrissa Mangione

Although there are many factors that are involved in finding the most appropriate approach and instructional style when helping students’ motivation and enjoyment towards reading, there are a few strategies that can help ensure success in the classroom. First, students need to feel that they can relate to the topic. By building background knowledge and giving students the opportunity to express this knowledge in a positive manner, students already feel a connection towards the content of the reading. Providing students with multiple opportunities to anchor and express information will build confidence and motivation towards the reading. Multiple opportunities may include small group or whole group discussions, journaling, graphic organizers and media clips. The more exposure and compartmentalizing students have the more ready they are to learn more about a given topic through reading because of intrinsic motivation. A second strategy to employ in the classroom to help build students motivation is giving choices. Students need to feel success and control over their learning and the environment in which they learn in. Weather this choice is given by allowing students to choose where they read or even the books that they read can increase a child’s willingness to read. AN example of providing students with opportunities of choice and selection would be if the unit of study is on the Aztec civilization, provide students with a variety of books and genres that support this topic. Not only are students making choices about the genres of the books that they read, but can choose books that play towards their strengths and abilities as a means of increasing that level of success and eventually motivation. Thirdly, students need to be encourages by teachers setting attainable yet challenging academic goals. Having teachers and students develop goals as a team will allow the students to feel control over their own learning in regards to reading by being involved in their goals tracking. This also allows students to increase intrinsic motivation through success and self-made goals.
Working in a middle school teaching a highly intensive reading program for students with reading and writing disabilities I have found these strategies to help build motivation in my students towards reading. The biggest challenge faced was developing intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation when reading and writing have been such a challenge to students in the past. The few students that are in this class are very divers socially and culturally, yet have one thing in common, reading is a great challenge and source of anguish for them. Their reading development and growth did not truly begin until they were given opportunities to feel successful and in control of their learning.
The power of building background knowledge as a teacher and each child’s individual struggles and strengths towards reading is apparent in relation to student growth and motivation. After completing the survey investigations and analysis, I have “beefed” up my own survey and questions that I have for students at the beginning and throughout the school year. Some of the more beneficial questions that are now included in this survey are ones that search for clues pertaining to the students views of themselves and feelings towards reading, what the students looks for when choosing a book, and the family’s involvement in reading at home. Additionally, according to the analysis that have been performed pertaining to interest surveys, students in elementary and most likely in higher grades, would choose to play games, watch television, or use the computer before reading (Bauer, 2002). By living in a world that is surrounds students with media and information, it seems that it would beneficial to incorporate this already motivating outlet to the classroom. In other words, show video clips before reading. Or allow students to use the internet to build background knowledge about a topic of reading. Games are also a great way to engage students in the classroom.
When choosing books that can be used as motivational tools in my classroom I look for books that play to a Childs interests and strengths. It is very frustrating when a child is forced to read the same type of book when they feel disconnected or unsuccessful. For instance, in the social studies classroom students are often forced to read the same text book about a specific unit of study. A way to increase student motivation would be to allow students to choose from a variety of books and genres that relate to the topic. If there is a classroom that has more liberties and freedom, students can look for books that they are truly interested in. I like to find books or reading materials that relate to current events. For example, the volcano eruption in Iceland has been a wonderful source of interest and opportunities for book selections in the classroom. I have had students using the internet to research and to find reading materials that relate to the topic of volcanoes. Overall, books that students can relate to, become successful and make personal growth towards the overall goal can help towards the teachers’ goals of building success and intrinsic motivation towards reading in the classroom.

Bauer, D., & Others. (2002, May 1). Improving Attitudes in Reading through Multiple Instructional Strategies in an At-Risk Environment. Retrieved from ERIC database.