Motivating the
Unmotivated Student
Some students have been
unresponsive for so long, they
have forgotten what it is like to
be engaged.
Never give up on them!
Achievement is…
–25% IQ
–25% Opportunities and Experiences
–50% Self-Efficacy and Self- Esteem
(Competence and Confidence)
(Perkins and Resnick)
AHA!
• IQ is not stationary. You are not born
with all the brain cells you’ll ever have.
• The brain is continually making new
neurons and changing connections
between existing neurons.
• Teach students to have a “growth
mindset”!
Teachley's Amazing Talking Brain
Key to Engagement
Pay attention to people
problems, not to discipline
problems!
The “WHY” is more important
than the “WHAT”.
ANGER
FRUSTRATION
APATHY
STRESS!!!
• A reaction to a perceived loss of
control over an adverse situation.
• Give kids appropriately increasing
amounts of control over their
lives at school.
AHA!
• Stress can reduce connections by 50% and
impairs short term memory.
Teachers can cut down on stress for students by:
• making personal connections
• providing a “safe” environment
• reactivating prior learning
• giving immediate feedback with error
correction.
Feedback is one of the
greatest sources of
intrinsic motivation.
Punishment rarely changes behavior!
Punishment confirms the student’s view
that they cannot succeed.
The carrot works better than the stick!
Educators have been trained to look
for negatives. When you see a
negative behavior you have a choice.
You can either help the student handle
the stress or pile more on.
-Vicki Phillips, Empowering Discipline
Win-Win Conversations
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwSZ3XY
UZME
Quick Write!
Where are you now?
What will be easy to
implement in my
classroom?
What will be challenging
to implement in my
classroom?
10 Characteristics of an
Engaged, Motivated
Classroom
(Dr. Marcia Tate)
Choose which 3 of these are
the most important.
Do these for 21 days to make
them a habit!
AHA!
2
N aME
or
2
MEN
• Need: Purpose
• Novelty: New or different
• Meaning: Connected to real life
• Emotion: Passion, enthusiasm
AHA!
Primacy-Recency Effect: Students tend to
remember best that which comes first in
a learning segment, and remember
second best that which comes last.
SO…
Open well (Purpose, hook)
Close well (Summarize, review)
Open and close each chunk of information
Brain-Compatible
Lesson Plan
Last Man Standing
For more information:
• Marcia Tate
• Eric Jensen
• Ruby Payne
• Amie Dean
Amy Laughter
amlaughter@hcpsnc.org
Pinterest Boards:
• https://www.pinterest.com/alaughter/beginni
ng-teachers/
• https://www.pinterest.com/alaughter/classro
om-management/