Motivating Students: 25 Strategies to Light the Fire of Engagement, Dec/2010

This practical handbook unpacks 25 strategies for motivating students to engage in learning. Understand eight types of unmotivated learners and how you can meet their needs with diverse and challenging learning opportunities in a welcoming environment. The authors explore the teacher’s role in both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, as well as how to reengage bored or frustrated students by finding the source of disengagement. They also discuss how students not only learn through challenging, appealing, and rewarding experiences, but also continue trying when they can see where they are going and how to get there.

Motivating Students is a great resource for individual study or group professional development. Chapter 1 describes the eight types of unmotivated learners discussed throughout the book, as well as possible contributing factors for disengagement. Chapters 2 through 6 contain strategies such as “get to know your students’ cultural background and context,” “use rewards carefully and with intention,” and “create links to prior knowledge.” Each chapter includes a “campfire talk” that guides readers through the main points. Reproducibles help teachers implement the strategies.

Benefits

1. Provides concrete, research-based strategies for counteracting both long- and short-term disengagement
2. Examines the importance of a quality relationship between teachers and students
3. Explores the impact of positive reinforcement and feedback
4. Shares a simple three-step process to motivate students to engage
5. Closes each chapter with a “campfire talk” to facilitate discussion

About The Authors:
Carolyn Chapman is an international education consultant, author, and teacher. She has taught in classrooms at all levels, from kindergarten to college. Her interactive, hands-on professional development sessions focus on many of the key components from her best-selling books. Carolyn works closely with educators throughout the country to ensure lifelong success in students of all ages and learning levels. Carolyn has authored and coauthored many publications on differentiated instruction, literacy, multiple assessments, multiple intelligences, and the brain-compatible classroom. She is coauthor of the landmark book Differentiated Instructional Strategies.

Nicole Vagle is an educator, author, and consultant. Her passion for education and lifelong learning has led her to extensively explore and implement quality practices in school improvement, all in the spirit of facilitating student learning. As a middle and high school English teacher, Nicole worked to inspire and engage all students. As a high school reform specialist, she worked closely with school and district staff to support the teacher collaboration and student learning. As a consultant, Nicole is working and learning with educators to facilitate and empower a school culture in which all students find success.