Blog Post 6: Motivating Students to Reach Success

 Hello all!

I hope the new semester is going well for everyone and that all is well!

Today I am thinking about and responding to chapter 8 of Randy Sprick's Discipline in the Secondary Classroom: A Positive Approach to Behavior Management. This chapter focused on classroom management strategies that could be implemented to help enhance student motivation, both intrinsically and extrinsically. 

As I read this chapter, what stuck out most to me was the idea that we as teachers should attempt to have at least three times as many positive interactions with our students as negative interactions. I also loved Sprick's ideas about the importance of giving students non-contingent attention (Sprick, 259). I think it is easy for teachers to get used to giving high-achieving students attention almost exclusively after they have done something well, but it is important for us to give them attention that is not contingent on their performance. This shows our students that they are cared for and acknowledged as people and not only as students and that they are deserving of attention without having to earn it.

Sprick's ideas about giving specific, quality feedback also stuck out to me. I tend to get in the habit of repeating "good job" to students all day rather than giving feedback that is more insightful, helpful, and individualized for students (Sprick, 262). It is a goal of mine this week and throughout the rest of the year to make sure I am being more mindful and intentional with the feedback I give to my students. I used to work exclusively with preschool-aged children and became so used to saying "good job" as they completed tasks such as putting on shoes successfully or making it down stairs without tripping, and this habit has accidentally seeped into my teaching with high school students. To break this habit and adapt to the needs of my older students, I plan to work on giving feedback that is specific to individual students and that is detailed and helpful. 

I plan to focus on these two ideas from Sprick's chapter in my teaching during the rest of my time as a teaching intern and as I begin my teaching career. I plan to start by continuing to greet my students each day as they come into the room and ask them about their day and about how their week is going. I also plan to ask them more about their activities and interests. I also will be more intentional with talking casually and conversationally with students who I have more negative interactions with as far as behavior is concerned and with students who are high performers and who may not be used to non-contingent attention. As far as feedback is concerned, I plan to start by giving my students more detailed written feedback in their writing notebooks. I also plan to conference with them as they begin a new writing assignment and will give them verbal feedback as they go through their writing processes. 

One question that arose for me during my reading was how I might successfully implement a reward system in my classroom to encourage students to be more motivated and successful in their daily independent reading. I plan to refer back to Sprick's text as I consider how I might do this and I will reread parts of Penny Kittle's Book Love to refresh myself on how she did this in her own classroom. 


Comments

  1. Katie CramerFebruary 6, 2023 at 9:31 AM

    Thank you for your insightful post, Ms. Winter! I appreciate your specific plans for enacting Sprick’s ideas regarding feedback, including your intentions to provide individualized feedback for students both out loud and in writing. One thing to consider too is that you don’t necessarily have to provide feedback on everything or for every student. Sometimes simply nodding your head in encouragement (with a smile on your face) as a student shares out loud in class is enough to invite future contributions. Similarly, your written feedback might include underlining key ideas in a student’s written work and simply stating “thank you for this idea!” I look forward to hearing how your plans go, Ms. Winter. Thank you for sharing!

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