How to motivate students

Fr Paul Lelen Haokip *

Inspire Next-Gen 2013 at Moirang Multipurpose Higher Secondary School, Moirang in September 2013 :: Pix - Shanjoy Mairembam

Teaching is a noble profession for the good of the SOCIETY. It is not an individual pursuit or personal-gain oriented. Teaching affects or defects the society at large. Therefore, this profession shouldn't be taken up just for the sake of the little remuneration. If that is the only motive, no teacher will ever be satisfied with his/her pay and will never do justice in the class room.

If the teacher is not motivated and properly oriented, how will he/she lead the children is a big question. More than good, harm will be the outcome. So, one must not undertake this profession just simply. Whatever the case may be, you will either be remembered for being a good teacher or bad teacher for the rest of life. It is a life-long profession.

Let us see how we can prepare and motivate our students for fast and meaningful learning. It is a known reality that motivated students are easier to teach. Now the question is, HOW DO WE MOTIVATE STUDENTS?

Here are some practiced, tried and true strategies to get (and keep) your students interested in learning.

1. Know your students' names and use their names as often as possible.

2. Plan for every class. Never enter the class unprepared, students will notice you.

3. Pay attention to the strengths and limitations of each of your students. Reward their strengths and strengthen and minimize their weaknesses.

4. Vary your instructional strategies; use lectures, demonstrations, discussions, case studies, groups and more. Be creative.

5. Move around the room as you teach.

6. Make your classes relevant. Be sure students see how the content relates to them and the world around them. Bring daily examples.

7. Be expressive. Smile. No one like an unhappy and dull teacher.

8. Put some excitement into your speech; vary your pitch, volume and rate.

9. Encourage students to share their ideas and comments, even if they are incorrect. You'll never know what students don't understand unless you ask them.

10. Maintain eye contact and move toward your students as you interact with them. Nod your head to show that you are listening to them.

11. Provide opportunities for students to speak to the class.

12. Be available before class starts, during break, and after class to visit with students.

13. Give and return assignments and tests to students as soon as reasonably possible. Provide constructive feedback.

14. Plan around 15-20 minute cycles. Students have difficulty maintaining attention after a longer period of time. Then revise with them what you have just taught.

15. Involve your students in your teaching. Ask for feedback.

Each moment spent with students is a sacred moment. They will either remember or waste that moment. They will either love you or hate you for the good or bad teaching. So each day, prepare and repair your lessons. The moment you think you are too good for the students, it's the right time to retire from teaching because knowledge is fast growing. You have to keep updated to be relevant to students else you will become a mere parrot to them just reading out what is already written in the book. Creativity, preparation and updating will make you motivate your students for speedy and meaningful learning.

Twenty Tips on Motivating Students

Few teachers would deny that motivated students are easier to teach, or that students who are interested in learning do, in fact, learn more. So how do teachers motivate their students? Here are some practiced, tried-and true strategies to get (and keep) your students interested in learning.

1. Know your students' names and use their names as often as possible.

2. Plan for every class; never try to wing it.

3. Pay attention to the strengths and limitations of each of your students. Reward their strengths and strengthen their weaknesses.

4. If possible, set your room in a U-shape to encourage interaction among students.

5. Vary your instructional strategies; use lectures, demonstrations, discussions, case studies, groups, and more.

6. Review the learning objectives with your students. Be sure students know what they are expected to learn, do, know, etc.

7. Move around the room as you teach.

8. Make your classes relevant. Be sure students see how the content relates to them and the world around them.

9. Be expressive. Smile.

10. Put some excitement into your speech; vary your pitch, volume and rate.

11. Give lots of examples.

12. Encourage students to share their ideas and comments, even if they are incorrect. You'll never know what students don't understand unless you ask them.

13. Maintain eye contact and move toward your students as you interact with them. Nod your head to show that you are listening to them.

14. Provide opportunities for students to speak to the class.

15. Be available before class starts, during break, and after class to visit with students.

16. Return assignments and tests to students as soon as reasonably possible. Provide constructive feedback.

17. Be consistent in your treatment of students.

18. Make sure that your exams are current, valid, and reliable. Tie your assessment to your course objectives.

19. Plan around 15-20 minute cycles. Students have difficulty maintaining attention after a longer period of time.

20. Involve your students in your teaching. Ask for feedback.