Increasing Student Motivation: Strategies for Middle and High School Teachers

Spark students' motivation to learn and succeed beyond the formal years of schooling! Every student enrolled in school can learn; however, the capacity for learning varies among students. As a result of a two-decade-long interest, author Margaret A. Theobald provides teachers with ideas and insights that can help support and motivate middle and high school students to do their best work. This unique book, which defines motivation, contains basic theories and a wealth of useful practical procedures. Easy to pick up, its simple approach and format will help school leaders apply and modify motivational strategies for all students while recognizing that each student is unique. Written, developed, designed, and presented to teachers and school leaders for immediate application, this handbook provides: General frameworks for thinking about motivation Hundreds of strategies from middle and high school educators who have succeeded in motivating students to learn A deeper understanding of the needs of students as those needs relate to students' motivational levels Increasing Student Motivation fills an important niche in professional educational literature and will prove to be an invaluable resource for all educators who work with students and are concerned about how to help them maximize their potential.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by John A. Pohl Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction 1. Motivation Is a Mindset Each Student Learns Mistakes Aid Learning Positive Feedback Is Necessary Self-Concept Affects the Mindset Summary 2. Motivation Is Influenced Through Observation Project Intensity and Enthusiasm Model Self-Confidence Summary 3. Motivation Is Affected by Timing Timing of Needs Varies Needs Drive Objectives Summary 4. Motivation Is Independence Teach Goal Setting Encourage Performance Appraisal Provide for Self-Reinforcement Role-Play With Optional Actions Summary 5. Motivation Is Reflected in Victory Process Leads to Success Success Comes From Finished Products Summary 6. Motivation Involves Action Opportunities for Active Learning Situations for Hands-on Activities Summary 7. Motivation Is Increased Through Transfer Relate New to Old Learning Adapt Tasks to Student Interests Clarify the Abstract Summary 8. Motivation Is Inherent to Individuality Recognize Weaknesses and Strengths Relate Cognitive Experiences to Abilities Demonstrate Talents and Skills Express One’s Differences From Others Summary 9. Motivation Is Rooted in Ownership Teach Responsibility Involve Students in Decisions Summary 10. Motivation Is Natural Challenge Students Encourage Student Expression Acknowledge Student Views Summary Resource A: Strategies and Learning Styles Resource B: Bloom’s Taxonomy, Cognitive Resource C: Positive Word List Resource D: Example, Student Goals Resource E: Example, Student Lesson Plan References Index