Tuesday, December 6, 2011

4 Simple Ways to Motivate Young Learners


Children are born with an intrinsic motivation to learn and positive attitude towards learning. Positive rewards and reinforcement will increase this motivation. Here are several simple strategies that you can use as a teacher to keep young students interested and motivated to learn.

Provide praise and rewards. When your students do well or when they work hard, reward them. Positive words and stickers are great for simple tasks. Adjust your praise and rewards based on the child’s individual abilities and efforts. Avoid giving nonspecific praise for something that required little or no effort.

Show you care about your students. Kids respond well when they know that their teacher cares about them. Build a positive and caring relationship with your students. Ask them how their day is going. Show enthusiasm for their interests.

Have your students participate. When children feel needed, their self-esteem and motivation is increased. Job charts are great way to teach responsibility.

Provide good explanations. Nothing kills motivation as quickly as confusion. Take the time to thoroughly explain new concepts. Check for understanding with specific questions before moving on to a new topic.

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