Streaks can be Motivators

I recently saw this cool app called Streaks.

“Streaks is the to-do list that helps you form good habits. Every day you complete a task, your streak is extended.”

When I’m on a streak, I will work hard to keep it up and not break the streak. One time I logged my food on MyFitnessPal for almost three years without missing a day. Now I’m learning Spanish on DuoLingo and I’m on a 140-day streak of learning. When I’m trying to get 10,000 steps or more, it helps if I can get a streak going because I don’t want to miss a day and break the streak. There are many industrial workplaces that post how many days they have gone without any accidents.

In my classroom, I posted a count of how many days in a row all of my students did their homework. No one wanted to be the one who broke the streak. If there was any daily routine that I wanted to get students to follow consistently, we kept a running streak. Students loved to help change the number.

When I was having problems with minor disruptive behaviors, I decided we needed to use the streak motivator. I told my students if we had no more than 3 disruptions in one class period (52-minute classes), it counted as one day. I started a paper chain at the ceiling and for each day in a row, I would add a paper chain towards the floor. When the chain reached the floor, the class would get a reward. It was amazing how this visual reminder helped students control their behavior.

I could use this streak motivator for things such as:

• Turn in homework
• Complete all class assignments
• Have necessary materials for class
• Read a book for 30 minutes
• Write for 10 minutes in a journal
• Walk for 30 minutes
• Random act of kindness each day

What other things can you add to the list? Please share.

Motivating Students

Recently someone asked a group of us for help.

“Looking for ways to motivate the unmotivated students who are struggling to pass 9th grade classes and some end up repeating those classes. Are there any best practices that you or others have used that have been successful?”

Here is my answer:

I think it is important to remember that all students are different and are motivated by different things.

I like to start with an interest inventory. I like to find out the things they like to do and things they like to eat or drink. I know when I have to do something I don’t want to do, I like to reward myself with something if I get the dreaded task completed. I’m sure that students can be motivated the same way.

Students this age also need to have some input. They already feel like so many things are not in their control so completing assignments is something they can control. Talk to students about what is keeping them from succeeding. Ask them what would help them be more successful. Maybe they are overwhelmed by the assignments and need them broken down into smaller steps. When students have input, there is a higher chance of them having success.

Offer choices. Students with different learning styles can be very creative. Look at what your objectives are and then give them different ways to show you that they understand the work. Instead of a typical written test, let them suggest other ways they can let you assess their understanding such as a brochure, PowerPoint presentation to the class, diorama, or poster.

What advice would you give? Please share.

Photo by Tegan Mierle on Unsplash

Motivating Students

Recently I was asked this question about motivating students:

“I am in a 6th grade classroom. I have a couple of students who can do their work and succeed in their efforts, but just chose not to. I feel as though a lot of this is a result of the pandemic, and everything that went on with the pandemic, with the students thinking they can just coast by. My question is: What is a good motivating tool, activity, or any useful idea in general to help out with this dilemma in my class?”

Even as an adult, I sometimes hit this obstacle too and it would be good for students to know that it happens to everyone. But not doing what I need to do isn’t an option. Sometimes I need to jumpstart myself into getting things done.

I believe the students are old enough to have input into what would help them be more successful. Explain to them that you know they can do their work but just don’t seem to be motivated. Ask them what would help them be more motivated since not doing the work is not an option.

As you mentioned, this might be a learned habit due to the pandemic. If so, then they need to unlearn the habit and learn a better one. They might need to create a list of what needs to done and then check off the items as they finish them.

I would ask students to complete a survey that asks them what motivates them. Is it tangible rewards or movement activities? Try to find out what activities they like to do. Once you know what would help motivate them, have them help you figure out a plan on what it would take to get something as a reward. Write it out like a behavior contract.

It also would be a good time to involve the parents. They are part of the team to help your students succeed. They might have some insight into something that would motivate the students. Involving parents should not be seen as a punishment for the students. It would be good to involve the parents before the situation gets worse.

How would you motivate these students? Please share.

Photo by Olena Sergienko on Unsplash

Introductions are Important

In Doing Your Best Work from @DavidGeurin Blog, the author states,

“We do our best work because we want to, not because we have to.”

If it is something I want or need, I will be more motivated to do the work to reach my goal.

Let’s face it, I hate housework. I do it because it is time to do it when I’m embarrassed about how bad my house looks. I don’t want to do it but I need to do it. I don’t consider it fun.

If it is something I want to do or want to accomplish, I usually enjoy it much more but when it becomes an obligation, then I dread doing it.

My students feel the same way.

If I just teach lessons they need to learn and the only purpose I can give them is because I have to teach this or you have to learn it to pass the final test, then I will face resistance to the learning.

They either won’t bother trying to learn it or even remember it. This information means nothing to them.

I need to find the catch that will make it relevant to them. I need to figure out a way to make them want to do the work.

Many times teachers tend to pay more intention to the procedure or activities instead of the introduction. They see the introduction as just a small part of the lesson. Instead, teachers need to see the introduction as the marketing tool for the lesson.

First impressions are so important. That is why the introduction to any lesson is vital to the success of the lesson. If you can hook the students into the learning and make them want to learn more, you have a much better chance of them actively learning and retaining the new information they learn.

Procedures and activities are important too because that is where the students will get the actual learning, but this process will be much easier if the students are engaged in the learning. Without a catching introduction, the rest of the lesson may feel like pushing a heavy-laden wheelbarrow up a steep hill. You hopefully will reach the top of the hill but it will be much harder than if you were going downhill.

We need to learn to teach smarter and not harder.

Do you do anything special to introduce a lesson? If so, please share.

Photo by Hannah Loreen on Unsplash

Worst Job

In Worst job ever? From Blue Skunk Blog by Doug Johnson asks,

“What was your worst job ever? Did it shape you?”

Over the years I have worked at many different jobs and some were better than others.

My first job was as a cashier in the Chinese restaurant that my father managed. At the time I thought it was horrible. I didn’t understand Chinese and I didn’t have anyone to talk to. Plus, it just wasn’t any fun.

Then in the summer, I worked at a camp counselor with children and I loved it.

When I went away to college, I was on campus work/study and I worked in the dining hall, class registration, cultural events, and dormitory “guard” where I had to check school IDs before visitors could enter. All of these were interesting and none of them were horrible.

I also had some side jobs such as babysitting, house cleaning, tutoring, and typing up papers for athletes. None of them really thrilled me but they brought in money.

Once I had a car, I branched out and got summer jobs off campus.

One summer I held three jobs. I worked a morning shift at a motel as a desk clerk which was horrible because the boss was mean and abusive. I only lasted about 3 weeks there before deciding that I didn’t have to take the abuse. I also worked at the mall in a clothing store called Fashion Bug. I enjoyed that because I got a discount on the clothing I bought. On weekends I worked 12 hours at the newspaper office in the complaint department. People called when they didn’t get a paper and I sent someone out to get one to them. I enjoyed that, especially since that is where I met my husband!

After I graduated, I became a teacher and taught for over 30 years! I’ve loved every minute of it!

Now to get on to my worst job:

My first summer home after I was in college, I found a job in a knitting factory. I’m glad that there are people willing to work in a factory but I thought it was horrible. It was hot and there was no air conditioning. It gave new meaning to the word “sweatshop” for me! The job was so monotonous and didn’t really involve any thinking. For 8 hours a day I threaded knitting tubes into coat sweaters as a belt. I stood on my feet the whole day doing this except for my lunch break. Of course, I needed the money for college so I didn’t complain. The best part of this whole experience is that it motivated me to do well in college. Even the workers there loved me and kept telling me that I needed to do well so that I didn’t end up like them in a sweatshop. When I was at college and I felt discouraged, I just thought of that job and the possibility of having to do something like that the rest of my life! That truly was a kick in the pants!

Maybe everyone needs a “worst job” so they can stay motivated to reach their goal.

What was your worst job? Please share.

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Self-Motivation

In 90% of coaching is self-coaching from Seth Godin's Blog , Seth Godin shares,

“Sooner or later, all motivation is self motivation. And the challenge and opportunity is in finding the external forces that will soon become internal ones.

When we are teaching our students, we are always trying to find ways to motivate them. We want them to want to learn. We want them to enjoy learning. We want them to get good grades. We want them to succeed. Yet, it is like that old saying about how you can bring a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.

If we can just give our students a little taste of success, hopefully, it will plant a seed of hope. Having hope is a scary thing because it is so easy and quick to lose hope.

I hope that as I can help each student achieve a little success, it will lead to more success and eventually big successes. Sure, there will be obstacles and possible failures but if there are enough successes, the obstacles and failures won’t stop my student from continuing the quest for success.

There will always be mountains and valleys in our lives and it is always harder to climb a mountain than to roll down a mountain. It takes more effort and even some blood, sweat, and tears, but the outstanding views are usually worth it.

I can’t teach self-motivation and I don’t believe that a parent can teach it either. It has to come from within. A student has to want something bad enough that he is willing to risk everything to get what he wants.

Once I can find out what will motivate a student to try, it will take self-motivation for him to keep trying. It is my job to plant those seeds of hope, keep them watered, and to nurture them.

How do you feel about self-motivation? Please share.

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The Long Run

In The daily from Seth Godin's Blog, Seth Godin shares,

“Every single day is a lot of days. It’s easy to look at the long run and lull yourself into skipping a day now and then.”

I am currently working on a big long-term project and I have put myself on a strict schedule. Of course, this takes self-discipline because it is easy to say, “I have time. I can skip today and work double tomorrow.” This sounds good until tomorrow comes and I look back wishing that I didn’t skip a day. Sometimes it is not realistic to think that working double the next day equals the work you do regularly.

When I am trying to lose weight, I might eat lots of junk food today and then tell myself I will eat even less tomorrow but that really doesn’t equal out.

When I’m cleaning my house, I try to clean one room each day but if I skip it one day, I need to do two room the next. Unfortunately, I skip a lot of days and then find myself overwhelmed on the weekend.

We try to exercise walk every day but sometimes life gets in the way and it isn’t possible. If I skip one day, I try to make sure I walk the next. I don’t like to skip more than two days in a row or it is likely that I will skip a lot of days after that.

I’m the kind of person that makes a schedule and I just stick to it.

When I want to skip a day, it makes it easier to skip the next and even easier to skip the next until I’ve totally abandoned my schedule.

I’m sure that my students can come up with many excuses why they can’t do something. Sometimes they would rather come up with excuses than to work. I need to help them see the big picture and the end result. I need to help them see that in the long run, it will be worth the day to day grind. Even though it isn’t easy, there will positive results as long as we push ourselves day to day.

All the usual clichés come to mind:

·      Take one day at a time.

·      Take one step at a time.

·      Take one bite at a time.

·      Slow and steady win the race.

We need to do what needs to be done every day and then be glad for the work we do. Appreciate that the small steps will help us reach our goal. By putting off each step only prolongs us reaching the goal and we may never have success.

How do you motivate yourself to take a step every day towards your goal? Please share.

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