Motivation Matters
Motivation Matters covered what works, and what doesn’t work, to motivate students to do better in school. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: student motivation & engagement.
Education
Rating YouTube Videos for Teachers
The folks over at SmartTeaching.org recently compiled a list of the "100 Best YouTube Videos for Teachers," a compilation organized into nine categories: history, science, language, arts, inspiration, classroom management, how-tos and guides, technology, and humor.
Reading & Literacy
"I read ten pages!"
I have been encouraging, pushing, and prodding my 13-year-old son for years to read more. He has declared numerous times that he hates to read because it is boring and a waste of time. I have countered that reading allows you to travel to times and places you could never actually visit, it helps you understand the world around you, and becoming a better reader will eventually help you land a better job in the future. The last argument seems to attract the most attention.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Inspired by Olympians
There are very few events that capture the concepts of determination, perseverance, and motivation better than the Olympics. Unlike Kevin, I'm not a big sports fan, and I very rarely keep up with athletics in general, but every time the Olympics roll around, I find myself glued to the television, marveling at the absolutely amazing things people are capable of. I put more hours of TV-watching in during the Olympics than I do at any other time of year (well, except for Shark Week).
Education
What I've Learned From Public Radio
I have a confession: I am a public radio addict. It started a few months ago when a friend sent me a link to a show he thought I might like, and since then it's spiraled a little bit out of control. I've subscribed to dozens of podcasts and my radio dial has barely moved from my local public radio station. The reason I'm telling you this is because I stumbled across a video a few weeks ago that I would like to share. It's Ira Glass, the radio host of This American Life, talking about the creative process and the kind of effort required to be successful. It's part of a series he did about storytelling, and although he's talking specifically about radio and video stories, I find what he says to be applicable to almost anything. Also, it's one of the most motivating pieces of advice I've heard.
College & Workforce Readiness
Bridging Classroom and Workforce Lessons
I was glad to see in the July 31 Baltimore Sun that even in a time when school districts and local governments are strapped for cash, some programs are still deemed important enough to warrant continued funding. Baltimore's YouthWorks program, which employs thousands of students during the summer, received about $300,000 from the state government in funding this year, which contributed to the program finding work for about 6,500 students--up from 5,400 last year, says the article.
Education
The High Cost of Rising Gas Prices
I don't think a day goes by when I don't see another story about the price of gas--the way it's affecting school districts, the economy, family vacations, and lifestyles in general. Take this story in the Los Angeles Times. It says that for the first time in nine years, gas has taken over apparel as the top expense for teens, according to a survey by Junior Achievement.
Education
Realizations from Rock Climbing
This story by teacher Jennifer McDaniel is a great read for anyone aspiring to be an educator or mentor. McDaniel says that when she began to rock climb, even though she wanted to reach the top of the wall, and she listened to her instructor's directions, it was very difficult for her to succeed in scaling the wall. Although she was listening very closely and trying her hardest, she kept making mistakes, which in turn made her instructor frustrated and impatient. The experience made her realize how important it was to have teachers who believed in their students and didn't assume that struggling students were just apathetic and disengaged.
Science
Held Back by Stereotypes
This story from the Associated Press is one part good and one part not-so-hot news for educators about girls and math. According to the article, girls and boys score equally well on math tests in every grade from 2nd through 11th, but the stereotype that boys are better at the subject still persists in the mindset of teachers and parents, which can have devastating effects on motivation levels for girls.
Education
"Last Lecture" Lessons
Back in April, we posted a blog entry about Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon University professor who, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, delivered a "Last Lecture" about achieving childhood dreams. Pausch, who expanded his lecture into a book, appeared on Oprah, and inspired millions of people with his message, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer last Friday.
College & Workforce Readiness
Motivational House Calls
This story from The Sacramento Bee is a great follow-up to yesterday's post about the relationship between motivation, mentorship, and parental involvement.
Education
The Four M's of Success
This commentary on edweek.org boils down four factors, which the author, Leanna Landsmann, calls the four M's, that make high-achieving, low-income New York City high school seniors into college-goers: mentors, moxie, motivation, and Moms.
Education
Camp Invention: The Value of Hands-On Activities
Here's another example of a summer camp that aims to introduce kids to opportunities they may not have the chance to experience during the school year. The Ohio-based program is called Camp Invention, and it fuses hands-on activities with science, math, history, and the arts.
Science
Libraries and Gaming
I have mixed feelings about this AP story, which is about a library that has set up a place for kids to play video games. On the one hand, I do think it's a great way to draw kids into the library and expose them to what it has to offer, but being a reader at heart, I can't help but wonder if it might encourage some potential readers to skip over the books and other resources the library provides in favor of more easily accessible entertainment.
Education
Energizing Engagement
This commentary on edweek.org is all about the importance of motivation in closing the achievement gap. It's a good read that pulls together a lot of what we talk about here on this blog. Check it out.