Motivation Matters: Tools to Encourage Students to Become Engaged Readers and Learners

Joy L. Russelljlrussell@eiu.edu

Department of EC/ELE/MLEEastern Illinois University

East Central-EIU Reading CouncilFebruary 9, 2009

Why is the topic of Motivation Important?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29xGvc5QbiU

FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT Marzano, 2001

• SCHOOL - guaranteed and viable curriculum - challenging goals and effective feedback - parent and community involvement -safe and orderly environment -collegiality and professionalism• TEACHER -instructional strategies -classroom management -classroom curriculum design• STUDENT -home atmosphere -learned intelligence and background knowledge -motivation

Describe the Motivated Student

Motivational Descriptors(Howse, Lange, Farran, & Boyles, 2003)

• Student is competitive with self and/or other children.

• Student is a self-starter: independent.

• Student can interest self.

• Student prefers challenging rather than nonchallenging tasks.

What Motivates You?

Score yourself as follows:

Intrinsic Motivation:

• Reverse scores for items 9 and 14

• Add the scores for these items: 3+5+7+8+9+11+13+14+17+20+23+26+27+28+30

• Higher scores indicate higher levels of intrinsic motivation. An average Intrinsic Motivation score based on previous experiments is 45. Where do you score?

Extrinsic Motivation:

• Reverse scores for items 1, 16, and 22

• Add the scores for these items: 1+2+4+6+10+12+15+16+18+19+21+22+24+25+29

• Higher scores indicate higher levels of intrinsic motivation An average Extrinsic Motivation score based on previous experiments is 39. Where do you score?

Motivation Definitions(Messer, 1995; Stipek, 2002)

• Intrinsic Motivation: This is an internal locus of causality. Student involved in activities by own volition. Exists in absence of extrinsic reward or purpose.

• Extrinsic Motivation: This is an external locus of causality. Student involved in activities to receive reward or please another or some other reason other than personal preference.

“Children don’t need to be rewarded to learn…..at any age rewards are less effective than intrinsic motivation..” Kohn, 1993

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Is learning a function of the

teacher’s ability to find the right combination of

rewards and punishments?

Is learning a function of the

teacher’s ability to find the right combination of

rewards and punishments?

Motivation… Fact or Fantasy?

1. Some kids are just not motivated?

2. Rewards motivate?

3. You can be motivated one day and not the next?

4. Competition is a great motivator? Yougottawanna…

5. Punishment is an effective motivator?

PRINCIPLES FOR MAXIMIZING STUDENT MOTIVATION FOR LEARNING

1. Operate from understanding of student needs.

2. Manage Context-Not students

Motivation for Learning Bain& Jacobs, 1990; Brophy & Good, 1986; Wang, Haertel & Walberg, 1993)

• High levels of motivation in teachers relate to high levels of motivation for students

• Teacher’s enthusiasm for learning and for the subject matter is an important factor in student motivation

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s-oGumvPz0&feature=related

• A teacher’s involvement in graduate studies may be a source of motivation for students

Standards for Maximizing Student Motivation

The student must believe the learning is…

• Valuable• Involving• Successful• Safe• Caring• Enabling

What makes children want to read?

Intrinsic Motivation• Involvement (the

experience of getting lost in a book

• Curiosity (interest in the subject)

• Preference for challenge (seeking to figure something out

Extrinsic Motivation• Recognition (awards,

prizes, etc)• Grades• Compliance• Competition

Motivating Students to Read

• Assign the reading at least two sessions before it will be discussed • Assign study questions• Have students turn in brief notes on the day's reading that they can

use during exams • Ask students to write a one-word journal or one-word sentence• Ask nonthreatening questions about the reading

What makes children want to read?

Self-efficacy• Belief by the student

that s/he can be successful at reading so that s/he approaches books with confidence

Social Interaction• Sharing with friends

and family through discussion, shared writing, etc.

• http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/learnresource/Readmotivation.htm The Superintendent’s reading Motivation project

• http://www.rif.org/parents/motivate/default.mspx Reading is fundamental

• http://www.readingrockets.org/research/topic/motivation Reading motivation research

Ideas to increase intrinsic motivation (Rogers, Ludington, & Graham, 1997)

• Provide meaningful choices• Provide frequent, specific, non-

judgmental feedback focused on progress and growth

• Embed learning in activities students find enjoyable and worthwhile

• Protect the student from embarrassment

• Build positive self confidence through evidence of success

• Avoid the overuse of extrinsic motivators

• Match instructional activities to students learning needs

• Model learning with enthusiasm• Use cooperative learning (build

community)• Provide celebrations for success

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wec6w-r4g8U&feature=related change the world