Chpt. 10 Response to: Motivation

By Tiffany

I really thought you brought up some interesting and valid points. I mainly liked your example on how to phrase things to your students. It makes a lot of sense that you would want your students to know what they are doing well at. If you just say “good job,” there is no explanation of what that good job was for. However, if you tell them that they have showed great improvement with understanding the vocabulary words they will understand what they have achieved.

Your comment about control caused me to reflect on my past job. I remember the parent of John (not his real name) told me that if I let him feel he was in control, I would have less behavior problems with him. Where I do not agree with that, I do think it is important for kids to feel they have control over their schoolwork (which I am assuming you meant anyway, just explaining my train of thought). I agree that a balance is the most effective way for students to achieve in school. They need parameters to work inside, but with some flexibility they may show more excitement about school. Students could potentially choose to do an assignment that interests them. We all know it is more interesting to do an assignment based off of something that intrigues us. I think this is a perfect way to approach teaching, especially with the differing learning abilities. One assignment could be a little more in depth for the students that feel like pushing themselves and one could be basic, but just as interesting for students that are struggling.

I agree with everything you said about the WASL. My concern as a new teacher is that it may be relatively easy to learn (or research) about the different teaching strategies and techniques, but how easy is it for us to apply them in our own classrooms? As an inexperienced teacher I do not know how flexible curriculum is (at my last school it was very structured) and therefore I do not know how much time must be dedicated to WASL subjects. What are our options if we know it is not in the students’ best interest? This frightens me, but at the same time intrigues me because maybe it is possible to get around the “politics of school” and do what we feel needs to be done to benefit our students.