Motivational+Ideas

= Motivational Ideas =



2. STICKERS
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3. PRAISE
How Can You Make Praise in the     Classroom      Effective?

Praise in the classroom is most effective when teachers recognize that students "work **not** for us, but with us and for themselves".

The same is true that we work with the administration and for ourselves to the benefit of others (students and parents). In order for our students to achieve to their potential, we must learn this concept and teach it to them.

When motivating and praising students, it's vital that we adopt a "work **with**" position.

Do you recognize the difference between "I'm proud of you" and "You should be proud of yourself" or "That pleases me" and "You did a      good job       "? The     student      may think it means that they did a lot better than you thought they would. You see, the **emphasis** of the praise comment should be the student, not the teacher.

When a teacher inspires to implement praise in the classroom, they allow students to develop standards that might exceed their own. When you continually use phrases such as "I'm proud of you", it doesn't motivate students. It sets new      standards based       on what they think you want, you like or know you dislike.

Being a teacher, you do realize that what you **say** to students is vital. When we use classroom praise, it can be encouraging and      growth       producing. Praising students can be stimulating and motivating. But remember, whenever we praise or give a compliment and is more self-serving than serving, the giver is also the intended receiver.

For best results, praise must be **specific** and it must be related to specific accomplishments. That's why it's imperative to remember that your students don't work for us, study for us, or learn for us. Rather, they work with us and we with them. However, they are working for their own self-improvement.

If you want to motivate students to attain their greatest potential, you must help them realize that they are working for **themselves** - to be the best they can possibly be.

You must realize that praise that is meaningful and specific and centered on the individual student helps us help students move in the right direction.

Praising students can also be done privately, on a one-on-one basis. In this process, you must explain **specifically**, not generally, how the student can improve their performance. Doing this as a motivational tool can create success.

With time and experience using praise in the classroom, hopefully will become second nature to you, using it sincerely, genuinely and meaningfully. Read my page on [|student motivation] to get more insight and tips on praising students. http://www.priceless-teaching-strategies.com/praise-in-the-classroom.html

5.CLASSROOM AWARDS
Classroom Awards To   Reward    and Motivate. They're A MUST!!

Classroom awards, i.e. __ recognition awards __, are __ absolutely fabulous __ for building student motivation in the classroom and definitely essential for creating strong teacher student relationships.

Whether you are 5, 10, 22, 37 or 50 years old, you **appreciate praise and acknowledgment** for who you are and what you achieve! I **always** gave out __ student awards __ - even my Grade 6 students loved receiving them. The one that was favored the most was [|"Student of the Week".] I always used a variety of   stickers    on my student awards. For example: All __     elementary school      __ kids - no matter how old, **LOVE** stickers! Often I had them choose their own sticker(s) that they wanted on their individual award or certificate. After all, it was **their** proud moment! I started giving out certificates the very first week - welcoming my students to my class/grade and letting them know that I was looking forward to working with them throughout the year. Believe me when I say that classroom awards/certificates are a necessity in your classroom and will be a huge hit. Decide what you want students to achieve in present terms, then reward their present performance. People/students react adversely to criticism, especially if repeated. These criticisms lower productivity and satisfaction in the classroom - that's the opposite of what you're trying to achieve. In my last school, I started a "Kindness Tree". A beautifully designed tree with many branches was put up on a __ bulletin board __ in the main hall of the school. Once a month, one or two students from each class was chosen by their teacher, secretly, and was presented with an award or gift at our monthly assembly. Students were chosen by their teacher for various reasons; e.g. continually using manners, being polite, always sharing, being conscientious, displaying care and concern for others, etc., etc., etc. After the assembly, their name was printed on aleaf and placed on one branch of the tree and remained there the whole year. The gifts would range from dollar store items, gift certificates from a local fast food restaurant, free library book or whatever your school could afford. The "Kindness Tree" was a huge hit. It was a bit of work on my part - getting the names from all the teachers, doing the presentations at the assembly, buying the gifts and maintaining the look of the tree. For me, it was well worth it. It was great **motivation** for the students, staff and it spoke volumes for what our school stood for. There were a variety of things for which I created and gave out classroom awards throughout the year. To name just a few: monthly speller, students who always returned their library books on time, most improved in Math, great effort, terrific helper (without being asked), cleanest desk (inside of course), someone who always shared - I could go on and on. Knowing the students in you class, you can create any award you want to give them. Use your imagination. When I gave a classroom award out of the blue, seeing a **big** smile appear on their face, gave me the greatest high and made me smile as well(it's contagious). What fabulous motivation and inspiration for your other students! Please keep in mind that by the end of the school year, **every student** in your class should receive an award. Don't leave anyone out! You don't want to crush any student's self esteem. Every student deserves recognition and class awards are a great way to go!! You may have to dig deep or be quite creative to think of an award for certain students, but it was a rewarding experience for them - it's a win-win situation! http://www.priceless-teaching-strategies.com/classroom-awards.html
 * Sports __ Achievement Award __ - stickers with soccer, football or basketballs on them.
 * __ Halloween stickers __ throughout the month of October on certificates, awards or school passes you give out.
 * __ Christmas stickers __ throughout the month of December.

6. 100TH DAY OF SCHOOL
=== Celebrating the 100th day of school allows students to do fun activities to reward themselves for all that they have done in the first 100 days. For many students it serves as a mile stone for the year and encourages them to work hard for the remaining 80 or so days. ===

=== This goes along with the behavior clip chart system. Kids who move their clip up to the top get a jewel put on their clip. Once they earn five jewels, their clip gets moved to the Hall Of Fame out in the hall. Then all the kids can see it and they get to have lunch with the teacher on a certain date .===

10. CLASS REWARDS
=== A great motivational tool is offering class rewards, or a reward that is for the whole class. This could be a special treat, extra recess, no homework, pizza party, etc. This encourages kids to work together to earn a reward that everyone can enjoy together. ===

11. HANG MOTIVATIONAL POSTERS
Kids like posters so a good way to motivate students is by hanging posters that are motivational. They can be in the classroom, lunchroom, hall ways, or anywhere where students would benefit from seeing them.