Motivating Reluctant Learners

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Motivating Reluctant Learners Effective
Communication

• _at_Dr. Doug
• Methods
• Nipissing University

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• "You cannot teach people anything.
• You can only help them discover it within
  themselves."
• Galileo

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Why are students Reluctant to Learn??

• Not interested in school at all?
• Not interested in what you are teaching?
• Other things on their mind?
• Not able to learn in the time-frame or manner of
  presentation?

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SEVEN Motivating Techniques will follow
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1 The first five minutes are crucial Present
a Challenge Use a HOOK or Introduction Activity

• Get the students involved as soon as they enter
  the class
• Use meaningful subject-oriented activities or get
  right into lesson
• Avoid letting them sit and chat while taking
  attendance
• By engaging students right away will be easier to
  keep them focused for the lesson.
• Great care must be taken to select the challenge
  or hook
• Hook must be short and not complex
• Hook leads into the lesson, must not detract
  from lesson
• Hook must be within students ability

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2 Dont forget the last five minutes

• Have something planned.
• Consolidation activity, HW.
• Keep their interest rather than idle chat.

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3 Use Games/Puzzles/Cartoons

• Puzzles, games, Jeopardy, etc.
• Brief and Simple
• Use cartoon as a hook or on a worksheet

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4 Recognize that the student needs to feel a
sense of belonging

• Hook the student set up special responsibilities
• Student-centered class choices,
• student-initiated activities
• Set up peer-tutors, buddies
• Encourage participation
• Be available for extra-help

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5 Recognize that the student is employing
coping strategies to protect him/herself.

• Avoid confrontation
• Focus on identifying learning gaps
• Show interest, encourage the student to feel
  competent
• Give one-on-one feedback
• Concentrate on strengths
• Help the student to see cause/effect
  relationships

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6 Emphasize and Encourage Effort

• Give a reason for effort
• Allow the 3 Rs redo, retake, revise
• Separate effort from achievement
• Encourage each student to improve one thing each
  day
• Ask for small things first
• Develop plans in writing

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6 Creating Hope

• Show how achievement benefits
• Create challenges that can be mastered
• Help students develop goals
• Help them to get organized
• Focus on success
• Focus on the learning process
• Make homework a bonus
• Encourage/support positive affirmations

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Hope Community
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7 Involve Guardians/Parents

• Phone
• Email
• Face to face
• Helpers
• Donators
• Resources/experts
• Guest speakers
• Coaches, tutors, volunteers

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Motivating Students

• (a) Write a reflexive paragraph on possible ways
  you might actively involve guardians/parents in
  your pedagogy. Use examples and analogies. (b)
  Accordingly, revise your newsletter to
  incorporate some aspect of your altered
  philosophy. Be prepared to share both.
• Refer to what you consider to be a successful
  lesson from your last practicum. Revise the
  Pre-assessment of learners section to include
  more details/strategies on accommodations for (a)
  a student or students who may lack motivation or
  (b) have a literacy or numeracy problem.