Kids are more likely to be motivated when they feel like they have control over what they do. Kids have different interests that vary from time to time. For example, when kids feel more energetic, they may want physical activity, while tired kids may want to hear a story. The more control the teacher gives the students, the more likely they will want to perform these tasks. Some gifted children are bored with the general curriculum and need a different curriculum to stay motivated.
Rewards can encourage kids to perform tasks they otherwise wouldn’t want to do. For example, kids could receive ice cream sundaes after learning their multiplication tables. However, reward systems can backfire, since the kids may only feel motivated to perform tasks when they know they will receive a reward. Ideally, teachers want children to view tasks as rewarding in themselves, so the kids will do them even absent of a teacher.
Praise is more effective when kids find a task rewarding in itself, since they are not as likely to stop viewing activities as intrinsically rewarding when praised, according to the Raising Happiness newsletter posted on the Berkeley University website. Conveying enthusiasm can help motivate kids as well.
Most children in the 21st century are highly exposed to technology and feel comfortable using computers and gadgets. Incorporating technology into activities can help motivate students since they believe the technology is interesting and find it familiar.
Teachers should have high expectations for their students and communicate them openly. If the teacher realistically thinks the students can learn their times tables in two weeks, he should tell them that he expects them to learn in a week instead. Kids will often be more motivated to meet these higher expectations.
Kids are often not motivated if they lose confidence in themselves. Teachers should engage in occasional confidence-building by pointing out student successes. However, they should make sure they praise accomplishments only, since kids are likely to become skeptical when they are praised for easy tasks.
Some teachers use punishment to motivate children. Poor grades punish children and children sometimes receive punishments at home for bad grades. Children who do not cooperate often receive detentions and other punishments. Like with rewards, punishments often only motivate students to not perform an action until the caretaker withdraws the punishment.