So I must say that I am in love with Conley's boxes. My oh my how I find the most useful information in his little clever boxes. The box that I found to be so profound was found on page 193 of our beautiful Conley text. In the corner of the box you will find a little picture of a perfect diversified group of students just waiting to share with you the great words on motivation and students.
This particular box on motivation hones in upon motivation within the adolescent group and focuses on literacy development. All of the ideas that are given here are research-based, which means that we can value and trust in the information found here, unlike on wikipedia.
Choice is key when it comes to student motivation. Just like with our tutoring at Petal Upper, we gave our student a choice from three trade books, this choice motivated them because they got to choose what it was they were going to have read to them. Choice is powerful, even as an adult, we revel in the option of choices.
This box discusses that adolescence is a time for self-definition. I agree with this, and I also would love to add that I think this period of self-defining goes on right up in to early adulthood. But, during this period it is easy for students to become very disengaged and lose all motivation. It is up to us as teachers to take on this DIFFICULT task of finding out how to motivate all students so that they can reach success in any subject.
This box also discusses how a student's identity is ever changing during adolescence. So this immediately signals to me that what may motivate a student one day, will not motivate them the next. As students lose a sense of control over their lives, it is important to give them a sense of control in the classroom and learning, so that motivation will naturally occur. Autonomy is key here guys! I should know this because I live at home with my parents.
I hope you all take note of Conley's boxes even if you do not really read the chapters, you can gain so much from them! Ciao Bella!
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Excellent post Nicholas. I too appreciate Conley's clever little boxes. I have to say, I disagree with your stance on Wikipedia though. I find it's useful as a starting point, but I haven't found erroneous information that wasn't cleared up faster than a New York minute. Have I changed your thinking?
ReplyDeleteThank you nicholas for the insight on the little boxes. I totally agree with you that adolesents is a huge time for students to begin defining themselves. Figuring out who they are going to be, what crowed they are going to run with, and what they will be known for. During that time it is vital for teachers to begin to motivate them in unique ways. What are some of those ways? How can we as teachers utilize this impressionable time to the best of the child's benefit and our benefit?
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