Teaching Tips to Keep Students Motivated and Learning the Entire Year

ng your students engaged in learning is one of theclass and try to plan to accommodate all of them. Try
core objectives of the educator. An engaged studentto plan the unit so that you can engage all the different
is a student that is learning. This goal should be firsttype of learners.
and foremost when you are preparing to teach a unit.4. BE SURE TO USE VARIETY, it is the spice of life
Planning is essential in teaching. Discovering whatand of learning! Taking several different approaches to
works and what doesn't can be a trial and errorthe same unit and using several different learning tools
process, but of course because curriculum is so tightcan really pump up the learning. Quantity and quality
knit and concentrated - a lot of trial and error cannotcombined will make a huge difference in the learning
take place. You as an educator need to be able tooutcomes. The key is to use variety and to make sure
plan effectively. Below are some rough guidelines thatthat the variety is all geared toward the same learning
will help you to use your planning time effectively andgoal. There are plenty of materials that can be used in
to make the most of each unit that you are teaching.the classroom to facilitate learning, take advantage of
1. GET TO THE CORE of the unit. Understanding thewhat is available and switch things up once in a while.
content and uses of the unit are very important partsStanding in front of a board and reading out loud or
of meeting the learning objectives. Each unit will havehaving students copy stuff over and over will certainly
many activity opportunities, take advantage of thosework but it is forced learning, which may or may not
opportunities that are going to engage the studentsbe stored for the long term.
and enhance learning. Avoid using activities that just5. ALWAYS HAVE FUN with what you are teaching.
take up time with busy work but do not lend anyThe best teachers know that their enthusiasm is
support to the unit.contagious. Students will immediately pick up whether
2. REVIEW YOUR CONTENT OUTLINES so that youyou are enjoying what you do or not. Students will
can use the content outlines to brain storm ideas thatfeed off positive involvement from their teacher. Think
will result in coming up with activities that will motivateof it this way, when you feel like you are doing a great
the students to learn. Challenging the students willjob it encourages you to do a better job, and it is the
motivate them and stir their curiosity about the subject.same with students and learning. Motivation takes all
3. PUT BRAINSTORMING INTO ACTION. Once youshapes and forms, but it is far quicker to catch flies
have decided where you want the lesson to go andwith honey than it is to catch them with vinegar. If you
have some ideas to entice your students into learning,want your students to enjoy learning and put on a
put your ideas into action. You have to givepositive face then give them a positive face to look at.
consideration to the types or learners you have in the