This Valentine’s Day, let’s all remember that a love of learning is the most important ingredient in student success. Okay, it’s corny: so is just about everything else about this holiday! Nevertheless, the value of nurturing a genuine sense of curiosity in our students cannot be overstated. We all want to see our students full of confidence, eager to take on challenges, undeniably passionate about the material they’re studying; if you’re a teacher, it’s likely that you yourself feel a deep passion for the subject you’ve chosen. But while the thrill of discovering new parts of the world and how it works is an inherent part of childhood, that thrill doesn’t always translate into the classroom.
Instead, it’s easy to fall into the trap of seeing school as a job, defined by boring homework that keeps us from what we’d rather be doing, or frustrating difficulties that lead to anxiety and avoidance. Most unfortunately of all, this perception can lead to a downward spiral, since a lack of motivation can make mastering new material a foot-dragging, mind-numbing process that leaves students further behind and even less likely to engage the next day.
Breaking out of this cycle isn’t easy. Sometimes an extrinsic motivation (i.e., a reward that creates a reason to finish the activity or invest in schoolwork) might be required to get over the hump. Whenever possible, though, it’s worth putting in the effort to encourage students to find intrinsic motivation—that is, a desire that comes from within themselves. Here are some tips for building this kind of motivation, and the love of learning that can accompany it:
Teach students how to set achievable, relevant personal goals and help them to track their growth
Offer students more control by providing options, so that they can have a sense of ownership over what and how they learn
Give students simple access to the resources and support they need to overcome challenge without being burned by shame or anxiety
Promote a growth mindset that celebrates challenge and rewards effort