What Underachieving
Middle School Students
Believe Motivates them to Learn
Middle School Students
Believe Motivates them to Learn
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Middle School Students Believe Motivates them to Learn |
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Chapter 1: The Challenge to Educate Everyone Chapter 2: A Review of Literature Chapter 3: Methods Chapter 4: The Results Chapter 5: Discussion
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Environment is the fourth critical factor for meaningful, engaged learning. Students won’t learn from teachers they think don’t like them. The student/teacher relationship is key to learning (Dowty, 1997; Emerick, 1992) Students want their teachers to know them well and have a positive attitude, including being fun and humorous. Further, an environment which is not emotionally or physically safe can shut down higher cognitive processes, including learning (Caine & Caine, 1991, 1997). Relationships, trust, and respect, especially with their teachers, were important to each of the six students. The four in this study wanted positive, humorous teachers that knew them well and challenged them. Several of the students said that they had a hard time learning from teachers who were grumpy or who nagged, and Andy and Mike from the pilot study said they wouldn’t learn from teachers who didn’t like them. Field observations were filled with examples of teachers trying to help students succeed in their work, and teachers spoke of getting to know students as a vital first step in helping them achieve. Teachers should create a respectful environment within their classrooms. They should get to know their students well, including their interests and aspirations, and personal histories and contexts. This might be facilitated by long term relationships with students, achieved through looping, multiage classrooms, or multiyear classrooms. Teachers should treat students as if they like and respect them, even when disciplining. |
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Send questions or comments to wilder@somtel.com Last updated April 25, 2001 |
Assistant Professor of Education University of Maine at Farmington 104 Main Street Farmington, ME 04938 207.778.7179 wilder@somtel.com http://violet.umf.maine.edu/~mmuir |