The key to a successful lesson is Motivation.

The key to my improvement? Better motivation.

 

Last week I commented on how Word Problems can be tricky, but I must highlight the fact that they can also be excellent motivators… but how do you motivate if there is no word problem to match the material? This is something I’m struggling with.

In a recent blog post entitled, “Motivation Matters,” by By NCTM President Linda M. Gojak, Gojak comments on a common concern across all mathematics classroom is the fact that students aren’t motivated.  As I sat and read about Gojak’s concerns, I felt a deep stab of worry – What if I cannot motivate my own students? And so I stop to ponder, what are some good motivational techniques – other than Word Problems?

 

I’m not necessarily ill-equipped in regards to this, but rather being molded through the TIME 2000 program for the past four years has given me an array of ideas on the matter, I just need to sort through these and start applying them.

Motivation can be acquired by providing an engaging activity for the students to learn mathematics in a hands-on way.  It can be developed by using technology in a way that is different than usual, like using graphing software to point out points, or using applets on your Apple.  Motivation can be applied by allowing students to develop their own questions they want answered – showing them their own void in knowledge in such a way that they want to fill it.

I know the ideas behind these, my problem is that I’m having trouble applying them.  How can I motivate lessons on adding and subtracting polynomials?

My fear is related to what Gojak talked of, that as “self-efficacy wanes, so does motivation.”   I want my students to feel a confidence in themselves, that mathematics isn’t difficult if you allow yourself to be open to it.  I’m trying – we’ll see what some more schooling, and learning from experiences does!