Individual and Group Motivation

445 Words2 Pages
Understanding students in the classroom is very important to success in the teaching learning process. This success relies heavily on the teacher’s ability to engage students in a way that promotes their drive and will to learn. Therefore, it is critical that teachers understand what motivates their students individually, as well as in groups. Because students are social beings, teachers must pay keen attention to how students work independently, as well as in groups to be able to maximize on his or her potential to teach effectively. Figuring out what motivates students both individually or in groups is a very challenging task for teachers, especially with the problems encountered such as large classrooms, packed curriculum, and standardized assessments that force teachers to teach to the average student, as opposed to each student. However, a teacher cannot fully engage each student until he or she understands what motivates his or her students. This is a prerequisite for formulating child-centered activities for learning. The teacher can then customize his approach or differentiate his instruction to cater to the needs of individual students, instead of a one-size-fits-all approach. Children come from communities, therefore it is also important for teachers to know a little about students’ social, economic and cultural background, and how these influence student motivation in the classroom. These differences that students come into the classroom with can be used as resources to help the teacher to enhance the teaching learning process, as she will be able structure activities that tap into their interests. Also, as long as students understand that their differences are respected, and that they have a responsibility to be a part of their learning, this can prove to be a great motivational factor. Understanding group dynamics is also key to determining
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