How to Motivate Third Grade Students in the Elementary Classroom

Third graders enjoy being creative in class.

Third grade is a critical year for children. It usually is considered the year when more complex study in math and reading begins. Researchers routinely use test data from this year of instruction to ascertain and predict students' future academic success. Motivating students is a challenge for educators who have to teach from a curriculum and help each child master many skills in a classroom setting. The key to motivating lies in building a sense of personal accountability for learning while showing kids that they can have fun in the process. Teachers must also be willing to take risks and open up about their own educational experiences, which shows children that learning is a lifelong pursuit.

Instructions

1. Incorporate fun into learning. Third graders enjoy playing games in the classroom. They will not mind if the games are academic as long as they are fun. Play "Around the World," a fast-paced whole-group game, to review math facts. Kids stand up by their desks and answer math questions displayed on flash cards by the teacher. If they answer incorrectly, they sit down. The last child standing is the winner.

2. Include students when making instructional decisions, if possible. This is a strong motivator for class participation. Let students vote on the novel to be read. Ask them what subjects they are interested in when writing reports instead of assigning topics. Reluctant learners may be motivated to study if they get to have meaningful input.

3. Focus on rewards, not consequences. When the motivation to behave is to avoid punishments, students will try to push the limits and cause disruptions just to get a reaction from the teacher and their classmates. Recognize and praise those who are acting appropriately. Give prizes like stickers, pencils or homework passes as acknowledgments that you appreciate their cooperativeness. A to Z Teacher Stuff has many suggestions for effective classroom rewards.

4. Display students' work on a bulletin board or on the wall outside the classroom. This will motivate kids who do not take classwork seriously or don't think it has any value. It doesn't matter if it is a drawing of the Earth's layers or a time line of American history, kids enjoy seeing that their efforts are good enough to be shown to others. Establish a criteria for students to earn this privilege; assignments or drawings must include all the required information, and work must be original and submitted on time.

5. Participate in the learning process. Third-graders will be motivated with a desire to learn when they see that you are also interested. When applicable, share personal information concerning what you liked in school. Education.com suggests that when encouraging kids to read, bring some of your favorite books and tell why you liked them and what you learned from them.

References

• Education.com: Motivating Students to Read
• Scholastic: Third Grade Math Motivation
• A To Z Teacher Stuff: Motivating Students

Resources

• Kid Source: Student Motivation to Learn