What Are Some Activities to Motivate Students in the Classroom?

Some students work harder when they will receive something tangible in return.

There are students who are intrinsically motivated and equipped with a great desire to advance themselves academically. Unfortunately, there are those whose desire to learn and effort to achieve are lacking. It is impossible to make a student want to learn, so teachers try to elicit a best effort via tangible and intangible incentives. The incentives vary, depending upon grade level, such as more recess for elementary school students or extra privileges for high school students.

Competition

Competition motivates students of all ages.

Create a mildly competitive environment in the classroom, and you've got motivation. Students of all ages like competitive group activities. Learning games can be used in elementary school while review games are popular in a high school classroom. Competitive group activities will also create a sense of teamwork in the learning environment. Students will assist and encourage each other in the learning environment, thereby elevating the level of camaraderie in the classroom --- a great by product of competition.

Tangible Rewards

Yummy.

Tangible rewards include candy, gold stars, small treasures like pencils and free passes like free tardy or free drink in the lunchroom. These rewards work great for elementary, middle or high school students, though the grade level may dictate the reward. Candy is popular with all levels while little treasures are popular with elementary and school students.

Privileges

Extra recess time motivates the elementary school student.

Students will work hard if they see they can earn extra privileges. Elementary school students may be motivated by the potential to earn more time at recess. Middle school students will be motivated by earning the privileges of no homework, and high school students enjoy extra time during morning break.

Timed Assignments

The students work against the clock -- a great motivator.

The concept of timed assignments is similar to competition. The main difference in the use of timed assignments and competition is that, during timed assignments, the competitor is a clock, not another student. Students aren't competing with each other, so more students feel capable of competing and winning. Therefore, more students will be motivated to work to complete the assignment.

References

• Virtual Salt: Some Ideas for Motivating Students; Robert Harris; 2010

Resources

• Motivating Students; Barbara Gross Davis