Motivating Learners in the Classroom: Ideas and Strategies Motivating Learners in the Classroom: Ideas and Strategies Gavin Reid Paul Chapman Publishing © Gavin Reid 2007 First published 2007 Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form, or by any means, only with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction, in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Enquiries concerning reproduction outside those terms should be sent to the publishers Paul Chapman Publishing A SAGE Publications Company Oliver’s Yard 55 City Road London EC1Y 1SP SAGE Publications Inc 2455 Teller Road Thousand Oaks, California 91320 SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd B1/I1 Mohan Cooperative Industrial Area Mathura Road New Delhi 110 044 SAGE Publications Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd 33 Pekin Street #02-01 Far East Square Singapore 048763 Library of Congress Control Number: 2007928711 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 978-1-4129-3096-3 ISBN 978-1-4129-3097-0 (pbk) Typeset by Pantek Arts Ltd, Maidstone, Kent Printed in Great Britain by Cromwell Press Ltd, Trowbridge, Wiltshire Printed on paper from sustainable resources Contents Acknowledgements ix About the author x Introduction How to use this book The foundations of learning Planning for learning ● Developing effective learning ● Developing independent learning ● Dependence and independence – the role of the system ● Individual differences and diversity ● The importance of theory ● Learning theory – the Zone of Proximal Development ● Motivation to learn 14 ● Motivation by task ● Motivation by reward ● Social motivation – the influence of peer groups ● Motivation by feedback ● Motivation by achievement ● The motivating environment ● The motivated school ● Twenty four strategies for motivation Self-knowledge – the role of learning styles ● Managing learning styles in the classroom ● The learning environment ● Models of learning styles ● Whole-school planning ● Self-knowledge 26 The learning environment ● Classroom design ● Environmental preferences ● 20 key factors in the learning environment 38 Memory – recognise, revise, review, recall and reflect ● Setting goals ● Tips for setting goals ● Organisation memory tips 45 ● Note taking ● Top ten Tasks and expectations ● Task development ● Structure ● Questions ● Reflection ● Learning style and task development ● Monitoring ● Assessment ● Expectations ● Using previous knowledge ● Success 58 Social and emotional factors ● Social learning ● Principles for developing social learning ● Emotional factors in learning ● Ascertaining readiness ● Preparing for learning – developing emotions ● Emotional literacy and emotional intelligence ● Stress and learning ● Dealing with stress 73 v CONTENTS Managing learning Classroom management ● Top 20 key principles for classroom management ● Motivation and stimulation ● Questioning and responding ● Feedback ● Developing independence ● Behaviour management ● Classroom control ● Classroom organisation ● Individual Education Plans ● Additional and special needs ● Meeting the needs of all – developing a core of common concerns 89 ● The effective school ● School climate ● School ethos ● School policies and the effective school ● School management – five signposts for effective school management ● Student autonomy 104 10 Reflection ● Key points 112 Appendix – Useful resources ● Sources and support ● Sources of information ● Learning styles/thinking styles models ● Multiple intelligence ● Music ● An overview of weblinks 117 References 130 Index 131 CD Rom ● 25 activities to try out ● Effective Learning Staff Development: PowerPoint slide presentation vi CD Rom The first section of the CD Rom contains practical guidance on some of the key points from the book These will be found via a number of practical activities based on specific chapters of the book Although most of the activities are based on specific chapters, some of the more general strategies are based on the book as a whole Wherever the CD Rom icon appears, the reader should go to the CD Rom for an electronic version of the material The second part of the CD Rom is a PowerPoint presentation based on the book and can be contextualised for staff development activities Section Activities Activity Activity Activity Activity Activity Activity Activity Activity Activity Activity 10 Activity 11 Activity 12 Activity 13 Activity 14 Activity 15 Activity 16 Activity 17 Activity 18 Activity 19 Activity 20 Activity 21 Activity 22 Activity 23 Activity 24 Activity 25 Developing independence in learning (based on Chapter 1) Student Motivation Checklist (based on Chapter 2) Self-knowledge – the role of learning styles (based on Chapter 3) The motivational environment (based on Chapter 4) The Interactive Observational Styles Index (based on Chapters 3–7) Quick Learning Styles Summary The Learning Environment – an audit (based on Chapters 4, and 9) Revision Strategy – organisation (based on Chapter 5) Revision Strategy – mind mapping (based on Chapter 5) Framework for background knowledge (based on Chapter 6) Social learning preferences (based on Chapter 7) Classroom management (based on Chapter 8) Action plan for Special Needs School Ethos Checklist (based on Chapter 9) Stress proofing the school (based on Chapter 9) Stress proofing the teacher (based on Chapter 9) Six steps to good time management Personal Stress Audit Stress proofing the student (based on Chapters and 9) SNAPSHOT for learning Reflection (based on Chapter 10) My Personal Learning Profile (PLP 1) My Personal Learning Plan (PLP 2) My Supports My Study Plan vii MOTIVATING LEARNERS IN THE CLASSROOM Section Staff Development – PowerPoint Presentation Contents: i) Motivation ii) Learning Styles iii) Learning Environment iv) Memory v) Tasks and Expectations vi) Social and Emotional Factors vii) Effective Schools viii) Reflection The CD-Rom content for this title is included at the end of this book viii Acknowledgements I wish to acknowledge a number of people and organisations that provided assistance with this book Dr Sionah Lannen and Colin Lannen of the Red Rose School in St Annes on Sea, Lancashire, UK, for providing a model of effective practice; Fil Came of Learning Works for practical examples of motivation and effective learning; Shannon Green for assistance with the visual summaries at the end of each chapter and for reading and commenting on drafts, and to both Shannon Green and Corey Zylestra at REACH Learning Center in North Vancouver, Canada, for advice, support and encouragement Also to Gad Elbeheri of the CCET in Kuwait for his insights into managing a motivating learning environment I also wish to acknowledge the appreciation and the interaction I have experienced with audiences I have spoken to all over the world I have presented talks and seminars to thousands of teachers, school management, professionals and parents in over 40 countries – this interaction has done a great deal to shape my thinking It is always heartening for authors to receive positive responses from readers and I feel fortunate in this respect as it is these responses which have motivated and stimulated me into writing this book I hope it helps to fulfil the need among teachers to learn more about motivation and effective learning and to ensure that all students everywhere realise their potential to become effective and motivated learners Dr Gavin Reid Edinburgh, Scotland, UK ix MOTIVATING LEARNERS IN THE CLASSROOM Activity 24: My Supports My favourite books that can help me to learn are _ My favourite websites are _ _ The kind of learning I enjoy most is _ _ The people who can help me most are _ _ The people I can help to become more effective learners are _ 42 CD ROM Activity 25: My Study Plan Activity Things that help Reading Spelling Creative writing Remembering information Brainstorming 43 Things to avoid MOTIVATING LEARNERS IN THE CLASSROOM Staff Development – PowerPoint Presentation 44 CD ROM 45 MOTIVATING LEARNERS IN THE CLASSROOM 46 CD ROM 47 MOTIVATING LEARNERS IN THE CLASSROOM 48 CD ROM 49 MOTIVATING LEARNERS IN THE CLASSROOM 50 CD ROM 51 MOTIVATING LEARNERS IN THE CLASSROOM 52 CD ROM 53 MOTIVATING LEARNERS IN THE CLASSROOM 54 CD ROM 55 MOTIVATING LEARNERS IN THE CLASSROOM 56