Motivation on Day one

WHAT AM I DOING TO HELP KIDS ACHIEVE?

HOW DO I KNOW WHEN THEY ARE THERE?

WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE?

     I have been teaching for over 20 years.  I still get butterflies and nervous before the first day.  It is still a bit scary...I still feel like I just do not have it "right".

     We had a whole day of meetings last Friday.  I was tired at the end.  Julie Haverkos, our department chair, presented a little session on "Motivation".  It is base on the work by Kathleen Cushman ( check out https://nextgenpress.creatavist.com/story/524#/    and http://www.whatkidscando.org/featurestories/2013/01_how_youth_learn/ ).  Kathleen talked to a ton of kids about what motivates them and she came up with 8 basic ideas.  The interesting thing is that if I apply these to my own life, stuff that motivates me, it makes perfect sense.  Then Julie had us go through something in which we felt kids were a bit bored and we would want to motivate them.  Here are the eight ideas from Cushman's work.

1.  Feel O.K.  (Am I tired, distracted, upset?)
2.  It matters.  (When will I use this?)
3.  It is ACTIVE (Can I DO something with it?)

4.  Challenge (Is it hard but not too hard for me to succeed?)
5.  Coach (Is there someone there to help?)
6.  Use it or lose it.  (Can I practice it?)

7.  I think back on it. (Review)
8.  Plan next steps.

     I got to thinking.  The " problem of the days" (questions I start the class with) are great but sometimes kids do not take them as seriously as I want them to.  What could I do to motivate kids to do these?  I am going to start with the "burning water" demo and light something on fire that is hard to put out.  This will tie into the definition of chemistry.  They will have to get up and work in groups to solve the problem and we will constantly refer to the principles of combustion.  I hope that it will be a challenge.  You cannot put out burning water by adding more water...and we will use this demo in the future.  Hopefully if they are motivated I can try the same recipe each day.

     Another idea I have is the "question" of "clear" exit ticket.  I will provide each student with a post it note.  They must put down one thing in class that they are "clear" about or ask one "question" and turn in the post it note to get out of the class.  We will see what happens.....I hope it will be a fun and exciting year.