Ballou High School ​Visual Arts Department
2017-2018
  • Welcome
  • Ms. Bonavia
    • Educational Philosophy
    • Grading Philosophy
    • Master's Portfolio
    • TAS Report 2016 DCPS
    • T.A.S. Report 2016-2017
    • Resume
  • Daily Blog
  • Flipped Classroom
    • Course Syllabi
    • Art Design & Foundations Art-A05
    • Instructional Design Plan for Foundations of Art Ballou H.S.
    • Art Essential Questions
    • Art Vocabulary
  • Student Gallery
    • Lesson Plans 2016-2017
    • DCPS Scope and Sequence
    • Critiques/Reflections
    • Rubrics for Evaluation
  • AP Studio Art
  • Teacher Work
  • Press Releases
  • Contact

Motivation

9/3/2015

0 Comments

 
PictureClassroom Family
     For the last two-three weeks, I have been sitting in faculty meeting after faculty meeting discussing the best ways to manage a classroom. One of the factors that we discussed is, “how to motivate your students”. As a teacher, I am expected to come up with classroom incentives as motivators for good behavior in my classroom. As a matter of fact, if you watch the iMovie that I made for students who missed the first week of school, I mention my ‘class incentives’.
      Truth-be-told, in the last 32 years of teaching I have NEVER used incentives in my classroom. I came up with those incentives in my video because I was required to do so by my school. Many teachers use candy, class coupons or prizes to motivate their students. I have been blessed never to have needed to reward behavior that I EXPECT from my students. It would be like my Principal giving me a reward every time I show up to work on time. Showing up to work on time is expected of me, and in my opinion, basic expectations should not be rewarded.
     But now that we are on the topic, let’s think about this question, “What motivates you?” For years, it was assumed that the best motivator for desirable behaviors was to offer cash rewards. But guess what, it turns out that research has proven that offering cash rewards, at least in the realm of creative work and problem-solving, actually encourages worse results.  So here is what the experts are saying is the factors that motivate people, they are:

·      Purpose

·      Mastery

·      Autonomy

·      Belonging


     One of our basic human needs in life is to feel that we have a purpose. Believing that we have a purpose is a major element that motivates people. I knew a very old man who lived all alone with his cat. He woke up everyday hanging on to life because he thought his purpose was to feed and care for his cat. I believe that his sense of having a purpose was his motivation to continue to live. Without his pet, I believe he would have given up on life.             We all have a need to belong. Belonging is a huge motivator for many people. We want to belong to a family, love, a group, or team. Many teenagers get involved with gangs because they need to fill their need to belong, even if it is with a bad group of people.
     Autonomy is our need to have control over our life. We all need to feel that we have at least some control of what happens to us every day. If we lose the feeling of control in our lives, we lose our motivation and simply give up. After all, if we have no control of what happens to us, then why bother trying? We lose motivation.
     Mastery is simply our need to feel that we are good at something in life. Mastery is also a motivational factor that leads to us gaining self-respect and pride. When we are good at something it affirms us that we have value. This is a huge motivational factor in life.
     So, allow me to challenge you to think about what motivates you. I believe that we all have a little of all four motivational factors in all of us. However, most likely, there is one factor listed that will be your greatest motivator. For me, my greatest motivator is my need for purpose. I need to feel that my life is making a difference and that there is a purpose for me being on this earth. Probably a close second is my need to belong.
     In my classroom, I try to figure out what my students' motivational factors are and then I use that knowledge to motivate them. This kind of motivation is a life changer. It is far greater to change a person's view of themselves for a lifetime than it is to give a piece of candy as an instant reward for a behavior. As one who is motivated by my need to have a "purpose" I want to change life outcomes, not just get through a 70 minute class period.

    Besides, if I had a bag of candy in my classroom, I would be eating the candy all day! I love you guys. Stay motivated and be the best you can be. Love, Ms. B.

For more research on this topic, I would suggest Dr. Robyn Jackson's book, Never Work Harder Than Your Students. I recently heard her lecture and I am currently reading her book, she is amazing and full of wisdom.
Link: 
http://www.amazon.com/Never-Harder-Students-Principles-Teaching/dp/1416607579


0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Donna Bonavia

    I am an art educator and  a professional artist. I write this blog to guide my students in  (SEL) social, emotional, and academic development. S.E.L. is the District of Columbia Public School's priority because we believe that we must educate the whole child.


    Picture
    Yale National Initiative
    Fellowship 2017


    2017-DCPS Standing Ovation recognition Highly Effective Teaching

    Picture2016-DCPS Standing Ovation recognition Highly Effective Teaching
    ​


    Picture
    DCPS Capital Commitment
    Fellow
    ​2015-Present

    Picture
    2015 Teacher of The Year Blanche Ely High School

    Picture
    2015 Civic Recognition Award Winner

    Picture
    2015 Greater Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce
    Picture
    Picture
    2015 Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction The National Society of High School Scholars
    Picture
    Teacher of the Year 2008
    Picture
    Teacher of the Year 2006-2007
    Picture
    Disney American Teacher Award Nominee "Creativity In Teaching" 2001
    Picture
    Teacher of the Year 1999
    Picture
    Teacher of the Year 1998
    Picture
    Outstanding Service-2011-2012
    Picture
    Outstanding Service-2010-2011
    Picture
    Outstanding Service-2009-2010
    Picture
    Outstanding Service-2008-2009
    Picture
    Outstanding Service-2007-2008

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    October 2019
    September 2019
    November 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    May 2017
    December 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    Creative Commons License
    This work by Donna Bonavia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
    Based on a work at www.msbonavia.com.

Location

District of Columbia Public Schools

     "The years 2012 to 2017 will be a time of dramatic progress for the District of Columbia Public Schools. With this strategic plan, we recommit DCPS to providing every student with a safe, academically challenging, and inspiring learning experience. 
     DCPS’ five-year strategic plan, A Capital Commitment, provides a roadmap for building DCPS into a high quality, vibrant school district that earns the confidence of our community. The plan defines an overarching purpose as well as five goals that will guide DCPS’ work through 2017."

Contact Us

Subscribe

Join my mailing list today!
Join Now