Reflection 8

Although most of the information in "Classroom Instruction that Works" is valuable, I think one of the most important things is the section on reinforcing effort and providing recognition. I believe that Motivation is one of the keys to student learning. The more motivated students are to learn, the more they will learn. I remember one teacher I had who would get mad whenever students complained that our assignments were boring or unimportant. He would say something like, "I'm your teacher not your entertainer. It's your responsibility to learn this so suck it up and learn it." I personally don't think that is a very effective way to teach. although the teacher shouldn't exactly be an entertainer, the teacher needs to be an engager. An engager is a motivator. Reinforcing effort and providing recognition is a very good way to motivate people. If students are acknowledged for their work they will have more confidence and they will be more likely to remember what they learned or accomplished because they will have associated it with something good. I believe that it is the teacher's responsibility to come up with a creative way to recognize and award student effort. For example, hanging students art work up in the hall for an art class, or having a mini Emmy awards ceremony in a film class where each student gets an award.