How do I get my 8th graders to 'want to learn'?

Question

I'm a fairly new high school English and social studies teacher and can't seem to get my kids motivated for learning. They don't seem to have much resilience - if they don't succeed on their very first attempt, they quit. How can I teach them persistence? Any ideas? I have tried many 'tricks', like rewarding for effort (not only achievement) and marking on rough copies/editing etc.
Is it just 'kids these days'? I really don't believe that. I have managed to turn a couple of kids on to reading (through cool books). I've tried modelling the bahaviours I want to see.
Any tips or ideas?

Answer 1

I'm a teacher too and it becomes frustrating. I know. My only suggestion (if you haven't already done so) is teach using their experiences. Find out what they like, what they watch, or do on free time ( a survey if you have one from beginning of year would help). Then maybe watch a favorite movie the class might have (on your free time - if any :) ) If you find a scene or something from the movie that you can use to relate to something your teaching, then they "understand". Basically its getting ideas to relate to what they know. I teach primary kids, but its still tough. However, my advantage is that I have my own kids at that age and know what they watch and usually will use scenes from That's So Raven or Zack & Cody to help them understand Strategies in Reading (like in cause and effect I'll have them think of a certain episode I saw). They like that. Well, hope everything goes well.

I must tell you though, you will not always reach them all. You said you got a couple of kids into reading, maybe that is your couple for the year :( Sad but sometimes all you can doo. Don't let the rest bring down your hopes...I've had to learn that the hard way. Keep high expectations and always believe that you did your best, and that there is always room for more, no matter how tired you might get

Answer 2

You sound like a fantastic teacher, simply because you care! I have a feeling that YOUR persistence will make you their favorite teacher ever, but it won't be known until perhaps into their adulthood. hmm, but what about now? Have they been asked if they've ever read any books? and, if so, what type? Personally, I was 'thick-headed' in 8th grade, where the only time I drew intense interest in reading, was if the characters I was reading about seemed 'real' or current. When I was able to translate the story to something I can relate or compare to something I cared about, then I was wanting to read! And that definitely came from the teacher, who was enthusiastic and would criticize the character just as we kids would, too. I hope it helps, but please maintain your interest...there are not enough great teachers like you!

Answer 3

my advice to you as an 8th grade student is this. Kids my age go a lot for what other people their age think. so you should find the "cool guy/girl" in the class and if you can get them to speak favorably about your class about 80% of the class will start liking it. also try having fun with kids. dont overload , or underload them with work. you must find how much the majority of the class can deal with at a time. then after that you can work with the reminder of the class. and lastly remember YOU are the boss. you have to make sure they know that. also, having a set way of doing thing can also help. after all once something becomes a habit its really easy to do. and dont neglect the smart kids or the dumb kids. im one of the smarter ones and it really annoys me when the teacher pays know attention to me just because she knows i know everything. Finally your attitude is the most important, how do you see your students.

Answer 4

Well, my degrees (M.Ed. and working on Ph.D.) are in adult education but 8th graders are getting to the age where the same principles and practices can be applied. There is no simple answer but you can begin by becoming more learner-centered in your approach to teaching. By that, I mean get them involved in part of designing the lessons and deciding how they will best learn the meaterial. Maybe even how they should be measured as to how much they learned.

This does not mean they have complete control but rather they have a voice at the "planning table." Find out what they are interested in (though you may have to gently redirect them to stay on subject) and how they want to learn it. This also doesn't mean you will always use all they contribute but by them having input, they are becoming invested in the process and have more at stake in learning. I believe you will see them becoming more inquizative and interested in learning.

Also... get them to reflect on what was covered in class and ask them to write about it or to use their creativity to render some sort of demonstration of understanding. Learning doesn't necessarily happen in the classroom. People have to make meaning of it for themselves and see how it connects with their previous experiences and understandings of how the world works. If they don't see a connection, they will never learn it. This is why it is vitally important to get their input. It should be a 50/50 proposition - they have to own half of the learning process/content otherwise it is only you who is vested in learning. Remember, you have already learned it, now it is their turn. Tap into your students as a resource and foster/support a learning community.

Answer 5

Dear Miss Andrea,

If you come up with a method, write a book about it and make a million.

Eighth/ninth graders are soooo busy being hormonal, and having changes that are unexpected (or expected and misunderstood) that the 'teaching' of such beings is all but impossible.

Stay involved in their lives and ready to go on 'red herrings' (rabbit trails) and discipline the discourteous and lazy. Ignore the demented.

Best wishes and my hat is off to you.

Answer 6

If you erase the 'have to' from your list and add 'want to'. Students should be motivated through interesting activities and games. English lessons could be taught through a series of games depending on the objective of the lesson, be it grammar or vocabulary.
For Social studies, lessons could be taken that would be of the 8th grader's interest. Social issues that involves the youth.

Answer 7

Talk to them like kids. Teach serious in a lighthearted mood. My favorite teacher of all time was a US history teacher who broke down the stories into a way we could understand. Explain like you talking to a child, meaning, make it really interesting. Remember they have a very limited attention span. Screw rewards, they already have their own caste system. Also, give them opportunities to group up and swap ideas for a larger project. That should be in your curriculum somewhere. It works, and gets them thinking independently. Thanks for being a teacher BTW. It's all aboot the "spin".

Answer 8

i am no teaching expert..here are a few ideas my teachers used while i was in skool

for social studies - u may wanna take them for excursions related to a topic before u start it in class..just to generate interest...or maybe role-play for history

for english - if it is possible you could show your students movies based on classic novels...they mite respond better to that than reading...

i m sure if they have enough interest in what they are learning, they will be more resilient

Answer 9

It truly would not be counted. you do no longer mature lots from 8th to 9th grade. in case you're too immature to attend to the subject be counted, in simple terms gtfo. The holocaust is an extremely severe subject be counted and it is going to no longer be taken gently.

Answer 10

In the broad brush, it always comes down to two things: How cool/ worthy of respect is the teacher and how interesting is your presentation of the material?