I am a teachers aide in a 9h grade class and I was given the task of helping 2 students who arent doing too well. They do absolutely nothing and when I asked them why they didnt do anything, they said it was because they feel they couldnt pass the class. How do I motivate them to work? I cant let them fail.
2007-03-23 10:02:57 · 7 answers · asked by clay_a_fan4eva 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
Take baby steps with them. Show them that they can have success by giving them small goals at first. For example, trying to pass a test, not necessarily get an A right away. Then reward them for those goals. You can maybe have a pizza party or something if they reach so many goals and then as they improve give them harder goals.
2007-03-23 10:08:26 · answer #1 · answered by Megan M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to start small with them. They probably have not had much success in school and with any students in the grade 7-10 area - it is always better to look cool than dumb. So, if you can look cool by refusing to do anything, it is better than to look dumb because you can't do it well.
Start off discussing all the questions with them. Talk to the teacher, see if you can find out what they will be doing in class in the next couple of days and go over with the students, that way the rest of the class starts to learn new concepts, they will already be ahead of them and could answer the questions. They will start to have a better self-image of themselves and will start to feel more confident and will want to work harder.
Also, candy rewards work well with any students - it is amazing what they will do for candy!!!!
It will probably be a slow process and expect some steps backward - but in the end both you and the students will feel so empowered.
2007-03-23 23:48:15 · answer #2 · answered by harleighzoe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Megan is spot on. All kids need positive reinforcement - not negative; they've received punishments or been told for so long that they CAN'T do something that they believe it. Use positive motivation techniques (even silly things like gold stars go a LONG way) and rewards (they are not bribes - bribes are given for illegal or immoral purposes - these are incentives). I give extra computer time, candy and items you can get in bulk at dollar stores (like silly erasers, pencils).
Be sure to give free verbal and written praise as well - stage a compliment by having another teacher come in and tell him/her about the wonderful job that the student has done while the student it right there or call or send notes (emails) home when GOOD things happen - not just bad; we all love to hear compliments!
Start with small goals, not lofty ones, and celebrate the smallest success.
I write "thank you for submitting this" on ALL of my student's papers, and thank them at random times for being "a good class"; I think even that helps reinforce good behaviors.
The other thing I would suggest is getting them involved in the process of improvement. Ask them what motivates them and see if you can alter assignments to help them succeed. I have one student who LOVES film-making, but won't write a paper to save his life. I offerred him the chance to create a movie instead of writing a paper on the NEXT assignment as long as he wrote one for THIS assignment; he was the first to turn it in.
2007-03-23 17:31:22 · answer #3 · answered by blakesleefam 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"I can't let them fail." You're right. The only people who can let them fail is themselves. It sounds cliche, but it's the absolute truth. Perhaps empowering them with that truth would help. Maybe you could convince them to play the game and learn enough to get by. You should also talk to the teacher about how they're feeling. It's her job much more than it is yours to help them.
2007-03-23 23:19:13 · answer #4 · answered by elizabeth_ashley44 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would use peer pressure. Tell the whole class that you will through a party if everyone passes the next test. Their peers will push them way harder than anyone else can to do good. Plus, now all you have to do is help them study instead of wasting your time telling them that they should study.
2007-03-23 17:41:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
tell them that if they don't do anything its Macdonald's for them after school and they'll be left behind at their parents house while all of their friends get to move out and go to colleges and all. no kid wants to live with parents after graduation.
2007-03-23 17:30:01 · answer #6 · answered by Love Exists? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try giving them a lot of encouragements... this might not really help but if you do not give up on them and let them see taht youcare and you are concern about them, they might actually do what you tell them... try your best and dont give up!
2007-03-24 08:25:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋