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The Five Dials of Student Motivation Controlled by Teachers

Highlights from the Pat Quinn seminar Motivating Unmotivated Students

Student Motivation: The Five Dials Teachers Control


1. Recognizing Individual Differences
2. Safety

3. Relationships
4. Behavior Solutions 5. Teaching Everything

Steps to the wall

Dial 1: Recognize Individual Differences


Actively communicate that you recognize differences in:
Background information Rate of learning Learning styles

And Tell Them Your Plan For Dealing With It!

Dial 2: Safety
Recognize symptoms of fear Eliminate sarcasm and ridicule in motivating students (creates fear) Spend time building community (antidote to fear)

Dial 3: Relationships
Be in the relationship business
Be a good listener Notice when students are absent

Dial 4: Behavior Solutions


Do NOT remove learning opportunities as a punishment for bad behavior (it will make it worse) View behavior problems as academic problems Create extra learning opportunities for the most challenging behavior problems

Dial 5: Teach everything


Stop complaining and teach your way out Teach against student deficiencies
Respect your power: teachers have the power to change lives

EXIT CARD
The Five Dials of Student Motivation

Please rank the five dials of student motivation in order from most important to least important (1-5). After youve ranked them on your own, discuss your rationale for your rankings at your table. ___ Recognizing Individual Differences ___ Safety ___ Relationships ___ Behavior Solutions ___ Teaching Everything

References
Pat Quinn seminars: www.PatQuinnstore.com How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish, HarperCollins, 1980, 1999, 2004

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