The motivation that I felt today was more than I could handle emotionally. One of the biggest aspects of motivation that I have been reading about is the aspect of community and fostering relationships in the classroom to enhance motivation. I have to say that this has been completely evident for me as I get to know my classmates and instructors in the past seven days. I feel excited and inspired to, not only, plan for next year, but continue my own writing. I feel so lucky to be a part of the Summer Institute and embrace this writing lifestyle. I blame the strong connections and friendships I have made in this short time as having a large impact on this motivation.
This is something I am going to be working on in the upcoming school year. Giving students time to just be together. For example, today during the writing marathon (I know we were supposed to be writing) but my group (Emilia, Katie, Jessica, and Karen) did more making, experiencing, and bonding than writing. I think allowing that leeway and maintenance time for students is one of the most important aspects of motivation for them. Allowing them to build meaningful relationships with their classmates will help them feel connected and allow for them to put more energy into learning rather than trying to feel accepted.
I am interested in hearing ways that others have helped build relationships in their classrooms and how they have seen this connection to motivation?
Erin -
ReplyDelete"Allowing them to build meaningful relationships with their classmates will help them feel connected..."
The key here is "meaningful". I wonder how to create those meaningful relationships within the classroom. By this, I mean relationships that are built on students being able to identify themselves as scholars and inquirers. Creating equal ground is so hard in the classroom.
For me, I try to set up as many opportunities for discussion, either through lit circles, or Socratic, or Paidiea, or otherwise, to foster that community relationship through academic discourse. I am rethinking the role of writing within my classroom to further this end. Writing (in any form) is personal. It requires ownership on the part of the writer, especially when it is submitted to an audience. I would love to create a classroom where students see each other as writers... as contributors to the community. I believe that through writing and sharing, that students will "put more energy into learning" through the ownership of their work... In a perfect world, of course.