Meaningful Student Success: Discover Your Students’ Passions by Asking What Motivates Them
It’s about figuring out what you’re great at, what it takes to keep you moving forward, and exactly what you need to succeed.
– The Oprah Magazine
INTRO
Many educators struggle with motivating students to be successful in school. However, the most powerful motivation is intrinsic, so instead of trying to instill motivation within students or coax it out of them with extrinsic rewards, we may just need to shift our mindset to thinking about how we can reveal how their own intrinsic motivation connects to school success. By demonstrating genuine interest in students’ passions and life goals, we show students we care about them and in turn, they are more likely to be receptive to learning about how their success in school is relevant to their own passions and goals in life.
OBJECTIVES
- Find out what motivates your students by asking them to identify their passions and interests
- Provide time and space for students to explore their passions/interests/personal goals and help guide them toward understanding how these are connected to their school success
Tap Into Students’ Passions to Ignite Motivation
Activity
- Find out what motivates your students by asking them to identify their passions and interests.
- Provide opportunities for students to explore their passions and interests in the academic setting.
- This article on Oprah.com has some great specific ideas and resources for each of the below steps.
1. Find Your Passion
2. Take Stock of Your Strengths
3. Tap Your Motivation
4. Go!
TIPS
- Little Things, such as the above activity, are smaller efforts you can do tomorrow, or within the next week.
- ACT skills and behaviors help students take ownership and successfully manage their learning. These skills include the ability to be self-directed, collaborate, set and meet goals, persist through challenges, learn to take notes effectively, and manage time well.
- Like this activity? Check out Inflexion’s full-page ACT document for more ideas.
Responses