Motivation in Middle School

Introduction

• Increase in number of unmotivated students
• 20% of this 8th grade class is lacking drive for academic excellence.

What is the problem?

• Information overload?
• Parental stress?
• Poor modelling?
• Irrelevant curriculum?

Obstacles to overcome

• Not enough parent involvement
• Lack of respect for adults and one another
• Too many distractions
• Peer modelling

Possible Solutions

• Creating connections -parents, students, teachers
• relevant curriculum
• Project Based Learning (PBL)
• Challenge Based Learning (CBL)
• More Listening and hearing what students need to learn

General Education Rationale:
Things have to change, but how?

The Issue

• There is an alarming decrease in academic buy-in by some middle school students - specifically Hispanic males.
• The level of respect and ethics seems to have reached a very low level.
• There is greater tolerance of misbehavior among students by parents and teachers.

Research Findings:

• Hall, J. (2015, April). New Perspective on Student Engagement. Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE)

SCORE-

• Success
• Curiosity
• Originality
• Relationships
• Energy

Research Findings:

• “Motivating Young Adolescents.” Wormel, R. (2014, September 1). Motivating Young Adolescents. Educational Leadership, 26-31.

Practical and Useful Approaches:

• "Adopt Two Mindsets"
• "Empathize and Build Trust"
• "Remember Where They Are"
• "Give Descriptive Feedback"
• "Teach How the Brain Learns"
• "Tell Stories and Spark Curiosity"

Ibanez, G. (2004). Cultural Attributes and Adaptation Linked to Achievement Motivations Among Latino Adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 33(6), 559-568

Cultural Adaptation

• Most students are 2nd and 3rd generation St. Helenans
• The families are hard-working people.
• Somehow there is a cultural disconnect

Interventions in place at RLS

• Family Groups
• Safe School Ambassadors
• CLARO
• Interventions during lunch every Thursday
• Schedule in place that allows for meetings with the grade level teams, parents, student, Principal, and counselor

Challenge-Based Learning

• Relevant learning to create engaged students
• Important contributions to the community and the world.
• Practical knowledge gathered and synthesized in a collaborative and respectful manner.
• Useful and applicable information that will help students in the future.

CBL

• Integrates all subjects and demonstrates connections
• Students in charge of their learning
• Focus on global challenges with local solutions
• Authentic use of technology
• Develops 21st century skills - thinking, making sense out of information
• Encourages deep reflection on teaching and learning