Chapter 6: Motivation and Boredom

For some teachers getting their students to feel motivated and interested in a lesson can seem like an impossible task. But, there are many different techniques which teachers can use to help engage students in a lesson. First every teacher should understand that students actually do want to learn and be there and they do know the importance of getting an education. The way that teachers can motivate their students is to show that they are passionate about what they are teaching and actually care about the material that they are teaching. Teachers should also relate their lesson plans to issues that their students care about. They are always seeking information that will answer what they feel are life’s important questions. Teachers should also be realistic when it comes to the workload that they give their students. If a student becomes overwhelmed with homework they can become more likely to give up and less interested in the material that they are learning.


Thinking back to my experience as a student I can think of many times when I have been in a class and have just been “bored out of my mind.” There have been classes where I would make flashcard after flashcard until I have memorized all of the material. As soon as I was done with the exam I would forget almost everything that I memorized. I believe that this could have been different if only my teachers had showed that they were passionate about what they were teaching. It was clear to me as a student that they did not take anytime to think of a creative lesson plan and that they were teaching the material just because they were required too. The teachers that I had who took the time to relate the material we were learning to real life and issues that I cared about were the times that I felt I learned the most and enjoyed school the most. When I become a teacher I am going to do my best to help my students to relate the material to their own life.