Learning can be boring or fun, it all depends on how a subject is taught. According to one survey, out of the 70% of students who enjoy attending school, only 31% enjoy attending school to learn. So, what happens in their classes that doesn’t happen in others? Here are five ways teachers can motivate students to learn and enjoy it.
1. Feed Their Curiosity
According to one English scholar, three-year-olds ask their parents an average of 100 questions per day. This curiosity exists until they reach ten years. Teachers can take advantage of kids’ natural curiosity to nurture a love of learning. Some children enjoy learning till they are adults.
Here’s what you can do to feed kids’ curiosity. Introduce something new in every class. It could be a small piece of art, an object, or anything interesting you’d like them to learn about. Speak a little about it and leave them to ask anything they’d love to know further.
2. Use Technology
In the digital age, technology is key to learning in and out of school. Children always look forward to playing games and watching videos on their digital devices. Teachers can take advantage of technology and make learning fun and engaging.
Download videos, apps, and games and use them to encourage your students to learn. There are many websites with online resources teachers can use to motivate students to learn.
3. Merge Learning with Students’ Interests
Never make your students feel like learning is a task they need to undertake. Instead, try to make it as fun and enjoyable as possible. You can do this by encouraging them to explore their interests and topics that fascinate them.
For instance, if you notice animals fascinate a specific student, you can provide books on animals for them to choose from—math books, English books, and so on. Then ask them questions based on the books they’ve read—like the lessons they learned by reading a book.
4. Set an Example
Children tend to study what happens around them and develop a genuine interest in what they see. They always try to mirror everything they see adults do. Mirroring is a powerful tool that can nurture self-awareness and trigger kids’ curiosity to learn.
Teachers can instill their love for learning in young learners by sharing how they discover and apply new information with their students. Whether it’s writing, researching, or solving a mathematical problem, let them see how you learn new things. Sooner or later, they’ll pick up and start doing the things they see you enjoy doing.
5. Reward Your Students
Rewards can foster learning in children when given at the right time. They motivate students to work hard and look forward to the next reward. Rewards create a sense of accomplishment and make students confident in their skills.
Since children forget very fast, timing matters a lot when rewarding them. Don’t wait long after they’ve achieved something to reward them. Do it almost immediately after they do a good deed or accomplish something.
