Motivaton

">


I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about intrinsic versus external motivation.   What about the value and thrill of learning for itself?  Some of my students will soon be embarking on a Math Fact Challenge where students compete against themselves to improve math fact accuracy.   Do I give tangible awards for success or will the satisfaction of making math easier because one can more automatically pull up the facts be enough?  

For whatever reason, math facts are not meaningful pieces of information to some and therefore just don't stick in the memory.  Lack of practice?  Lack of understanding of what math facts represent?   And where is the desire, what is the motivation to commit facts to memory?  Is it an instructional  issue?  Student issue?  Do students have adequate support to assist them in their quest for knowledge?  When we are engaged in a topic, we are excited to learn more.  This is about more than retention of math facts. Many thoughts to ponder as we begin the challenge.  There is so much for me to learn about being more effective as a teacher--my journey is on-going. I want my students to have that same desire for themselves.