Who motivates who?

Motivation is an interesting topic of conversation.  Many believe that motivation should be intrinsic as opposed to extrinsic.  Students should want to be at school and learn, right?  If that is how it should be, then how come most days feel like a battle to get the kids up and ready for school?

Scott McLeod, founder of dangerouslyirrelevant.org, recently posted on the differences of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation in regards to a school mission statement.  You can see the post here:

http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2013/06/the-fiction-of-most-school-mission-statements.html

If students do not have a desire or drive to come to school, then we must provide that motivation and desire as teachers.  Student choice scheduling should help with that motivation.  Schools that have already implemented this type of scheduling have noticed that attendance has increased, student behavior has reduced, and more students are intrinsically motivated to work more diligently throughout the day.

Give students a pep talk.  Make them realize that you are there to support them and encourage them, but it is there responsibility to take learning into their own hands.  Kids need to feel ownership of their learning.  So, who motivates who?  It is my responsibility to motivate my students, but they motivate me everyday to become a better teacher.