Melanie Traylor, Research and Assessment Coordinator Extraordinaire, recently mentioned something I found very intriguing. She was at a workshop at which a speaker presented his recipe for success. As she was explaining, she wrote:
K= Knowledge A= Application M= Motivation P= Performance
K x A x M= P
If you give each child a score from 0-9 in the first three categories, you'll get a number that represents that child's performance.
For example, if you have a child that has internalized the knowledge fairly well, can apply it fairly well and is somewhat motivated, it might look like this:
5 x 5 x 5= 125
If that same person has fives in knowledge and application, but is not motivated, it could look more like this:
5 x 5 x 0 = 0
Even if this child had nines in knowledge and application, but is not motivated, he will still have a zero. Hmmm...
Her point was that we have done all we can this year to teach our students and help them apply that knowledge. Chances are if they don't know it by now, they are not going to know it. So instead of taking these last few moments before the CRCT to try to cram, drill, and kill, maybe our time might be better spent doing what we can to motivate our kids and help build their confidence.
I've noticed folks already working on the motivation-- schools are making special t-shirts, posters, and buttons. They are having pep rallies and playing motivational music during morning announcements. Lots of things are free. Even if they aren't cheap, the results may just be priceless.
What kinds of motivational ideas are being implemented at your school right now?
