General Strategies
1. Create a positive atmosphere and open community in the classroom.
o This atmosphere sets the tone of a learning community while fostering a safe environment for learning and experimenting.
2. Have students be reflective on classroom practices.
o Ask students what makes the class less “motivating.”
3. Hold high, yet realistic, expectations for students.
o Students need to believe that achievement is possible.
4. Continuously work toward students being self-motivators.
o Remove yourself from the “power role” by using phrases such as “I think you will find” or “I will be interested in your reaction.”
5. Avoid creating intense competition among students.
o Competition can increase the anxiety some students have when learning new material thereby hindering their ability.
6. When possible, have students be incorporated into the direction of the course or what should be studied.
o If students have a chance to choose material to study, they will pick texts that they are interested in. If they're interested in a text, they are more likely to do assignments, read, and engage with the themes and ideas presented.
7. Vary your teaching method.
o “Variety reawakens students’ involvement in the course and their motivation” (Davis).
8. Assign reading at least two days before it will be discussed.
o Pique the students’ interest and provide ample time to complete the assignment.
9. Assign reading questions as a study guide.
o The questions give students a way to check their comprehension during the reading while giving their reading purpose.
10. Ask the students non-threatening questions about the reading.
o Asking opinion questions allows anybody to answer and knowing there is no one correct answer, students will be more likely to participate.
11. Limit the amount of “down time” there is during a class.
o During times of inactivity, students become disengaged. Keeping students active (moving around, variety in the lesson) will reduce the amount of time they are not engaging with the material.
12. Constantly revisit important concepts.
o This will help students see the relevance of the concepts to other components of the class.
13. Use visual aids!
o Adding variety to instruction will keep students engaged and drawing attention to important concepts visually presents the material in multiple forms at multiple times.
