KHarper Strategies for Motivation

    I teach primarily freshmen. When developing a literature based lesson plan, in addition to the time needed to do other classwork, I take a number of factors into consideration. I know that I have students who are well below level in reading as well as students who are well above level. In order to keep those groups, as well as those in the mid-level reading group, engaged, I make sure the lesson and activities will include and challenge all students. I have found that books that contain the materials and topics that are currently being read serve as great motivational tools because it makes them feel they are not “working”; since it is a book they would read on their own time, they do not consider it to be work. I also think that helps students maximize their enjoyment reading time since the books I have chosen are dual purposed--for enjoyment as well as learning.