Getting Creative with Motivation

Innovative Strategies in the Classroom

Teachers are becoming more creative in finding ways to motivate students and keep them engaged in their learning. Often, students benefit from having more choices or alternative methods to reach their goals.

In Ms. Lucero’s class, for example, she turned a simple student request for chips into a valuable learning opportunity. To build grit and language arts skills, she had students verbally spell and write the word “chips” using magnetic letters on a whiteboard. This approach not only supports academic growth but also strengthens communication and social-emotional skills.

Meanwhile, in Ms. McCormick’s class, where students showed little interest in reading, she embraced their requests to read passages in different accents. She even had them proofread their writing in the same way, which sparked excitement and helped build reading fluency in a fun and memorable way.

In Ms. Kordosky’s classroom, the use of a SmartBoard has significantly boosted student engagement. The interactive nature of the board allows students to actively participate, and they love “popping” the rhyming words as part of the lesson.

Fostering Fun and Growth

These innovative approaches are helping Gateway teachers create dynamic, enjoyable learning experiences that keep students excited and motivated. By incorporating creative strategies, teachers are not only making lessons more engaging but also fostering the development of new skills in a fun, interactive environment.