Motivating young learners is very important for English teachers. Motivation is what encourages learners to keep going even when things are difficult. Kids who are not motivated will not want to learn, so it’s important for us to keep our young learners motivated and excited.
How can I motivate young learners?
Here are some amazing top tips to help you keep your young learners motivated:
1. Have a rewards system
Kids of all ages love being rewarded for their work This lets them know they are doing a good job. Rewards help young learners gain a sense of achievement and build confidence in their skills.
Rewards such as star charts or awards are great for keeping track of learners' progress and encouraging them to work towards achieving their learning goals.
2. Make your lesson Fun
Young learners are more motivated and excited to learn when they are having fun. Keeping the lessons fun and engaging is the perfect way to motivate our young learners to stay focused. This will also help the lesson be more effective.
Here are some ideas on how to make lessons fun:
Play fun, educational games where kids can be actively involved and learn at the same time.
Make use of visual aid such as props, realia, and authentic materials.
Adapt learning materials to suit the needs and personalities of all learners.
3. Get to know your students
As a teacher, you need to make time to get to know your students. Important questions to ask yourself are:
What activities do they love?
What’s effective for them?
What are their strengths and weaknesses?
What are their interests?
By getting to know your students, lesson planning will be much easier and you can adapt the lesson to suit their needs. This way young learners are more engaged and motivated to participate in the classroom.
4. Energy and Enthusiasm
Teach your classes with energy and enthusiasm. When teachers are energetic and enthusiastic about lessons it helps increase motivation and enthusiasm in young learners too.
Teachers can include examples related to students’ interests in their lessons. This will encourage students to be more engaged. For example, if you are teaching adjectives give examples about characters or things your students like such as superheroes or princesses, etc.
5. Be positive
When your students are having a bad day, don’t give up on them. Try to encourage your students all the time. A patient and caring teacher will help many young learners gain confidence and enthusiasm for learning, which will help to increase learner motivation.
What are the benefits of motivating young learners?
It leads to effective learning.
Increase learners' confidence and classroom achievements.
Motivates students and encourages them to develop a love for learning and participating in the classroom.
Motivating young learners is the key to effective learning and increased academic performance.