Personal Narrative
It wasn't that long ago when I was in high school. I went to a small school that was comprised of a lot of awesome, young, hip and with it teachers, along with a bunch of older, lazy, unmotivated teachers. I was somewhat, okay, I was definitely what most people would call a nerd. From my first day of school in '91, I was in love with school. In fact, most years, on the last day of school in elementary school I would cry. There was just something about working on activities and learning that clicked with me.
All throughout school, I made good grades on everything. I made honor roll on everything... and then third grade happened... my first C happened. That year, I had an altercation with my teacher. I was very social for a third grader and my best friend was in my class. His name was Chris, and he he protected me from a bully named Dusty. Dusty would try to beat me up at recess every day because he found out I was part Native American.
One day, I passed Chris a note, thanking him for taking up for me on the playground that day. My teacher got the note and read it aloud to the class... only she didn't read what was on the paper. She made up some elaborate story about me wanting to kiss Chris after school. I was mortified, and was made fun of for weeks afterward. I was mad at my teacher. I lost hope that anyone would like me, and became unmotivated. So, my first C came because I stopped doing my homework. Years later, I found out that my dad, a teacher at the same school, told my teacher to give me the C because I needed "motivation to make better grades."
Now, I'm a college senior and I'm going to be a teacher. I haven't lost motivation since them, except for a bout of senioritis I got in high school, but I still didn't make a C. I've been to a few schools in my placements, and I have noticed a huge epidemic at my placements. Students just aren't motivated. Because I've only had a couple of times where I have lost the drive to participate in school, I am having a hard time relating to that.
I've read through articles in magazines, textbooks, and student surveys in an attempt to figure out why students just aren't motivated. I'm coming up with my own system of theories and tips to see just what motivates these students. Let's see what I find out!
All throughout school, I made good grades on everything. I made honor roll on everything... and then third grade happened... my first C happened. That year, I had an altercation with my teacher. I was very social for a third grader and my best friend was in my class. His name was Chris, and he he protected me from a bully named Dusty. Dusty would try to beat me up at recess every day because he found out I was part Native American.
One day, I passed Chris a note, thanking him for taking up for me on the playground that day. My teacher got the note and read it aloud to the class... only she didn't read what was on the paper. She made up some elaborate story about me wanting to kiss Chris after school. I was mortified, and was made fun of for weeks afterward. I was mad at my teacher. I lost hope that anyone would like me, and became unmotivated. So, my first C came because I stopped doing my homework. Years later, I found out that my dad, a teacher at the same school, told my teacher to give me the C because I needed "motivation to make better grades."
Now, I'm a college senior and I'm going to be a teacher. I haven't lost motivation since them, except for a bout of senioritis I got in high school, but I still didn't make a C. I've been to a few schools in my placements, and I have noticed a huge epidemic at my placements. Students just aren't motivated. Because I've only had a couple of times where I have lost the drive to participate in school, I am having a hard time relating to that.
I've read through articles in magazines, textbooks, and student surveys in an attempt to figure out why students just aren't motivated. I'm coming up with my own system of theories and tips to see just what motivates these students. Let's see what I find out!
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