Bob Sullo

Activating the Desire to Learn

Bob Sullo

The research is indisputable: Students are less disruptive and do better academically in schools that cultivate the internal motivation of students. In Activating the Desire to Learn , veteran educator Bob Sullo shows how to apply lessons from the research on motivation in the classroom. According to the author, we are all driven to fulfill five essential needs: to connect, to be competent, to make choices, to have fun, and to be safe. Studies show that when these needs are met in schools, good behavior and high achievement tend naturally to ensue. Written as a series of candid dialogues between the author and K–12 students, teachers, counselors, and administrators, Activating the Desire to Learn covers everything you need to know to change the dynamics of learning in your classroom or school: * A comprehensive overview of the research on internal motivation; * Case studies of strategies for activating internal motivation at the elementary, middle, and high school levels; * Suggestions on how to assess degrees of student motivation; and</P* Guidelines for integrating the principles of internal motivation with standards-based instruction. Motivating students is not the issue—the hunger to learn is ever-present. Yet schools continue to insist on the traditional reward-punishment model, to the detriment of student achievement. Clearly it’s time for change. This engaging and thought-provoking book will help you create a culture of achievement by building on the inherent drive to succeed that students bring to the classroom every day.

The Motivated Student

Bob Sullo

Research has shown time and again that the traditional reward-punishment model does nothing to boost student achievement. In The Motivated Student: Unlocking the Enthusiasm for Learning, veteran educator Bob Sullo suggests a different approach: cultivating students’ inner drive to learn by addressing their essential psychological needs.
Drawing from in-depth interviews with successful educators, counselors, and administrators and a careful analysis of the research on classroom motivation, Sullo provides an indispensable blueprint for ensuring that students in grades 4–12 are engaged in the classroom. He offers practical, clear-cut strategies for getting students focused and ready to learn by • Eliminating external rewards for learning, • Building positive relationships with students, • Creating realistic expectations for your students, • Developing lesson plans that are relevant to students’ lives, and • Planning with students’ psychological needs in mind.
As every teacher knows, students learn best when they actually want to learn. Whether at the elementary or high school level, this book will make you think about who your students really are and help you develop a culture of inquiry, trust, and engagement that will release each child's enthusiasm for learning.