Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that signals the brain about the worth of a task, which directly impacts motivation to begin work and satisfaction of completion. Teachers who understand the connection between pleasure and motivation craft learning experiences with this in mind because they understand that students work more enthusiastically and more persistently when pleasure is associated with the task.
Teachers can take a step back and create lessons that put student explorations at the center of learning.
Work that emphasizes students’ developing skills instead of a graded product reminds them to see learning as their goal.
An occupational therapist offers a series of calming whole-body exercises for students to do as a class throughout the school day.
Filling in for an elementary teacher can be easier when substitutes have flexible go-to strategies to keep the class running smoothly.
Gamification and game-based learning are different instructional strategies, but both can work wonders for student engagement.
Play can help the youngest students transition to in-person learning and develop skills they need for the future.
Collaboration, reflection, and healthy competition make for lasting memories when teachers use a novel approach to sustain student interest.
A look at a few popular literacy practices that shouldn’t make the cut—along with fresh strategies that experienced teachers and literacy experts recommend instead.
Asking middle and high school students to sketch something they’re learning can give teachers a clear sense of what they do and don’t understand.
High school teachers and students can use a theater-based strategy to cultivate curiosity and engagement in class.
