NBPTS Standards - Proposition 4 Artifact 4a: Five Theories of Motivation Standard: Teachers Think Systematically About Their Practice

and Learn From It Rationale: Understanding what motivates an individual is at the core of being a great teacher. In order to successfully engage all students, teachers must be familiar with various motivational theories and strategies. Additionally, they must be able to apply those principles if they are to help drive students not only to pursue, but also enjoy their educational journeys. Teachers who think systematically about their practice learn and grow along with their students. They are better informed and more aware of their abilities and as a result they are able to successfully guide and support their students as they move towards becoming more enthusiastic and self-motivated learners. Reection: The knowledge that I have gained as a result of researching the theories and strategies associated with motivation has given me much insight into how and why students learn. No two students are alike and as such they must be approached and encouraged based on their individual interests, learning styles and skill levels. As a result of my research on motivational theories I now take more time when getting to know my students. I ask them what they want to learn and how they learn best. Although it may seem like a simple idea, this approach has yielded fantastic results. Students have become more engaged during class and their motivational levels have increased. In addition to this, their desire to learn and achieve has sky-rocketed, thus helping to improve their overall grades and attitudes towards learning.