You never know what will motivate a child
By Susan
@HazySue (39268)
Gouverneur, New York
February 21, 2017 10:07am CST
After reading and commenting on a post by @GardenGerty ( Why are you teaching THAT to my child? ) it brought to mind some of the ways I would use to teach my Self-Contained class.
This group of students were particularly resistant to learning, well, anything. So I had to get them involved in an unusual way.
I was lucky enough to have an innovated principal at that time who came me a patch of ground and a little money to spend to see my plan to fruition.
I decided to teach them how to grow some vegetables, take care of them, harvest them, and cook them. They became totally involved, and loved it.
From this garden they learned math, reading, history, science, and a bit of self-sufficiency and deductive reasoning. Everyone was amazed at how involved these student became in their "lessons". Not only did they learn, but they had a ball learning.
Like I said, you never know what will motivate a child.
Image from : pixabay.com/en/chalkboard-quote-1927332/
12 people like this
15 responses
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
21 Feb 17
Although I was not a teacher I taught the children at home, I baby sat, a lot. I also taught them to cook, to sew and they did help me water and pick my garden. I taught them if they worked for me I paid them. and I did so in change that they had to count in order to get it. Reading was a daily thing too, they would sit beside me and we would read children`s books, I also always had coloring books with letters and numbers.
If an adult is doing something with the child, they do get interested faster that just telling them what to do.
2 people like this
@HazySue (39268)
• Gouverneur, New York
21 Feb 17
@andriaperry I don't know if I could handle that. It is however a good thing for them to learn how to do properly.
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
21 Feb 17
@HazySue Once the boys help Tony slaughter chickens.,
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39268)
• Gouverneur, New York
22 Feb 17
@josie_ the students were between the ages of about 11-14, they were 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. A self-contained class is one that has the student all day and teaches them all subjects. The students are unable or unwilling to behave and cannot be trusted to roam the school. They manage to end up in a class room such as this because of their bad behavior. At least, this was the type of self-contained classroom I had.
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39268)
• Gouverneur, New York
21 Feb 17
I absolutely did - some lessons, not all. They had to learn how the farmers did it way back when, what plants should be planted and when, how the weather figured in on this, and so many other things. I taught half inside and half outside.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (166996)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Feb 17
Watching things grow has always been very positive for me. What a mood lifter to see a seed germinate and sprout.Enjoying what you are learning is sure a added plus.
1 person likes this
@AutumnSnow (4583)
•
21 Feb 17
That is very true. I home school all 4 of my children and each one learns differently and each one are interested in different things. I think if you can find what they are interested in and what they like you can find creative ways to get them motivated to learn. My son hates reading and wants nothing to do with but he loves legos and anything star wars so I combine those to get interested in reading. I try to find books that appeal to him.
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39268)
• Gouverneur, New York
22 Feb 17
@AutumnSnow I think you need to take the child's interests into account when trying to get them to read I know I would put up a fight if someone tried to get me to read something I found profoundly boring.
1 person likes this
@AutumnSnow (4583)
•
21 Feb 17
@HazySue that's very true. I always have my kids read at least an hour each day. It always use to be such a fight with him until I figured that out. 
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171927)
• Agra, India
21 Feb 17
Very true...with kids it is always good to keep experimenting..you never know what can create wonders
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171927)
• Agra, India
23 Feb 17
@HazySue yes..this is a big reality
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160674)
• United States
21 Feb 17
Real life lessons are so interesting. I love this.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223028)
• Chile
21 Feb 17
That´s a wonderful way of motivating a child. And a grown up, if you let me say that too.
1 person likes this
@luisadannointed (6189)
• Philippines
21 Feb 17
That's a great idea. Sometimes kids are too board with the old routine of teachings specially those who are really smart. So I guess schools and teachers should know how to be creative in their way of teaching. God bless.
1 person likes this
@pammooratan (4668)
• India
21 Feb 17
Experiments are good. But result should be good.
1 person likes this
@ayushiansuman (38)
• Patna, India
21 Feb 17
Yes you are right....sometimes small and simple things can bring a overwhelming result , that we are not expect from them...
1 person likes this
