Motivating Students Who Don't Care: Successful Techniques for Educators

Book Description
You can use these proven strategies from the classroom for reawakening motivation in students who aren't prepared, don't care, and won't work. If your ongoing challenge is finding ways to reconnect with the natural learner that exists in each of us so that your students are reawakened with excitement and enthusiasm, this is the resource to provide the solution.

About the Author
Allen N. Mendler Ph.D., is an educator and psycologist who has worked extensively with children of all ages. As one of the internationally recognized authors of Discipline with Dignity, Dr. Mendler has worked to develop effective strategies for educators and youth professionals to help challenging students succeed.


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Reading this book was like reconnecting with old friends, such as student-centered classroom innovators William Glasser and Carl Rogers, from this reviewer's teacher-training days. Imagine teaching empathy and building classroom communities instead of teaching for "the Test." The strategies presented build from creating daily structure and rituals to community meetings and risk taking. Particularly helpful is the Teach the Teacher Unit, where students sign up to teach one of their personal skills to the teacher, who must be willing to admit his or her ignorance and take the risk to be the learner in front of the class. Such an activity brings a sense of equality to the classroom. Once the community is created, students have a higher comfort level and the learning process moves more smoothly. Levine's four-chapter book is concise, practical, and tender. The exercises are clear, adaptable to any grade level, "do-able," and constantly challenge professionals to model the behavior that they want their students to develop. The chapter "Teach Empathy" focuses on Event Empathy Action (EEA), a three-step process that leads to empathetic understanding and behavior. The process asks students these three questions after they have witnessed a sad or inappropriate event: "What happened?" How is that person feeling?" and "What can you do?" This simple beginning will lead to valuable life skills and a greater understanding of our adult communities. Illus. Biblio. Appendix. 2003, National Educational Service, 136p, Bott


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