Comprehensive Project

• Home
• Management and Discipline Defined
• Motivation and Discipline
• The Physical Environment
• Time Management
• Proximity and Mobility
• Praise, Prompt and Leave
• Visual Instruction Plan
• Say, See, Do
• Calm and Consistent
• Limit Setting
• References
• About the Authors

Motivation and Discipline

Motivation is a huge factor in classroom discipline. Students are motivated by how their teacher disciplines them, believe it or not. If teachers do not care about their students then students are more likely not going to be able to care about their education or teacher. Students will know and understand if the teacher truly loves them if the teacher cares about disciplining the students. Discipline should not be a sign of rejection toward a student, but is inputted so that if teacher expectations are not met students are disciplined because teachers care for their well being.

The three basic motivational factors include: needs and interests; perception of task difficulty; and probability of success. A huge part of motivating students is to find out what their interests. By giving students material that they are interested in makes learning more enjoyable. For example, for independent reading, teachers need to make sure that students are reading materials that interest them because that motivates them to read. 

In order to alter student perceptions of the task difficulty, the teacher first needs to analyze the performance level of the student. Once the performance level is analyzed then that could decipher the amount of tasks necessary to fulfill the requirements. The teacher should state clear objectives and demonstrate what needs to be performed so that the student will have an understanding if they are able to perform the task or not. Students need to be encouraged and motivated  so that they can perform the designated task. One way to use success to increase student motivation is at the end of a particular lesson provide questions that would bring feedback from the students of what they had learned. If the students see that they recall what the lesson was about then they feel that they are achieving success and showing progress. An educator can also use success to increase student motivation through competition, emphasizing effort, and making progress visible.

Spiritual Application: “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening-it’s painful! But afterward there will be peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way” Hebrews 12:11 (New Living Translation). Teachers who care for their students will care enough to discipline them and train them in the righteous way that they should grow.