It has been said a million times- A motivated teacher is the key to a classroom. That means teacher motivation strategies and ideas should be on the top of every teacher’s to-do list. Unfortunately, sometimes those ‘warm and fuzzy’ things fall to the bottom of a never-ending teacher checklist.
Well, that ends now. Listen to The Noodle Nook Podcast to learn more!
These 10 easy and totally doable ways to keep teacher motivation high and improve student outcomes are just what every classroom teacher needs. Listen to the full podcast for the 10 stellar strategies and ideas to keep teacher motivation high and improve student achievement or read on below…
Strategies for Teacher Motivation
1. Make Friends at Work
And not the negative Nancy across the hall… find positive people who are happy and cheery. Having those kinds of people around you will improve your motivation not only to come to work but to also get the job done.
2. Find a Collaborator
It can be lonely to teach in special education. Sometimes having an Autism unit is like being an island in and of yourself on your campus. No one else in your building, grade, or even district may be teaching students just like yours. It becomes so important to find a collaborator who you can bounce ideas off of and who can really empathize with what you’re dealing with on a day-to-day basis.
3. Connect with Parents
It can be easy to think of parents as the enemy, and sometimes contentious IEP meetings and difficult parents can change your motivation in the classroom. It’s important to connect with parents as a means of improving your student relationships and also to nurture them as partners in the things you’re doing in the classroom.
Read more: Talking to Parents about Autism or Teacher in Autism Unit Needs Help Dealing with Parents
4. Highlight Reels to your Administrators
It’s hard to admit, but for most of us our administrator has no idea what goes on in our classrooms on a day-to-day basis. And years may go by where their perception of our students, our classroom, or our job isn’t based on what’s really happening. It’s okay to take a moment and send your administrator classroom wins, amazing successes, and highlight reels so they understand your classroom a little better.
5. Set up an Amazon Wishlist or GoFundMe
No lie, being a teacher is not going to make you rich… but it also doesn’t have to break the bank. I’m always amazed at how willing the community is to support teachers as well as students with disabilities. Are there items that you need in your classroom or that students need to connect with Cricket on? Don’t be afraid to make an Amazon Wishlist, set up a GoFundMe, or reach out to community businesses and see where people are willing and able to help.
Start your Amazon Wishlist by clicking here!
6. Recognize Support Staff
Being a teacher is a thankless job… but being a teacher’s aide in an Autism unit, self-contained classroom, or special ed room is not only thankless but also pay-less. For all we ask our aides to do in the classroom, they should be paid quadruple their current salaries. Since that kind of moolah is not in the budget, it becomes even more important to recognize support staff with little acts of kindness and appreciation. Their mood will undoubtedly rub off on your mood – so lift them up to also be uplifted.
7. Bring Joy to Your Classroom
All the creature comforts that make a home feel like home have a place in the classroom… okay, maybe not all of them. It would look awfully strange if I rolled in my EZ Boy Recliner and comfy throw and set up shop in my classroom. There are some things though that improve your mood and motivation. If you’ve got a green thumb, maybe plants. Lighting makes a big difference, maybe a lamp or light covers will help make work feel like a happy place to be and help you find your motivation. Whatever it is, find an item that brings joy to your classroom.
8. Write
Stress abounds in special ed classrooms. Between the students, coworkers, parents, and the demands of paperwork, you can feel overwhelmed. It seems like adding more to your plate will push you over the edge… but sometimes the stress release of putting emotions, thoughts, or feelings down on paper can actually lift the stress. Writing just helps people feel better and doing that will increase your motivation in the classroom.
9. Mentor Another or Find a Mentor
When you teach others, there is joy. As a teacher, you inherently believe this is true. Taking time to teach another adult how to do the things that you do in your classroom can be extremely fulfilling. If you don’t already have a mentee or if you feel like you’re not ready to guide another, maybe you need a mentor. You can find a mentor in person or online. Look for someone who can give you some guidance on the dilemmas in your classroom. Having that feeling of support can be extremely motivating and bring some light back into your teaching.
10. Keep Learning
Teachers are great learners… And learning new strategies, techniques, and ideas to use in your classroom is simply inspiring! There are tons of free classes online, and professional development opportunities in your state, district, or building. And you can learn a lot by joining a supportive Facebook group. The big thing is to find something new to learn and learn it. You’ll be surprised at how motivated you are to bring these new ideas to your classroom and test strategies with your students.
There You Have It – 10 Simple Strategies
There you have it, 10 strategies and ideas to improve teacher motivation. If you’re an instructional coach, campus administrator, or district-level person, look over this list and think about how you can improve motivation for the teachers you support with these 10 ideas. Keeping motivated teachers improves student success in the classroom… so what can you do to make Happy Teachers and help get better student outcomes?
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Tips, tricks, resources, and FREE tools for teachers in Special Ed and Autism Units. Listen, read and watch to learn how to be more successful at Noodle Nook. And be sure to subscribe to the monthly newsletter TODAY!
