Motivating Children in the Classroom and in Physical Education

Running Header : Motivation and Physical Education

Motivating Children in the Classroom and in Physical Education

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Motivation plays a significant role in the growth and development of children . Well-motivated students are able to accomplish assigned tasks and responsibilities and generate desirable learning outcomes . This idea is based on the premise that children who do not exert effort and lack the ability to cope up with the challenges of classroom learning do not perform well academically . Children must be able to understand the importance of effort and acknowledge their

capability of accomplishing their tasks during classroom instruction (Alderman , 2004 ) This is where the role of the teacher , the educational institution , and the stakeholders come in

The classroom environment must foster learning and education , as well as good working atmosphere for the comfort of the students . Teachers should display desirable characteristics and views that are motivating for the children . Moreover , stakeholders , such as the parents , government religious institutions , etc . must be able to provide a community for the children that support their education and their learning environments However , since the teacher actively involved in education and the learning process , he must be able to take on multifarious roles and incorporate numerous strategies and techniques in to promote education and learning to the children by motivation

The foundation of the children 's involvement in their education is feeling the sense of belongingness and comfort within the confines of the learning environment . Providing a learning environment that is adaptable to the child and an institution , which fosters desirable social interactions and relationships , becomes a primary motivation for children to attend school (Alderman , 2004 ) Therefore , the classroom environment must be structured in such a way that it is built on the relationship of each child with the other , and the teacher to the children . Developing this kind of relationship is influenced by open communication and social interaction through group activities

Moreover , the teacher should be able to grasp a thorough knowledge of the psychology of a child in to set relevant instructional tools and strategies that are appropriate to implement for children . This includes the knowledge of several learning theories that might be instrumental for motivating children . Some of these theories include the cognitive theory , social cognitive theory , behavioral theory , humanist theory , cognitive-behavioral theory , etc . These theories seek to explicate how the minds of children work and how they behave . This understanding shall help the teacher design a motivational plan that targets the specific needs and demands of children (McInerney , 2000

Classroom motivation may differ depending on the nature and scope of the course . Taking a look at how motivation is implemented in Physical Education , it is observable that it greatly differs with other courses such as language arts or science for instance . One good thing about Physical Education is that it supports social interaction , cooperation and teamwork , which is the foreground of motivation among children . The challenge for children in this particular course is the goal or the objective to...