February 2023 issue: Education that motivates children
Are you making your children hate studying?
Is our education correct? Are we appropriately motivating children? Rather, it may be that we are doing nothing but "making children hate studying."
The most important thing in education is to motivate children. The first step is to observe children closely. While sensing the children's psychology and its changes, while firmly respecting their will, we will draw out positive motivation, drive, inquisitiveness, competitiveness, and a "strong will" to create a better future.
Educators, please don't become "geniuses who make children hate studying". Rather, let us realize an education that draws out children's motivation.
Is "praise" education effective?
"Praise" education is not always effective. Some children grow with "praise" education, while others do not. In some cases, it can have the opposite effect and can even sap children's motivation. What matters is the individuality of each child. It's not enough to just praise them.
In general, it is said that girls tend to grow when praised, while boys do not grow much when praised. It is said that in classrooms that incorporate "praise" education, girls monopolize the top grades, and boys tend to be poor because they do not study. Perhaps praising girls is a good way to improve their grades. But if you want to improve boys' performance, you may need a different approach.
Playing "a bit bad teacher" that boys admire
Boys don't like the hard headed teacher. They don't like teachers who only nudge, and even more dislike teachers who always praise good grades and girls. They don't want to hear what the teacher they don't like says.
A teacher who likes boys is a little bad and understands the feelings of bad boys. When children think, This teacher will understand my feelings," they will open up and listen to what the teacher says. The reason why you play "a bad teacher who is a bit bad" is to open the hearts of your children. If children are not open minded, nothing they say will do much. Let's play "a bit bad teacher" that boys admire so that children can listen.
How to Speak to Stimulate Curiosity
Speak in a way that arouses curiosity. Talk about each one as if it were a story, in such a way that you are curious about the continuation of the story. It's not the children's fault that they don't listen. This is becase you speak poorly. It's not good because your way of speaking doesn't bring out the "curiosity" of children. Don't blame the children for not paying attention in class.
Let's try every day to be able to talk in a way that stimulates "curiosity" so that children are interested.
Make a habit of asking "why?" and "how come?"
Phenomena that occur every day can also be seen differently if you just stare blankly at them, or if you observe them while wondering, "Why?" By asking "why" and "how come", it becomes easier to realize. In education as well, it is important to value children's feelings of "why?" Let children have the habit of thinking "Why?"
Easy-to-understand reasoning
When explaining things to children, use simple logic. If you don't explain your reasoning, or if your reasoning is difficult to understand, the children won't be able to follow you. In some cases, children stop thinking there. As a teacher, it is important not to let children stop thinking. For that reason, do not omit the explanation of the reasoning, and always try to explain in an easy-to-understand reasoning.
Let's learn together with the children how to explain with "easy-to-understand reasoning".
Experience to create "aspiration"
Let the children have the experience of creating a dream. By taking them to professional baseball games, professional baseball players can become children's "admiration". If you show them soccer, soccer players could become, if you take them to concerts, musicians or idols could become, if you take them to martial arts events, martial artists could become, and if you only let them play games and watch YouTube, gamers and YouTubers could become admired professions for them.
But is that enough? "Isn't it possible to give children the experience of creating "aspirations" that expand their possibilities?"
For example, how about taking them to the courtroom to create an admiration for lawyers? How about taking them to the parliament or election office to create an admiration for the representatives?
For example, if a child develops a strong desire to become a lawyer, he or she will study independently. Even if parents and teachers don't tell you to "study", you will be surprised how much you study. Conversely, even if you try to make a child who doesn't have aspirations study, they won't listen to what you say.
Even children don't want to study just because they are told to "study" even though they don't have any goals or aspirations.
Instead of forcing them to study, let the children have the experience of creating their own aspirations. If children develop a strong desire for something, they will learn independently and willingly, without the need for parents or teachers to say anything.
let's learn together
"The position to be taught" is something like a lower position and I don't like it. Children are tired of being "in a position to be taught" all the time. Some children may want to put themselves in the podium and be in a position to teach.
Change your position once in a while. Make time for the children to teach and the teacher to learn. It's also a good idea to make time to learn with the children about things that teachers don't understand.
A fixed position invites a rut in education. In order to stimulate the children, it would be interesting to switch positions once in a while and make time for the teacher to study with the students.
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