Motivation

Motivation: This seems like such a scary word sometimes. I would like to think I am easily motivated whether it is intrinsically or extrinsically but I know that is not the case all the time. Perhaps it is that way with everyone? The best way I can define it for myself is that it comes in waves. I think the complexity between time and procrastination plays a huge role in my intrinsic motivation. Some days I will get so many things done and complete my entire to do list and other days my list will say Tuesday, then crossed out to say Wednesday and I won't complete the whole list until Saturday.  I believe the goal theory is something that explains my performance in the best way. I find myself wanting to complete tasks when I have a time deadline, whether its doing something before my food is done in the microwave, or my homework being due at midnight. I guess I work well under pressure, which is something that I wish wasn't the case. I hate procrastinating and I never used to do it until I came to college.

When I have my own classroom I hope to work with my students in a way to motivate them intrinsically since that is something I struggle with. I find that personally I learn better when I make associations to the concepts I'm learning and I hope to do that with my students. THe goal theory is the one I want to focus on for my students.To make it a fun environment I will incorporate different fun ways to engage their minds and help them learn the information as best as possible, while hopefully simultaneously giving them goals to follow and reach. I always found that when my teachers in secondary school motivated us with games and rewards that I wanted to learn. I became intrinsically motivated when they preached how the concepts they were teaching would actually benefit our futures. I am very thankful for those teachers and I hope to pay it forward and do the same for my students.