Activating the Desire to Learn

The research is indisputable: Students are less disruptive and do better academically in schools that cultivate the internal motivation of students. In Activating the Desire to Learn, veteran educator Bob Sullo shows how to apply lessons from the research on motivation in the classroom.

According to the author, we are all driven to fulfill five essential needs: to connect, to be competent, to make choices, to have fun, and to be safe. Studies show that when these needs are met in schools, good behavior and high achievement tend naturally to ensue.

Written as a series of candid dialogues between the author and K-12 students, teachers, counselors, and administrators, Activating the Desire to Learn covers everything you need to know to change the dynamics of learning in your classroom or school:

• A comprehensive overview of the research on internal motivation.
• Case studies of strategies for activating internal motivation at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
• Suggestions on how to assess degrees of student motivation.
• Guidelines for integrating the principles of internal motivation with standards-based instruction.

Motivating students is not the issue—the hunger to learn is ever-present. Yet schools continue to insist on the traditional reward-punishment model, to the detriment of student achievement. Clearly it's time for change. This engaging and thought-provoking book will help you create a culture of achievement by building on the inherent drive to succeed that students bring to the classroom every day.