Supporting Intrinsic Motivation
Promote Scholarship As Well As Learning
Helping intrinsically motivated students see the big picture can often support academic accomplishment. Strive to help your child develop a fascination with scholarship and all it entails. Scholarship requires more than intelligence. It requires creative reasoning and disciplined
analysis. It requires seeing the big ideas and paying attention to the details. It requires the ability to focus, to persist, to collaborate, to
organize, and to communicate. Scholarship is required to reach deep and truly comprehensive levels of understanding. When your child
is able to imagine herself as a scholar she will explore the full range and depth of what that role means.
Investigate Disciplined Thinking Together
Talk to the GRT at your child’s school about ways parents can support their children’s image of themselves as scholars.
Critical Thinking Community Link
Many thoughtful articles about disciplined thinking can be found at the website for the Critical Thinking Community.
Conference with Your Child's Teacher
Take the time to conference with your child’s teacher about instruction. Researchers at the University of Connecticutt recommend that teachers provide an environment that supports gifted learners. As a parent, learn about ways the teacher:
Helping intrinsically motivated students see the big picture can often support academic accomplishment. Strive to help your child develop a fascination with scholarship and all it entails. Scholarship requires more than intelligence. It requires creative reasoning and disciplined
analysis. It requires seeing the big ideas and paying attention to the details. It requires the ability to focus, to persist, to collaborate, to
organize, and to communicate. Scholarship is required to reach deep and truly comprehensive levels of understanding. When your child
is able to imagine herself as a scholar she will explore the full range and depth of what that role means.
Investigate Disciplined Thinking Together
Talk to the GRT at your child’s school about ways parents can support their children’s image of themselves as scholars.
Critical Thinking Community Link
Many thoughtful articles about disciplined thinking can be found at the website for the Critical Thinking Community.
Conference with Your Child's Teacher
Take the time to conference with your child’s teacher about instruction. Researchers at the University of Connecticutt recommend that teachers provide an environment that supports gifted learners. As a parent, learn about ways the teacher:
- Makes the activities novel, enjoyable, exciting, and challenging
- Provides opportunities to engage in interesting, personally relevant, challenging activities
- Establishes an enriching environment
- Creates opportunities for students to explore their interest
- Delivers lessons that capture students’ attention and sparks curiosity, creativity, and enthusiasm
References
Foundation for Critical Thinking. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/index-of-articles/1021/
Siegle, D., McCoach, D.B., Greene, M, & Reis, S. (2000). Making a difference: strategies to increase student motivation and academic achievement. Retrieved from: http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/Siegle/NRCGTUnderachievementStudy.htm
Foundation for Critical Thinking. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/index-of-articles/1021/
Siegle, D., McCoach, D.B., Greene, M, & Reis, S. (2000). Making a difference: strategies to increase student motivation and academic achievement. Retrieved from: http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/Siegle/NRCGTUnderachievementStudy.htm