Chapter 2: MMM

Chapter two of Rick Wormeli’s Meet me in the Middle discusses different strategies we can use in the classroom to help motivate middle school students. Early in the chapter Wormeli states that “trying to get the students to pay attention is eighty percent of the battle.” This battle is one that some teachers spend their whole careers losing. The battle does not have to be that hard. All of us enjoy doing things that we’re good at and interests us. The classroom should not be any different. Educators who take the time to get to know and understand their students have half the battle already won. When you understand what makes the students go, you can apply that into the classroom and lessons. Lessons should be made around the students’ interests, with a wide variety of activities that also allow them to use their strengths. Communication with the students is essential to carrying out a successful lesson. The classroom environment is also extremely important. Providing a safe and comfortable atmosphere that encourages the students to learn and be themselves helps the students to open up their minds and abilities. One of the most important concepts is to show enthusiasm for the material, and the students learning it. If the students are excited about being in your classroom, then motivation becomes very simple.