A Motivational Climate.....

Motivation flourishes when the climate of the classroom is right and it is the teacher who controls the settings. Getting it right can take time and a lot of thought but by taking a few important steps can begin to offer an environment which allows students to grow. Over the next week we will be sharing with you some ideas which you can use as the new term begins

The first is the Ice Breaker which is a tactic aimed at getting to know your classes and to allow them to get to know just a little bit about you. It works in the very same way that any ice breaker works, in that they share something with you about them and you do the same back. However the success of this comes from what you get them to share with you and vice versa.

I use the homework of the first lesson to set them the task of preparing something which shows me who they are. It is vital that you get them to search their abilities/interests/ambitions as this can then be used throughout the year in your general conversations with them. You are much more likely to be able to challenge and push them if you know who they are. The information they share with you is priceless and must be treated sensitively but used in the correct way it can help set a positive tone from the beginning.


If you are going to get your students to open up, you have to be prepared to do the same and this is where what you share with them comes into play. For this to have any lasting impact you should consider the following:

• It shows you in a different light
• Has a element of challenge
• Something exciting
• Interesting to them

One teacher I know uses the video of her sky diving to break the ice, another shows clips from their past musical career. I have lined up for this September a video of me crossing a wire bridge 200m off the ground with an expression which clearly shows my anxiety. 

We like this strategy as it begins to tap into the greater reasons for learning which we feel should be part of the everyday learning conversations which take place in schools. It is also a very light hearted way to start the year and helps to get relationships growing within your classroom. It is very different to the no smiles approach we are told at University and with some classes it may not be appropriate, but I am sure there is a place and a class where you can try it out.