Teachers want students to exhibit intrinsic goals like persisting on challenging problems, working until the end of class, and showing interest in tasks. The document discusses intrinsic versus extrinsic goals, noting intrinsic goals involve developing skills, attributing success to effort, and seeking challenges. It recommends encouraging intrinsic goals through inquiry-based classrooms where students discover solutions themselves and see their work lead to valued outcomes. Teachers should expect student success and maintain high standards to motivate students to believe achievement comes from hard work rather than innate ability.

1. Intrinsic Goals Motivating our students

2. Teachers want students… To persist on challenging problems- Never give up Begin work when expected- Don’t sit around and talk Work until the end of the class period- Time is valuable Exhibit interest in the task at hand- try to have a positive attitude and an open mind

3. Finding Motivation Grade school Students often claim mathematics as their favorite subject But by middle school, the false idea of success is defined as fast computation and being naturally gifted with mathematics When students succeed, 70% stay engaged (motivated)

4. Students need to understand hard work leads to success, not natural aptitude The joy of achievement is key for students’ motivation This sense of achievement is defined by two categories:Intrinsic and Extrinsic goals.

5. Extrinsic Goals Students simply compete or try to perform well to impress their peers They will avoid challenging tasks that may result in failure to save face They believe success is based on innate ability and second-guess the teacher Motivation is based on ego gratification

6. Intrinsic Goals Students strive to develop new skills, increase understanding, and improve achievement They attribute academic success to effort and persistence They are task oriented, risk takers, and look for challenges They believe that excellence is the result of their attempts to understand integrate their knowledge

7. Encouraging Intrinsic Goals Students in inquiry-based classrooms are less likely to believe the teacher’s ways as the only way; which lead to success Inquiry-based classrooms encourage student discovery vs. the giving of solutions Students are motivated to model behavior that lead to outcome they VALUE Incorporate content from students’ personal experiences

8. Expect success. Maintain high standards and high energy for your students . It’s contagious. Instruct in a way that encourages student thinking and problem solving. They need to believe success comes from one’s own hard work. “Students must learn Mathematics with understanding, actively building new knowledge from experience and prior knowledge.” NCTM