February seems like a great time to focus on motivation. By this time our New Year’s resolutions have likely been tossed over for lack of commitment. Yes, it is a good time to think about how we are motivated and how that translates to teaching and learning.
Daniel Pink, one of my favorite authors, released a new book on January 1, 2013. The title, To Sell is Human, would lead one to believe that it is the next handbook for salesmen. Those of you who know Daniel Pink, understand that his approach is always much more complex then it first appears. This book is no different. He challenges us to think about how we spend our time every day. He suggests that we will each find we spend a majority of our time trying to convince others to “spend” resources, time, or money, on something. He points out educators are among the biggest salespeople in society. He then sets about telling us how to sharpen our skills of the sale in a nontraditional approach. Throughout the book the connection to our time spent with children and our attempts to move them to learn is apparent.
In this month’s newsletter you will learn about Dr. Jerri-Lynn Harper-Williams and her quest as superintendent to motivate students in Albion Public Schools. This month’s Teacher Tips will provide educators with some strategies for keeping students motivated. Finally, you will get a glimpse of the schools we work with who are motivated to improve student achievement.
Sit back, think about how you motivate others or yourself, and enjoy this issue.
Sincerely,
Institute for Excellence in Education
