From the Publisher
Mike Anderson crafts a compelling case for the claim that motivation for doing the work of learning needs to be owned by the learner. In his usual invitational style, he offers many practical examples that teachers can use to transform the tasks we assign as "school" work into authentically motivated learning opportunities for our students.
—Bena Kallick, cofounder and codirector of Institute for Habits of Mind
Have your students ever asked, "Is this going to be graded?" or "Why do we have to do this?" If so, this book is going to save you a lot of headaches and inspire change! In Tackling the Motivation Crisis, Mike Anderson explains how many of our current practices, intended to increase engagement, create compliance at best. You will devour this book as you relate to stories about chip theft, beach stone crafts, and how group work and fun are like broccoli. This text, with its practical classroom examples and analogies, will help readers better understand the psychology of motivation, break the cycle of student disinterest, and create equitable opportunities for all students to be self-directed, empowered learners.
—Katie Novak, education consultant and best-selling author of UDL Now, Equity by Design, and Innovate Inside the Box
Mike Anderson's book challenges educators to give up the gimmicks and lean into designing learning experiences with and for students that give them compelling reasons to self-motivate and invest. A must-read for anyone seeking to support the development of authentic, intrinsic motivation in students.
—Holly Martin, staff development and professional learning specialist for the Mountain Brook, AL public schools
We've all been there, facing a gauntlet of "unmotivated" and "disengaged" students. We've wished and hoped that something would magically appear to help get them connected and inspired. However, as Mike Anderson points out in Tackling the Motivation Crisis, our best bet isn't to try to change the kids, it's to fix a broken system. With a healthy dose of common sense and a plethora of practical ideas, Mike addresses educator mindsets, curriculum, feedback, grading, and discipline—elements of schooling that are under our control—so we might revamp our approaches and tap into our students' innate and intrinsic curiosity. We must do better, and with Mike's guidance, we can.
—Pete Hall, former principal and author of Creating a Culture of Reflective Practice
As a superintendent of schools, I cannot tell you how many times I've heard from classroom teachers that the students are not motivated to learn. This book is groundbreaking, not because it challenges prevailing behavioral science wisdom, but because it does so while providing teachers an exciting set of practical ideas that can be implemented immediately, something every teacher treasures. Imagine a world where students want to do schoolwork. What a world that would be!
—Jim Morse, superintendent of the Oyster River Cooperative School District, NH
This book is my new go-to guide for deepening student learning! With engaging anecdotes, research findings, and practical strategies, Mike Anderson shows us how to replace the broken system of classroom rewards with a powerful approach that cultivates autonomy, purpose, and joy in our schools.
—Timothy Walker, author of Teach Like Finland: 33 Simple Strategies for Joyful Classrooms
In Tackling the Motivation Crisis, Mike Anderson helps us imagine how to create classrooms in which students truly want to learn, without manipulation or artifice. It is a guide we all need to help us help students change from compliant to self-motivated learners.
—Carl Anderson, author and literacy consultant.
