| A fun way to motivate a student is to pack your | | | | appropriate ways and at appropriate times. |
| lessons full of surprises and silliness. Positive emotions | | | | Acknowledge your son's skill at being humorous. |
| enhance learning and motivation. Your boys will have | | | | Sometimes, you just have to have a sense of humor |
| strong and lasting memories if they are experiencing | | | | about a boy's sense of humor. Don't allow yourself to |
| strong emotions while they are learning. | | | | become annoyed at their antics - be in the right frame |
| If you can make something fun, exciting, happy, loving, | | | | of mind and they will brighten up your day. |
| or perhaps even a bit frightening, students will learn | | | | - Mud - Let your sons put on bathing suits and roll |
| more readily and the learning will last much longer. | | | | around in a bunch of mud if they do their schoolwork |
| Emotions can be created by classroom attitudes, by | | | | well that day. And let them run through the sprinkler to |
| doing something unexpected or outrageous, by praise, | | | | get cleaned up again. |
| and by many other means. Surprises and silliness | | | | - Music - Sing their lessons to them. You can also |
| make lessons so much more memorable for your | | | | accompany yourself on a musical instrument that you |
| boys! | | | | have at home - whether you know how to play the |
| Fun elementary lessons could begin with you teaching | | | | instrument or not. Have your boys join you in singing |
| the class in period costume, acting like a mad scientist | | | | the lessons as well. |
| when you are doing a science experiment, or having | | | | - Outside - Move their desks or table outside without |
| everyone sing their answers. Don't be afraid to | | | | them realizing you've done so and have them do their |
| embarrass yourself to make a memorable point. | | | | lessons outdoors for the day. This is a great spring or |
| Try motivating your students by using these surprises | | | | fall surprise! |
| and silliness techniques: | | | | - Pies- Let students throw a pie in your face if they |
| - Be Energetic - Being energetic in your teaching is a | | | | get 100% on a test. |
| motivating factor in itself; adding energy to the ideas | | | | - Play Dead - Have a guest come in a play dead and |
| you want to convey will further enhance learning and | | | | let your sons solve a murder mystery. This will help to |
| commitment to the ideas. | | | | strengthen their reading and logic skills. |
| - Catch! - Throw soft candy, like circus peanuts, into | | | | - Strange Voices - Use strange voices when you are |
| your students' mouths if they get the answer right. | | | | teaching the lesson. Or, allow your boys to use silly |
| - Crafts - Let your kids have time to make a fun and | | | | voices when they give their answers. |
| unusual craft. This is good for their imagination as well | | | | - Stunts - This is a great way for Dad to get involved |
| as giving them a break from their traditional book work. | | | | with homeschooling. Have him offer to have his head |
| - Dancing - Jump up and start dancing during a lesson. | | | | shaved or to run a marathon if they achieve a certain |
| Your boys will jump up and join you - it's a great way | | | | level of work. |
| to get the wiggles out as well as to get the blood | | | | - Visual aids - Use silly pictures or cartoons to get |
| pumping when the boys are acting lethargic. | | | | across the point of the lesson. |
| - Enthusiasm - If you become bored or apathetic, | | | | Different approaches will motivate students differently. |
| students will too. Typically, an instructor's enthusiasm | | | | Use your imagination to continue to try new ideas out |
| comes from confidence, excitement about the content, | | | | on your boys, until you discover which methods work |
| and genuine pleasure in teaching. If you find yourself | | | | best for them. Fun elementary lessons motivate |
| uninterested in the material, challenge yourself to | | | | students and help them to remember the information |
| devise the most exciting way to present the lesson. | | | | longer as well. Add surprises and silliness to your |
| - Humor - Allow your boys to express humor in | | | | lessons and bring the fun back into your boys' learning. |