This booklet is a tool to help teachers find ways to keep their commitment to education strong. It shares success stories of educators who have kept their professional dedication alive, despite day-to-day hassles and significant obstacles. It also outlines steps teachers can take to keep their energy levels high. In each section space is provided…

"The Northian", a Canadian magazine for teachers in Indian, Eskimo and northern schools, was located in the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. The article "Education: The Mixture as Before" was an examination of the educational trends across Canada in the wake of the Hall-Denis Report. The article sought to confront the…

Only 25 percent of Americans participate in recommended levels of physical activity, despite the health benefits associated with physical activity. Physical activity promotion is an important public health issue. Several research studies indicate that physical activity interventions using theoretical frameworks such as the Stages of Motivational…

Recent literature on motivation has documented that perceptions of self-competence and motivational orientations for learning are interrelated. This study focuses specifically on childrens perceptions of their scholastic abilities, how these perceptions develop and how they relate to intrinsic motivation for learning. The rationale for this study…

This study explored possible gender differences in intrinsic motivation among 120 white students at a semi-rural high school. Researchers drew students randomly from each of the four grade levels. Students provided information on age, grade level, and grade point average, then anonymously completed Harter's 1981 Scale of Intrinsic versus Extrinsic…

Presents an interview with Leon Botstein, the president of Bard College and music director and conductor of the American Symphony Orchestra. His history as an exceptional child, the development of his drive to succeed in a musical career and in academia, and his love for music are discussed. (CR)

Cross-sectional analysis of federal employee opinions of their supervisors showed that they believed the following to be crucial supervisor responsibilities: performance appraisal, protecting the merit system from prohibited practices, and enhancing employee job satisfaction and intrinsic motivation. (SK)

Intellectually gifted children (N=20) and a comparison group (N=79) were administered the Children's Academic Intrinsic Motivation Inventory at ages 9, 10, and 13. At all three ages, the gifted children had significantly higher academic intrinsic motivation across all subject areas and in school in general. Assessment of intrinsic motivation is…

Describes the domains of emotional intelligence and proposes that there may be a significant relationship between emotional intelligence and life success. Provides examples of knowing one's emotions, managing emotions, motivating oneself, recognizing emotions in others, and handling relationships. Applies the theory to the case conceptualization…

Explores how the Cross-Aged Literacy Program supported the motivation and literacy learning of four low-achieving ninth-grade students. Suggests that participation in the preparation seminar and cross-aged literary discussion groups contributed to three key aspects of intrinsic motivation: perceived self-competence, autonomy, and relatedness. (SG)

Examines the effects of trait intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, measured by the Work Preference Inventory, on creativity and academic performance. In an experimental creative writing task, intrinsic motivation correlated with creativity. In a follow-up study, intrinsic motivation correlated negatively with year-1 GPA, whereas extrinsic…

This article describes an approach to student discipline which is based on getting students to take responsibility for their own behavior, rather than forcing obedience. Strategies are suggested which offer practical alternatives to less effective control-oriented methods. (IAH)

Examines the assumption that interdependence is best achieved by using rewards. An impressive body of social science research has shown that rewards have limited effectiveness and can undermine interest in the task. Cooperative learning programs with appropriately balanced curricula, autonomy, and relationship elements function well without…

Examines the relation between children's mastery motivation, self-assessment of performance, and task-related, help-seeking behavior during task performance. (PCB)

Describes motivational strategies that middle-school teachers can employ to prevent boredom and stimulate interest. Teachers should relate learning tasks to students' needs, interests, concerns, and experiences; clarify, share, and model the intended value of learning; encourage students to pursue their own interests; stimulate students'…