"Experiencing success is motivating for most students, so early and often in my class, I make sure all students experience success in one way or another to build their confidence. I use both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards to motivate students. For intrinsic rewards, I'd ask each student about something fun that they'd like to do if they could do anything, and they had the whole of next week to do it, no homework or assignments. That tells me a little bit about what is exciting to them. Some kids might say they want to play sports, some kids might want to play video games, some might want to ride a horse. I use these ideas as a springboard for lessons. For the extrinsic reward, I let the kids choose a little prize from the prize box if they get enough stars at the end of the week. Each student is motivated in different ways, so I adjust as needed."