Excited to Learn

In this book Margery Ginsberg provides us with a vision and framework to transform the learning experience for students and teaches to one in which both can flourish. Her use of classroom scenarios illuminates how students and teachers might experience the classroom environment differently but goes further to provide examples of how teachers might adopt practices to enhance student engagement. Importantly the practices discussed are designed not only to increase student's attitude and feelings of attachment to school, but also to provide substantive connections with academic content that will be enduring. Ginsberg's extensive experience working with educators in a variety of settings gives her a deep understanding of teaching and the challenges and the possibilities of creating transformative learning experiences. Education can be a complex endeavor for both students and teachers. Ginsberg's positive orientation towards problem solving and a commitment to authentic and motivating educational experiences is crucial to unpacking these complexities. Through the examples in this practical guide, we can see how both students and teachers can increase their feelings of efficacy. The practices compiled within the book combine theory and teaching experience in a way that any educator could find useful. Teachers in every stage of their careers will find the strategies Ginsberg outlines helpful as they consider how to construct inclusive, relevant and challenging educational learning experiences for all their students. This is an extremely useful resource and essential reading for teachers who care about their students' learning and their success in school and society. -- Cristine Chopra, Instructor This book adds to Margery Ginsberg's body of work in the area of culture and motivation in ways that continue to invite practitioners into rich conversations about the role of culture in contemporary classrooms. Ginsberg anchors readers in theory about culture and motivation and offers practical tools to put that theory into action. The Motivational Framework for Culturally Responsive Teaching allows teachers to truly respond to the complex, dynamic, and diverse cultures present in classrooms; this framework encourages teachers to learn about culture and to apply that knowledge in systematic ways leading to motivating, effective lessons. -- Anthony B. Craig, Principal How can you work with classroom dynamics to increase your culturally diverse students' investment in learning? In this theoretically sound and immensely practical guide, Margery Ginsberg offers teachers a clear framework loaded with wonderful hands-on activities that have the power to change how teachers and students relate to each other and to academic learning. This book is designed to enable teachers to unlock their students' inner motivation and reach the students teachers find most challenging. -- Christine Sleeter, Professor Emerita Every educator wants their students to be excited to learn. Margery Ginsberg effectively blends theory and practice to illustrate how teachers can elicit the intrinsic motivation of all of their students, even in the most diverse classrooms. Anyone who wants to be a more effective teacher - at any grade level - needs to read this book! -- Beverly Daniel Tatum, President