The Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP Professional Development team brought Motivational Classroom Management to Indianola Schools recently. Teachers were eager to learn something new and add some excitement to their classrooms.

“A lot goes into motivating students,” said GEAR UP Professional Development Coordinator John Spiegel. “We love seeing educators extend and grow their pedagogical outlooks.”

Teachers explored different strategies to motivate students, discovered how learning styles affect classroom management, and learned modern motivational tools. They shared their motivational theories, victories and concerns dealing with classroom management with other educators in their district.

“It helps with comradery and networking inside the district,” said Spiegel. “The teachers’ voices unite as one, and we want students and teachers to enjoy learning and feel accomplished leaving school.”

The workshop was provided by Eastern Oklahoma State College’s GEAR UP grant. The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is a federal initiative to increase the number of low income students who enter and successfully transition into postsecondary education. Eastern will receive over $17 million during a seven–year period to help students and educators in 39 partner schools.