Rocket versus Firecracker
Attitude determines Altitude
Rather than focussing just on grades — if you are a a parent — it is always recommended to explore how your child views a particular topic. Their academic performance will always align with motivation.
I have been an educator for over ten years now. Since my father was also a teacher, I began teaching when I was in 9th grade. I provide private tutoring, so I work closely with students throughout the academic year.
A surprising finding from analysing student performance is that Intelligence is not actually among the top two factors for high achievement. The first is Motivation. The second is Values, but I will focus only on motivation here.
Students’ drive is influenced by many factors, including personal motivation, academic goals, expectations from peers and family, and desire for future success. Additionally, things like passion for a subject, sense of accomplishment, and socioeconomic conditions can contribute to motivation.
As a teacher, I try to understand how the subject I teach i.e. math is relevant to students’ career goals. A student aiming for engineering or business is more likely to work hard in math than one who takes it only because their parents insisted. Students interested in biology usually don’t perform as well in math — for them it’s an obstacle to medicine. Similarly, liberal arts students often find Maths too rigid. Around 6th or 7th grade — the level of interest in maths can be gauged in a student.
Of course there are exceptions to the above, but these observations are generally true.
Once I understand a student’s motivation, it becomes easier to tailor an academic plan. A student determined to excel in math can be challenged with difficult material, unlike one who just wants to pass the exams and forget about math.
Students are more open to discuss their life goals with a teacher — who is a neutral party — than their parents — who tend to judge. I can vouch for this as a parent also !
A firecracker and a rocket both utilize Newton’s Third Law, but their respective altitude is determined by the fire in their belly.
I’ve seen intelligent kids waste their potential due to lack of drive to push themselves. And I’ve met below average kids who improve over time simply because they were determined to.
Follow Motivation, not Marks !
