Do your kids or students give up before they start, say "I don't care," or only try when there's a reward on the line? Help Kids Get More Motivated is a Building Character workbook for ages 8 to 12 that helps kids understand where motivation comes from, how their inner voice affects their effort, and what to do when trying feels hard.
This workbook is printed and shipped by Amazon. Order the paperback on Amazon.
The workbook was written by Tammy Roose, an upper elementary teacher and the creator of Tarheelstate Teacher, and is adapted from her Intrinsic Motivation & Positive Self-Talk SEL Unit for upper elementary classrooms.
NOTE: This 99-page paperback is written for kids to work through on their own or alongside a parent or teacher. If you are teaching motivation to a whole class, the Intrinsic Motivation & Positive Self-Talk SEL Unit covers the same topic with 20 days of lesson plans and Google Slides (digital download only).
Through reading passages, sorting activities, real-life scenarios, and journal prompts, kids practice what to say and do when they don't feel like trying, including how to flip an extrinsic reason into an intrinsic one, how to replace negative self-talk with encouraging words, and how to spot the signs of apathy and get unstuck.
WHY PARENTS LOVE THIS WORKBOOK
- A Variety of Engaging Activities in One Book: Reading passages, sorts, motivation scenarios, an advice column, quote reflections, and creative projects like My Motivation Symbols, the I Am Motivated Acrostic Poem, and My Motivation Playlist and Album Cover.
- Kids Can Work On Their Own or With an Adult: Directions are written for kids ages 8 to 12, so they can complete the activities independently or alongside a parent, teacher, or counselor. Children can work from the first page to the last, or skip to the sections that fit what they need right now.
- Start with Understanding Apathy: The workbook opens with pages for adults, Tips for Fostering Intrinsic Motivation in Children and Student Apathy: Understanding and Addressing It, so you can respond to a child who has checked out with curiosity instead of frustration.
- Setting Motivation Goals that Can Continue After the Workbook: A Personal Motivation Post Reflection & Action Plan, a Personal Motivation Weekly Goal Reflection, and a Declaration of My Commitment to Staying Motivated help kids keep practicing motivated habits.
- No Right or Wrong Answers: The activities focus on reflection, discussion, and real-world application.
WHAT'S INSIDE THE MOTIVATION WORKBOOK
✨ Section 1: Understanding Motivation: What Is Motivation?, important vocabulary, Reflecting on My Motivation, My Beliefs About Motivation, reflection questions, and Motivators and Demotivators
✨ Section 2: Where Motivation Comes From: Types of Motivation, Sorting Through Types of Motivation, Analyzing Intrinsic Motivation, the From Stickers to Self-Drive reading passage, Flip That Motivation, Motivation Boost: When Extrinsic Motivation Works Best, Staying Motivated When No One's Watching, and My Motivation Symbols
✨ Section 3: Training Your Inner Voice: The Weight of Words story, My Choices, My Power, The Power of Positive Self-Talk, Positive Self-Talk Strategies, Situations That Test Our Motivation, Positive Self-Talk Mantras, and My Self-Talk Before & After
✨ Section 4: When Trying Feels Hard: The Science of Apathy, Spot the Signs of Apathy, What Causes Apathy?, Combating the 7 Types of Apathy, The Motivation Messenger Advice Column, Thinking Through Overcoming Apathy Scenarios, Getting Unstuck Starts With Trying, and the I Am Motivated Acrostic Poem
✨ Section 5: Motivation for the Long Run: Chasing My Dreams, My Motivation Playlist, My Motivation Album Cover, Finding My Way Forward, The Challenges of Staying Motivated, a Motivation Choice Board, and a Declaration of My Commitment to Staying Motivated
✨ Appendix: Recommended picture books about motivation and reproducible templates
Staying motivated isn't always easy, especially when a task feels boring, a goal takes a long time, or a mistake makes kids want to quit. Help Kids Get More Motivated helps kids find reasons to try that come from within, talk to themselves with kindness, and keep going when no one is watching.
THIS WORKBOOK IS PERFECT FOR
- Parents and caregivers supporting social emotional learning at home
- Teachers and school counselors leading character education lessons
- Homeschool families and after-school programs
CASEL STANDARDS ALIGNMENT
Self-Awareness
- Linking feelings, values, and thoughts
- Experiencing self-efficacy
- Developing interests and a sense of purpose
Self-Management
- Exhibiting self-discipline and self-motivation
- Setting personal and collective goals
Relationship Skills
- Seeking or offering support and help when needed
Responsible Decision-Making
- Identifying solutions for personal and social problems
- Anticipating and evaluating the consequences of one’s actions
MORE BUILDING CHARACTER WORKBOOKS
Each workbook in the series follows a similar layout, so kids know what to expect from one topic to the next:
- Telling the Truth & Integrity
- Empathy & Caring About Others
- Being Yourself
- Having Courage
- Making & Keeping Friends
- Setting Goals
- Showing Responsibility & Making Good Choices
- Growing in Gratitude
- Developing a Growth Mindset
- Conflict Resolution
BOOK DETAILS
- Paperback, 99 pages, 8.5 x 11 inches
- Ages 8 to 12 (grades 3 to 6)
- Author: Tammy Roose
- Publisher: Tarheelstate Teacher Publishing
- ISBN: 978-1968882105
- Available on Amazon: order the paperback here
Copyright © Tammy Roose, Tarheelstate Teacher LLC. The purchase of this workbook gives the buyer permission to reproduce pages for single classroom, home, or small group use only.
