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What actually motivates our students? Today we explore that question through the lens of Self-Determination Theory with teacher Martha Cox-Stavros, a middle school Spanish teacher in Massachusetts. Whether this theory is brand new to you or something you’ve heard mentioned in passing, this conversation breaks it down in clear, classroom-ready ways. We dig into how competence, autonomy, and relatedness show up in real language tasks and how small, sustainable shifts can help students feel successful, motivated, and confident in your classroom.

Topics in this Episode:

• what Self-Determination Theory is and how it applies to the language classroom.
• how teachers can design tasks so students consistently feel that sense of progress and success?
• practical, manageable strategies teachers can use to give students real choice and agency without losing focus on required content
• low-stress, high-impact ways teachers can foster relatedness and connection among students
• how can teachers can begin to build sustainable practices that lead to competence, autonomy, and relatedness

Connect with Martha Cox-Stavros:

• Instagram:@profecox_stavros

A Few Ways We Can Work Together:

• Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual Teachers
• On-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language Departments
• Self-Paced Program for For Language Departments

Connect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:

• Website: wlclassrom.com
• Instagram: @wlclassroom
• Facebook Group: World Language Classroom
• Facebook: /wlclassroom
• LinkedIn: Joshua Cabral
• Bluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.socia
• X (Twitter): @wlclassroom
• Threads: @wlclassroom

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.