ABSTRACT
What are my students trying to accomplish in my classroom? The answer to this question is perhaps the most important piece of information that a teacher can have for understanding students’ motivation to learn. If the answer to the question is to learn something, to understand instructional material, or to gain competence in a particular academic subject, then you can be fairly confi dent that the student is on the right track. However, if the answer is to make a new friend, challenge the rules, or get some sleep, then you might need to help the student change their goal priorities or, at a minimum, help them to develop additional goals that are related to learning.
