Book excerpt: "Teachers often can get frustrated when they think their students don′t care. This book gives teachers a way to take ownership of the situation rather than blame students." —Lyneille Meza, Coordinator of Data and Assessment Denton ISD, Denton, TX "This resource addresses the central issue in classrooms today and is full of exciting and applicable information on how to motivate today′s learners." —Gary L. Willhite, Teacher Educator/Associate Professor University of Wisconsin, La Crosse Powerful brain-friendly strategies for motivating, challenging, and celebrating your students! This second edition of Donna Walker Tileston′s bestseller is filled with innovative practices for motivating even the most at-risk and reluctant K–12 students. Informed by current research on the plasticity of the brain and new insights on the relationship between culture and student motivation, the book features an extended classroom example of motivational techniques in action and vocabulary pre- and post-tests for teachers and details how: Technology influences the brain and motivation Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation are related to celebrations and rewards Specific strategies can motivate students to begin and finish a task Teachers can foster students′ positive self talk and on-task behaviors