How to maintain a high level of student motivation?

Motivation is the last forum topic in PIDP3250. Jolene raised a great follow-up question - how can we maintain student's motivation? Here is my response -- 

1. Maintain Goals 

Teach students how to set clear, realistic and specific goals. Teachers should keep individual academic ability and personalities in mind when establishing expectations. It's also important not to stereotype students as incapable.

2. Maintain Confidence & Belief in Success 

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- Give students small tasks to accomplish: a motivated student feels frustrated if they experience success. It depends on the subject itself. Most of my assignments are challenging but I would also insert a few small and relatively easy assignments in between, so every student gets a sense of accomplishment. 

- Acknowledge and reward student's progress: (instead of grades) Every once in a while (biweekly basis) I give praises to the class in a whole and I always keep "finding something to compliment" in student's work. 

3. Cultivate the Habits 

Help students make a study plan to achieve the goals, set aside a regular time learning, repeat some practices on a regular basis to form the learning habits. We also want to teach students time-management skills to achieve the goals efficiently. 

4. Maintain Energy 

- Through teacher support and peer support

- "Switch-off" time Students who lack motivation might simply be worn out from academic pressure or other life responsibilities. The students should also know that, taking a break is fine, and necessary to keep them motivated. 

- Keep students involved in interactive activities 

- Help students find personal meaning and value in the materials 

5. Keep Ourselves Motivated 

It is also important to maintain our own motivations  - how we maintain self-motivated is essential, also sending a strong & positive motivator to our students. Walking into the classroom, non-verbally telling our students how unmotivated we are, won't motivate any of the students. Same strategy -- we need goals, challenges, meditations, praises, break time and peer support... to maintain our own motivations. 

Sources: Motivation and how to maintain it http://family.utoronto.ca/Stories/Maintaining-motivation.htm
Motivating students http://www.ware.k12.ga.us/superintendent/Goal%20Presentations/0195/WCHS_Motivating_Students_article_to_teachers.htm