Zig and Don Crawford on motivation, Rule 1

Rule 1: Always assume that there is a basis in evidence for the conception the students have about schoolwork and specific actions. If students behave as if the word-attack part of the lesson is aversive, there is a basis in fact for their belief. The word-attack portion of the lesson has become aversive to them. The solution is to find out why and correct it.

Fixing Motivation Problems
by Zig Engelmann & Don Crawford
Direct Instruction News Fall 2007