Welcome to the TTR Blog

Blog posts are designed to accompany The Neurodivergent Toolkit & Workshop. But everyone can take something from each one and apply it tomorrow.

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Teacher facilitating a human-centered classroom with clear routines, meaningful choices, and visible belonging cues.

Kids Aren’t Machines. Build Classrooms for Humans.

Self-Determination Theory shows that humans thrive when three needs are supported: autonomy, competence, and relatedness or belonging. When classrooms honor those needs, you see more sustained interest, better regulation, and...

Kids Aren’t Machines. Build Classrooms for Humans.

Self-Determination Theory shows that humans thrive when three needs are supported: autonomy, competence, and relatedness or belonging. When classrooms honor those needs, you see more sustained interest, better regulation, and...

Teacher leading a clear, autonomy-supportive transition with visual cues while students choose paths within posted boundaries

Clarity Beats Control

Control is alienating. Used the way it often is in schools, it drains purpose and leaves behind lethargy. When students feel managed instead of invited, motivation thins. The fix is...

Clarity Beats Control

Control is alienating. Used the way it often is in schools, it drains purpose and leaves behind lethargy. When students feel managed instead of invited, motivation thins. The fix is...

Students engaged in learning for its own sake with meaningful choices in a calm, student-centered classroom.

Learning For Its Own Sake

Intrinsic motivation is its own justification. We smell a flower because it smells good. We paint, play, hike, puzzle, and learn as a hobby because the doing feels satisfying. No...

Learning For Its Own Sake

Intrinsic motivation is its own justification. We smell a flower because it smells good. We paint, play, hike, puzzle, and learn as a hobby because the doing feels satisfying. No...

Teacher guiding students with meaningful choices that foster autonomy, competence, and willingness instead of control.

From Control to Willingness

We have been told for years that students need tighter control. More rules. Stronger consequences. Yet the research behind Self Determination Theory points in a different direction. The goal is...

From Control to Willingness

We have been told for years that students need tighter control. More rules. Stronger consequences. Yet the research behind Self Determination Theory points in a different direction. The goal is...

Students engaged in classroom activities with meaningful choices that protect autonomy and build lasting motivation.

Motivation That Sticks

Students do not need unlimited freedom. They need meaningful choice inside clear boundaries. The moment learners can select a path that fits them, willingness goes up and resistance goes down....

Motivation That Sticks

Students do not need unlimited freedom. They need meaningful choice inside clear boundaries. The moment learners can select a path that fits them, willingness goes up and resistance goes down....

Teacher supporting student autonomy in a classroom without rewards, fostering intrinsic motivation.

Why Rewards Backfire: Autonomy, and the Classroom

As teachers, maybe we stop asking “How do I motivate students?” and start asking “How do I create the conditions where students motivate themselves?” That’s Self-Determination Theory (SDT): support autonomy, competence,...

Why Rewards Backfire: Autonomy, and the Classroom

As teachers, maybe we stop asking “How do I motivate students?” and start asking “How do I create the conditions where students motivate themselves?” That’s Self-Determination Theory (SDT): support autonomy, competence,...