Self-Determination Theory (SDT) is a theory of motivation that allows students to be more autonomous in their learning and achieve greater academic challenges. There are several factors that influence a student's ability to self-regulate their learning, which leads to improved academic performance and overall well-being. Students must be autonomous, competent and feel able to relate to others. First of all, it is important for teachers to create a learning environment in which students learn to be intrinsically motivated. Intrinsic motivation occurs when students voluntarily participate in an activity because they find enjoyment in the activity. When students become intrinsically motivated they are willing to take responsibility for their own learning. “Controlling the educational climate undermines intrinsic motivation” and therefore compromises students' progress towards autonomy (p. 136). The main difficulty in guiding students towards autonomy has to do with the current reward and punishment practices used in classrooms. As a teacher, I need to free my classroom from extrinsic motivation and help students internalize their motivation. Students typically begin school with predominantly external regulation as their primary regulatory style. External regulation occurs when a student's motivation is based on external rewards or punishments. As students move away from external regulation toward introjected regulation, they slowly begin to internalize the motivation to participate in an activity. Introjected regulation occurs when students become aware of themselves and others' views of them and is a means of feeding the ego or meeting internal expectations. Then students move on to the identified regulation, which occurs......middle of the paper......or student learning through the inquiry method which allows students to develop their own truths. In conclusion, creating a classroom environment in which students know how to be autonomous, competent and feel connected to the teacher not only as an educator, but also as a human being is essential to promote self-determination. Promote the growth of student autonomy by creating differentiation in assessment style through personal choice of how they will be assessed. Integrating Montessori methodology and practices is one of the easiest ways to ensure that students feel independent and competent in the classroom. Works Cited Niemiec, CP and R. M. Ryan. "Autonomy, competence and relationships in the classroom: application of self-determination theory to educational practice." Theory and Research in Education 7.2 (2009): 133-44. Press.