Mr. Ray is a middle school math teacher who wants to help his students learn achievement motivation so they can reach the long-term goal of doing well on the state math tests. Mr. Ray helps the students develop achievement motivation through all of the following ways EXCEPT a. helping them develop grit b. showing them their hard work leads to success c. training them to wait for delayed gratification d. making sure they have a need to belong

First, understand what achievement motivation means. It is the drive or willingness to complete a task or meet a goal, often in academic or job-related activities. Some of its main principles include infusing a sense of grit, understanding that hard work leads to success, and the ability to wait for delayed gratification.

Now, closely look at each of the given options: Option (a) speaks about developing grit, which essentially encourages persistence and resilience in face of difficulties. This feeds into achievement motivation. Option (b) emphasizes the cause-effect relationship between hard work and success, teaching students that their effort will pay off in the end. Again, this aligns with principles of achievement motivation. Option (c) mentions training students to wait for delayed gratification. This is an essential part of achievement motivation as it encourages patience and perseverance. Lastly, option (d) points at ensuring students have a sense of belonging. While the need to belong is a crucial part of overall student motivation, it is not directly related to the pursuit of academic achievements or goals. It’s more related to social motivation.

After having thoroughly analyzed the given choices, one can conclude that the correct answer is option (d). While belongingness is important, it is not a critical aspect of achievement motivation.