How to Motivate Students to Increase Engagement & Achievement

Why are we doing this? How am I going to use this in my life? How often have you heard your students ask these questions? They may be asking because they don’t understand the content. They are likely questioning content because they are unmotivated.

Motivating students in the age of instant information and continual entertainment has made teaching difficult. How do you encourage your students to pay attention in class, learn content, and take pride in their work?

Let’s take a look at several ways to motivate students.

Active Learning Techniques

Engaging in varied strategies and balancing traditional and active learning techniques will motivate your students to succeed. Explore strategies like think-pair-share, collaborative group work, and interactive discussions to keep students engaged. Balance different techniques and change them to meet student needs.

Incorporating Student Interests

Tailor lessons to include topics and activities that align with students’ interests and passions to enhance motivation. When teaching math, use student’s interest in sports to teach various concepts. Finding averages and using mean, median, and mode are great ways to use spatial statistics to motivate student learning.

Differentiating Instruction to Meet Diverse Needs

We know that not all students learn the same way. Focusing on differentiated instruction to meet student’s needs will motivate them to participate actively in their learning.

Using adaptive tools, manipulatives, and technology while incorporating flexible grouping will allow students to participate in active learning successfully.

Providing personalized support for each student motivates them to engage in their learning actively.

Incorporating Interactive and Hands-On Activities

Project-based learning (PBL) is an excellent motivating tool. “We hear, and we forget. We see and remember. We do, and we understand.” This quote goes to the heart of student motivation.

Design hands-on lessons that allow students to engage physically. Student motivation will soar.

Create opportunities for students to engage in field trips, simulations, and experiments. Invite guest speakers who work in the field your students are studying.

Have students use Play-Dough to spell out vocabulary words. Better yet, have students make their worn dough with Kool-Aid. Keep it in a baggie with their name on it. When they finish assignments, they can take out the dough and use it to spell vocabulary words.

Utilizing Technology for Engagement

Gamification has pros and cons in school. Students may spend much time playing games at home on various devices.

Introducing game-based learning platforms that make education fun and competitive can enhance student engagement.

There are dozens of school-appropriate game-making platforms used in classrooms. These platforms allow you to create quizzes, review questions, and build vocabulary.

Collaboration amongst students

Collaboration on writing and projects is an excellent motivator for students. Students tend to work harder When they know they can work with a partner.

Google has useful tools like video conferencing and online collaboration to facilitate group projects and discussions, even remotely. Using Google Docs and Google Slides, students can edit writing and create presentations to share in class.

Peer editing is another collaboration tool. Have students read stories or essays to each other and suggest editing tips.

Building Relationships and Rapport with Students

Building relationships with your students is genuine motivation. Students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Ask your students how their day is going. Notice when they seem out of sorts. A friendly smile and kind words go a long way in building relationships with kids.

Implement strategies for providing positive reinforcement and constructive feedback to build student confidence and motivation.

Develop an understanding of students’ cultural backgrounds and incorporate inclusive practices to create a respectful and supportive classroom environment.

Encouraging Student Autonomy and Choice

Everyone loves having choices. By offering choices in assignments, projects, and learning paths, you can empower students to take ownership of their learning.

Choices can be as simple as calculating the odds or evens for an assignment. You can offer four projects and have students choose one, or students can choose between worksheets on the same topic.

Ask students what kinds of choices they would like. You’ll be surprised at what they come up with.

Goal Setting and Self-Assessment:

Goal setting is a great way to start the school year. Teach students to set personal academic goals, which can be long-term or short-term. Set times throughout the school year to reflect on those goals and their progress.

Have the students set up Personal rewards to help them meet goals on time. If students do not meet a goal, remind them that goals are set and res set.

Goal setting is an important skill to learn. It will carry them into adulthood and help them be productive, active people. They should also reflect on their progress through self-assessment techniques.

Creating a Stimulating and Inviting Classroom Environment

Most classrooms have rows of desks and chairs attached. Design a classroom layout with flexible seating options to create a comfortable and adaptable learning environment.

Have varied seating options for students. A couch, bouncy chairs, standing desks, lawn chairs, and bean bags all offer students choice and flexibility in seating.

You can attach requirements to the alternative seating. Students cannot sit in those chairs unless their assignments are complete.

Incorporating Visual and Aesthetic Elements

To create an inviting atmosphere, use visuals, decorations, and displays that are visually stimulating and related to the curriculum. Math posters that students can refer to throughout the year help motivate them to problem-solve.

No matter the subjects you teach, having number lines with negative integers, place value charts, vocabulary walls, maps, and other visual displays keeps students interested. Whether you’re a lecturer or a facilitator, students will need a place for their eyes to wander while processing what you’re teaching.

Growth and Fixed Mindset

Remember this question: Why are we learning this? I’ll never get it!

These are ideas about fixed mindsets. Students often come to school with a fixed mindset. It’s up to us to encourage and teach a growth mindset. Students need reinforcement, positive role models, and friendly, caring teachers to demonstrate this motivational technique.

You’ll be amazed at your students. When you encourage a Growth mindset, they will correct each other when negative comments occur. Sometimes, they will even correct you!

Next steps

In a motivating classroom, where there is an opportunity for choices, a teacher who cares and builds relationships creates an encouraging and welcoming environment. Students who enter unmotivated will leave with renewed vigor and a sense of accomplishment.

There are a lot of ‘how to’ ideas for you to implement. Choose one or two to get started and add others as you progress.

Watch your students become happy, engaged, and motivated to achieve.