21 Simple Ideas To Improve Student Motivation
The best
lessons, books, and materials in the world won’t get students excited about
learning and willing to work hard if they’re not motivated.
Motivation, both
intrinsic and extrinsic, is a key factor in the success of students at all
stages of their education, and teachers can play a pivotal role in providing
and encouraging that motivation in their students. Of course that’s much easier
said than done, as all students are motivated differently and it takes time and
a lot of effort to learn to get a classroom full of kids enthusiastic about
learning, working hard, and pushing themselves to excel.
Even the most
well-intentioned and educated teachers sometimes lack the skills to keep kids
on track, so whether you’re a new teacher or an experienced one, try using
these methods to motivate your students and to encourage them to live up to
their true potential.
21 Simple Ideas To Improve Student Motivation
1. Give students a sense of control.
While guidance from a
teacher is important to keeping kids on task and motivated, allowing students
to have some choice and control over what happens in the classroom is actually
one of the best ways to keep them engaged. For example, allowing students to
choose the type of assignment they do or which problems to work on can give
them a sense of control that may just motivate them to do more.
2. Define the objectives.
It can be very frustrating for students to
complete an assignment or even to behave in class if there aren’t clearly
defined objectives. Students want and need to know what is expected of them in
order to stay motivated to work. At the beginning of the year, lay out clear
objectives, rules, and expectations of students so that there is no confusion
and students have goals to work towards.
3. Create a threat-free environment.
While students do need to understand that
there are consequences to their actions, far more motivating for students than
threats are positive reinforcements. When teachers create a safe, supportive
environment for students, affirming their belief in a student’s abilities
rather than laying out the consequences of not doing things, students are much
more likely to get and stay motivated to do their work. At the end of the day,
students will fulfill the expectations that the adults around them communicate,
so focus on can, not can’t.
4. Change your scenery.
A classroom is a great place for learning, but
sitting at a desk day in and day out can make school start to seem a bit dull
for some students. To renew interest in the subject matter or just in learning
in general, give your students a chance to get out of the classroom. Take field
trips, bring in speakers, or even just head to the library for some research.
The brain loves novelty and a new setting can be just what some students need
to stay motivated to learn.
5. Offer varied experiences.
Not all students will respond to
lessons in the same way. For some, hands-on experiences may be the best. Others
may love to read books quietly or to work in groups. In order to keep all
students motivated, mix up your lessons so that students with different
preferences will each get time focused on the things they like best. Doing so
will help students stay engaged and pay attention.
6. Use positive competition.
Competition in the classroom isn’t always a bad thing, and in some cases can
motivate students to try harder and work to excel. Work to foster a friendly
spirit of competition in your classroom, perhaps through group games related to
the material or other opportunities for students to show off their knowledge.
7. Offer rewards.
Everyone likes getting rewards, and offering your
students the chance to earn them is an excellent source of motivation. Things
like pizza parties, watching movies, or even something as simple as a sticker
on a paper can make students work harder and really aim to achieve. Consider
the personalities and needs of your students to determine appropriate rewards
for your class.
8. Give students responsibility.
Assigning students classroom jobs is a great way to build a community and to
give students a sense of motivation. Most students will see classroom jobs as a
privilege rather than a burden and will work hard to ensure that they, and
other students, are meeting expectations. It can also be useful to allow
students to take turns leading activities or helping out so that each feels
important and valued.
9. Allow students to work together.
While not all students will jump at the chance
to work in groups, many will find it fun to try to solve problems, do
experiments, and work on projects with other students. The social interaction
can get them excited about things in the classroom and students can motivate
one another to reach a goal. Teachers need to ensure that groups are balanced
and fair, however, so that some students aren’t doing more work than others.
10. Give praise when earned.
There is no other form of motivation that works
quite as well as encouragement. Even as adults we crave recognition and praise,
and students at any age are no exception. Teachers can give students a bounty
of motivation by rewarding success publicly, giving praise for a job well done,
and sharing exemplary work.
11. Encourage self-reflection.
Most kids want to succeed, they just need help
figuring out what they need to do in order to get there. One way to motivate your
students is to get them to take a hard look at themselves and determine their
own strengths and weaknesses. Students are often much more motivated by
creating these kinds of critiques of themselves than by having a teacher do it
for them, as it makes them feel in charge of creating their own objectives and
goals.
12. Be excited.
One of the best ways to get your students motivated is to share your
enthusiasm. When you’re excited about teaching, they’ll be much more excited
about learning. It’s that simple.
13. Know your students.
Getting to know your students is about more than just memorizing their names.
Students need to know that their teacher has a genuine interest in them and
cares about them and their success. When students feel appreciated it creates a
safe learning environment and motivates them to work harder, as they want to
get praise and good feedback from someone they feel knows and respects them as
individuals.
14. Harness student interests.
Knowing your students also has some other
benefits, namely that it allows you to relate classroom material to things that
students are interested in or have experienced. Teachers can use these
interests to make things more interesting and relatable to students, keeping
students motivated for longer.
15. Help students find intrinsic motivation.
It can be great to help students get motivated, but at the end of the day they
need to be able to generate their own motivation. Helping students find their
own personal reasons for doing class work and working hard, whether because
they find material interesting, want to go to college, or just love to learn, is
one of the most powerful gifts you can give them.
16. Manage student anxiety.
Some students find the prospect of not doing well so anxiety-inducing that it
becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. For these students, teachers may find that
they are most motivated by learning that struggling with a subject isn’t the
end of the world. Offer support no matter what the end result is and ensure
that students don’t feel so overwhelmed by expectations that they just give up.
17. Make goals high but attainable.
If you’re not pushing your students to do more
than the bare minimum, most won’t seek to push themselves on their own.
Students like to be challenged and will work to achieve high expectations so
long as they believe those goals to be within their reach, so don’t be afraid
to push students to get more out of them.
18. Give feedback and offer chances to improve.
Students who struggle with class work can sometimes feel frustrated
and get down on themselves, draining motivation. In these situations it’s
critical that teachers help students to learn exactly where they went wrong and
how they can improve next time. Figuring out a method to get where students
want to be can also help them to stay motivated to work hard.
19. Track progress.
It can be hard for students to see just how far they’ve come, especially with
subjects that are difficult for them. Tracking can come in handy in the
classroom, not only for teachers but also for students. Teachers can use this
as a way to motivate students, allowing them to see visually just how much they
are learning and improving as the year goes on.
20. Make things fun.
Not all class work needs to be a game or a
good time, but students who see school as a place where they can have fun will
be more motivated to pay attention and do the work that’s required of them than
those who regard it as a chore. Adding fun activities into your school day can
help students who struggle to stay engaged and make the classroom a much more
friendly place for all students.
21. Provide opportunities for success.
Students, even the best ones, can become
frustrated and demotivated when they feel like they’re struggling or not
getting the recognition that other students are. Make sure that all students
get a chance to play to their strengths and feel included and valued. It can
make a world of difference in their motivation.
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