7 Tips for Student Motivation

Learning how to motivate your students can be an impactful way to boost learner engagement. Every classroom experience can be different, and motivation for students is personal. According to Education Week, “80% of educators believe student motivation has declined, while learners feel only 38% feel their motivations have lowered.” Naturally, tapping into what drives each individual learner can be a challenge, but once you realize their strengths, it’s amazing how you can fuel classroom engagement. If you’re looking for some new ways or ideas to motivate your students, consider the following.

1. Find and use games. Students don’t even realize they’re learning, because they’re having so much fun.

2. Set high expectations and believe in them. Clearly communicate that you believe in each student’s potential. When students know you expect excellence, they often rise to meet it.

3. Build strong relationships. Take the time to get to know each student—their interests, backgrounds, learning styles, and aspirations. Use that insight to personalize your instruction and interactions.

4. Provide choices. Giving students options on how they learn or demonstrate their understanding builds autonomy and engagement.

5. Incorporate student interests into lessons. Use sports, music, art, or pop culture as hooks to draw students into content they might otherwise find dry.

6. Lean on your team. Partnering with other teachers can help with your workflow and bandwidth, while also providing more support for your students. For more on team-based teaching, read here.

7. Celebrate progress, not just perfection. Recognize growth, effort, and improvement. This keeps students motivated even when mastery is still in progress.

Every classroom experience can be different. Students need to know they’re in a classroom environment where it’s okay to explore options, make mistakes, ask questions, and see what’s out there. They need to know if they say, “Hey, I like this,” they won’t be judged or looked down upon. So, motivation is highly personal, and it can take time to build that trust among students and teachers.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services