As a science teacher, I've found that getting kids outdoors works wonders for engaging even the most disinterested students. Nature journaling and hands-on exploration are especially powerful. When kids get to choose what they want to observe-like a bug, a flower, or a cool rock-they feel more ownership over their learning. It becomes personal and fun, and they're much more interested because it's something they picked, not just something assigned. Giving them the freedom to explore and make learning their own can spark curiosity and excitement in ways a classroom alone often can't.
Over my career, I have found effective ways to motivate disengaged and academically struggling students. Serving this population of students -- along with others who are farthest from opportunity and have the least privilege -- is my passion and life's work. First, to serve these populations of students, it's important to differentiate disengaged students from academically struggling students -- while also recognizing the frequent intersection of the two. For disengaged students without academic struggles, I've worked hard to create a sense of belonging and value. This has included visiting students homes (with permission, of course), standing at the door of the classroom to welcome students in, knowing personal information about students (e.g., favorite sports teams, pastime activities, etc) and discussing it to ensure they feel "seen", being available at lunch and after school, creating joy in the classroom by making learning fun and relevant. When I taught high school in Washington, DC's lowest income community, only 10 students showed up for my social studies class when my roster was 25. My first homework assignment to those who showed up was to get me phone numbers for the absent students. I then phone-banked them repeatedly to encourage them to come. Eventually, they all showed up and I made the classroom engaging and welcoming enough for them to return. For academically struggling students, I focused on deeply supporting their growth and improvement. I remained after school, showed up each weekend and offered lunch for students to come to school, brought in additional volunteers to work 1:1, and ensured IEPs were both accurate and fulfilled. Students who are struggling often have low self-esteem and lack confidence. Changing this mindset comes best with having the student experience their own success. This take a lot of support to catch students up and fill gaps. They need skilled support and also more time on task. In the charter high school I co-founded, we served students at 4th and 5th grade English and math skills as 9th graders. We instituted an intensive summer program with lots of perks to come and daily after school support from 4-6pm with low tutor to student ratio. We provided dinner to incentivize students to participate. When students started to experience some success, their motivation to participate further kicked in. Students have incredible ability and can "grow smart". Adults need to make this possible.
One student in particular really struggled with work falling behind and became unmotivated in one of our self paced learning plans here at Legacy Online School. So, we worked with him and designed an experience that took his learning into the form of a game. So in trying to make learning engaging, we set small attainable goals with him, but included some fun things such as earning digital badges and special features. We even created a leaderboard where they could get updates on how well they were doing to encourage some good-natured competitiveness among them. What a difference. Within one semester, their level of engagement went up by 28 percent, while the next term, their grades actually leaped almost one full letter. For me, the most rewarding, though, is witnessing them become more confident at every little success they attain. And it's not just something we've seen-research shows gamified learning can boost motivation by as much as 60% and improve outcomes in a big way. At Legacy, we're all about meeting students where they are and finding creative ways to make learning feel exciting and personal. Gamification is just one example, but it shows how small, thoughtful changes can make a huge difference. I'd appreciate it if you linked back to https://legacyonlineschool.com/ in case you decide to cover this. Feel free to ask me any further questions or discuss in more detail how we are using AI to make learning better. More about me: https://councils.forbes.com/profile/Vasilii-Kiselev-Co-Founder-Adviser-Legacy-Online-School/b8afda55-f73e-4ca0-a467-43b3ff8cb9fd More about Legacy Online school: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/legacy-online-school-wins-prestigious-052900743.html
One creative method I've used to motivate a disengaged or academically struggling student is to take time to understand their interests and connect the learning to their life. For example, I once worked with a student who was disengaged in math but had a passion for art, I incorporated their love for art into lessons by showing how math concepts, like geometry and proportions, are used in drawing and design. This approach not only made the subject more relevant but also helped build trust and showed the student that I valued their unique interests. By making the material meaningful and personal, the student became more engaged and willing to put in the effort to improve academically.
Taking my nephew to sporting events really helped motivate him to do better in school. Seeing the athletes work hard and the energy from the crowd inspired him to push himself, knowing that success doesn't come easily. It became clear that if he applied the same effort in his studies, he could achieve his own goals. The trips gave us a chance to bond and talk about what he could do to improve, making the conversation feel more supportive rather than just about schoolwork. Since then, he's been more focused and determined, realizing that dedication in all areas of life pays off.
Build in breaks! Encourage students to set timers for their study sessions or use an app that supports the Pomodoro technique like Focus Keeper.
Client Relations Specialist at GO Technology Group Managed IT Services
Answered 9 months ago
As a former educator and now a leader at GO Technology Group, a trusted education technology partner in Chicago, I've seen how tools like Promethean smartboards and interactive display panels can re-engage disengaged or struggling students. Smartboards have the power to transform challenging lessons into interactive experiences. For instance, by leveraging its dynamic tools while teaching math, such as animated manipulatives and drag-and-drop features, abstract concepts become more tangible, helping students build confidence through hands-on activities. The collaborative features of the interactive display panel also foster peer engagement, turning lessons into shared, team-based problem-solving opportunities. At GO Technology Group, we specialize in managed IT services that ensure schools have the support they need to implement and maximize the potential of these technologies. By combining creativity with advanced tools, educators can create engaging, personalized learning environments that inspire success.
One creative method I've used to motivate a disengaged or academically struggling student is by implementing accountable talk strategies in a student-centered learning environment. For a student who struggled with engagement and confidence, I designed small group activities where they were encouraged to use specific accountable talk stems, such as "Can you share more about that?" or "I see it differently because..." This approach allowed the student to interact with peers in a structured, meaningful way without the pressure of performing individually. By actively participating in these conversations, they began to see the value of their contributions and how their ideas helped build collective understanding. What made this method effective was its focus on collaboration and ownership of learning. The student felt empowered by their role in fostering discussion, and it encouraged them to think critically while also listening to others' perspectives. Over time, this not only improved their academic confidence but also strengthened their ability to engage thoughtfully in class-wide discussions. By creating opportunities for purposeful interaction and building a sense of belonging, accountable talk helps disengaged students find their voice and see themselves as capable contributors to the learning community.
Incorporating a disinterested student's passions into the learning process was one innovative way I was able to inspire them. I learnt about a math-challenged student's love of sports and created word puzzles centered on basketball statistics, player performances, and game situations. They found the topic more interesting and relatable as a result of this strategy. As students started to understand the value of maths in topics they were interested in, their involvement increased over time. I learnt from this experience how crucial it is to relate academic material to situations that students can relate to in the real world.
I've found that gamification can effectively motivate disengaged or struggling students. By incorporating game-like elements such as point systems, rewards, and leaderboards into marketing campaigns, we can transform the learning experience into an engaging and stimulating environment. This approach fosters motivation and participation, helping to retain students' attention and improve their academic engagement.