How to Motivate Students and Keep Them Engaged

Many teachers find themselves asking how to motivate students as they seek new ways of engaging hard-to-reach students to make them excited and eager to learn. What are some strategies teachers can adopt to help them successfully reach more students?

Many students entering credit recovery programs face difficult personal situations, and often lack the self-confidence they need to be successful academically.

How to Motivate Students and Keep Them Engaged

In Leyden High School District, Kip Pygman, Response to Intervention Coordinator, is working with his staff to create a student-centered culture to re-engage students and build confidence. Below are the four strategies teachers at Leyden High School District use to reach students:

1. Focus on Building Relationships

Find more time during class to engage in conversations with each student and interact one-to-one.

2. Create a Culture of High Expectations

Create an instructional model that ensures credit recovery students are held to the same expectations as students in original credit courses. This will motivate them to perform just as well as the others since they are treated with the same respect and instruction.

3. Reward Student Success

Provide activities that highlight student success such as an awards program. When students are aware of a clearer and more tangible goal, they become more motivated to complete their work.

4. Provide Personalized Instruction

Students learn at their own pace, in their own way. Offer instruction that matches the needs of each student and provides the support they need.

For many students, credit recovery is their last chance at earning credits needed for graduation. Since the summer of 2012, Kip and his team have helped students recover over 520 credits required for graduation.

Captivate your students' curiosity from day one to the final bell. Discover proven strategies to maintain high engagement all year long.