Every educator encounters students who struggle academically, not because of a lack of ability, but because motivation has dimmed. At Vikaasa, we understand that knowing how to help underperforming students requires a more serious appreciation of what drives young learners.
Research consistently shows that motivation influences study strategies, academic performance, adjustment, and overall well-being in educational settings.
In fact, engagement in learning is such a critical predictor of success that low-income students who are engaged in reading achieve higher ratings than middle- to high-income students who are not involved.
Below is a practical, research-backed plan students can use at home and in class that incorporates the inquiry-driven ethos of the Cambridge Education Board.
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Identify the Type of Motivation Your Student Needs
It’s crucial to understand what pushes a student to learn before implementing any strategies. Having a clear picture of their needs and expectations can help you better motivate students.
What to do:
- Keep an eye on how your student responds better to internal satisfaction (intrinsic motivation) or external rewards (extrinsic motivation).
- Ask them: “What makes you excited to learn something new?” and “What makes you want to complete your homework?”
- Observe their answers and note areas of interest and improvement.
- Identify those who are intrinsically motivated without expecting any external rewards, while extrinsically motivated students rely on grades and recognition.
- Create a motivation journal with your student to track the activities they naturally enjoy.
- List three things they have recently learned outside of school. It could be a new video game, hobby, or sport and identify what motivated that learning.
- Use these insights to frame academic tasks similarly.
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Ensure Your Students Meet Their Basic Necessities
You cannot motivate students effectively if their fundamental needs aren’t met.
What to do:
Build a Relationship Based on Trust and Empathy
Research shows that positive relationships between students and teachers significantly impact motivation.
What to do:
- Greet your student warmly by name every day.
- Make genuine eye contact and smile.
- Listen actively without immediately offering advice or criticism.
- Share common interests and personal anecdotes that relate to their experiences.
- Spend 5 minutes daily in non-academic conversation.
- Praise effort and improvement: “I noticed how hard you worked on that math problem.”
- Keep disagreements private and never embarrass a student in front of peers.
- Remember details they share and follow up: “How did your soccer game go?”
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Plan Content That Excites Them
You often help weak students improve by sharing real-life stories of how underdogs win against all odds and connecting them to academic concepts in a fun, engaging way.
What to do:
- Link every lesson to real-world applications. Don’t teach them about volcanoes. Show them how to build one. It is a science experiment that’s both silly and packed with information.
- Use examples from their daily lives, favourite shows, or future career interests.
- Incorporate current events and trending topics into discussions.
- Create projects using everyday materials and situations.
- Before each lesson, ask: “Where will I use this in real life?”
- Ask students to identify where they see today’s lesson in their neighbourhood.
- Assign projects that solve actual problems they have observed.
- Invite professionals from fields they are interested in to speak about how they use academic skills.
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Reward Their Successes
Nothing except success motivates. And nothing builds on success like rewards. Challenge your students with tasks and celebrate their wins.
What to do:
- Teachers love giving homework. But there is a fine line between overloading them and allowing them to learn. Don’t dump them with assignments and submissions. It’s okay to give simple, manageable tasks.
- Set clear, specific goals: “Complete five math problems” instead of “study math.”
- Celebrate every milestone, no matter how small.
- Create visible progress trackers, such as checklists, charts, and apps.
- Use the “5-minute rule.” Ask them to commit to just 5 minutes
