Keeping students motivated is one of the greatest all time mysteries. To me, it seems that motivation is a lot easier in younger grades. During higher education schooling, many students already have some desire to stay motivated in order to succeed, so a lot of that burden falls on them in the form of self-motivation.

In middle and high school, however, it is a very difficult task, indeed, especially with so many distractions and problems. You could be the greatest teacher on earth, but if you don’t find ways to motivate your students and keep things interesting, your classroom will end up being a big bore. As a result, your students are guaranteed to be less apt to put in the effort required to get themselves motivated.

What motivates one student may have a totally opposite effect on another, so it is best to consider something very general when exploring different options. It’s a nice thought to want to be as personal as you can, and gear the tasks and studies towards individual student – however, classes are getting more and more students each year, and that is not as practical as it once was, if ever.

Keeping students motivated is as challenging as ever, with new techniques being thought up every year. It is difficult to compete with so many distractions, both in and out of the classroom, so I will be laying out a few very general tips:

First, remember that the classroom is a social environment. Use that to your advantage and split class up into pairs, threes, and other groups during activities. Working alone is never as much fun working together. Sure, some students may simply take that as an opportunity to talk with their friends, but your control over the class is a lot more possible through groups, as opposed to working with individuals. Friends can and should support one another. If one kid feels he is not doing well by himself, then putting him in a group will help boost his confidence and raise his chances of success.

Praise. We seem to forget that we all crave the acknowledgment and validation of others, especially those close to us. Teachers and parents are both a consistent part of a student’s life, and the words you say really do matter. Everything you do matters, and so does everything you don’t do. If you genuinely give credit where it is due, that student will crave your approval again, even if he or she are not fully aware of it. We all like receiving a compliment on a job well done, and students even more so. Self-esteem is a big part of self-motivation.

Don’t underestimate the power of breaking the monotony. It can do wonders, and stimulate the brains of an entire class. Sure, you’ll always have those that are simply not interested in anything you have to say, EVER. Those students are a topic for a different post entirely. But there are some students out there whose eyes will open up the very second you utter the phrase “outdoor class”. It is a chance to get out of the classroom, and that is nothing to sneeze at. Take your class out once in a while, even if it just outside the school. It doesn’t  matter where you go, as long as it gets your class thinking.

Maybe these tips are helpful to you, and maybe not. What you must remember is that once YOU become demotivated, there will be little chance that you will be able to motivate others properly. Get the motivation you need so you can continue motivating others.