Finding something to keep an uninterested and apathetic student engaged is like looking for a needle in a haystack! How do you motivate a student you don’t care about right now? Lack may have been more common among middle and high school students. But indifference is also at the top of the list of concerns for early-grade teachers this year.
The students I can’t reach know that I will be the best student I can be. So I was tired and defeated for a few days and went home! Fortunately, I’ve noticed some successes recently. So now I’m here to share 15 ideas for motivating your apathetic students.
Some common synonyms of apathetic are impassive, phlegmatic, stoic, and stolid. While all these words mean “unresponsive to something that might normally excite interest or emotion,” apathetic may imply a puzzling or deplorable indifference or inertness.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apathetic
Engagement Priority to Motivate Apathetic Students
Connection
Building relationships with students is essential, but connecting goes even further. You probably have a lot of “connections” with your co-workers, but the people you connect with are the people you most want to work with, right?
Whether you’re discussing blue sneakers or staring at Star Wars backpacks, connect with disinterested students. The hint description works well. Each day, select a few students who say, “You like red juice,” or “You wear Nikes a lot.” Don’t say anything else—only one notification per day. Sparks will eventually scatter. First, the student realizes that you care. Second, you bring this student into the conversation.
Interest
Find out what your students are interested in and use it. Students love cars – cars are now math counters. Students love videos. Allows you to watch a video on your device as you complete the assignment. Superhero? Then you will find some superhero writing pages. Profit from their profits! Last year my students were obsessed with dogs and pandas. Sports this year. Math Basketball was a giant ice breaker for getting one of my students to try out a math job.
Check Maslow
We all learned Maslow’s Hierarchy in college. Focusing on student needs is more important than ever. It has been a difficult few years, but returning to face-to-face classes has not been easy for many students. Hmm. Make sure your basic needs are met. It doesn’t work well when you’re hungry, thirsty, or tired. So are our students!
Listen
When students feel their ideas and opinions matter, they are more likely to share them, which leads to more learning! I know that is rare!), brace yourself! When unmotivated students finally speak up or participate, those are great opportunities we don’t want to miss!
Next Steps to Motivate Apathetic Students
Baby steps
Some students don’t get engagement overnight, so you must be patient. And thank you for all her steps in the right direction! Have you left her part of the group a little bit today? Bravo! Take this small step as encouragement!
Accommodation
Many teachers make adjustments every day. They’re not just for students with special needs! Are all other students writing paragraphs now? Big! Perhaps dictate a section you wrote and adjust the piece to encourage the uninterested student! Do your other students practice mental arithmetic? Can count. Think outside the box sometimes. If it works and doesn’t cause you or anyone else a problem, give it a try!
Realistic Milestones
It can be difficult for us! We want all our students to excel. But for us indifferent students, the goal this week is to attend a few classes each day and not disturb them. For a while may be okay. Do you want more? But sometimes, you have to be realistic. Is this a failure? No!
Check Yourself
Before interacting with students, you must ensure you are in the best possible place. Don’t take things personally; keep calm and do your best. This may not always be the case at every moment. It’s a school day. So before you talk to an indifferent student, take a few breaths and make sure your tone doesn’t imply anger or frustration and that your words don’t embarrass or embarrass anyone. To do. I check myself to ensure I’m in a suitable mental space to speak kindly.
Find a top job
Student jobs help build your class community. Give students purpose and responsibility in the classroom. Their work makes us proud every day. What occupations are included?
Start a class family
To maximize learning in the classroom, it’s vital to create learning communities where students feel camaraderie and connected. The classroom becomes like a family to you and your students. The importance of building community among learners tops teachers’ lists! Why? Because students learn more in an environment where they feel loved and cared for by others.
Pay attention to everything
If you keep your eyes wide open and in the corner of your head, you can glean great information about indifferent students. Who do they hang out with sometimes? What are they watching in the classroom? What do they focus on when they are not working? Not everything students make daily needs comments, but keep these in mind and use this information!
Celebrate Success
Let all students celebrate each other’s success – it fosters a culture of success in the classroom! Some kids do minimal work, don’t engage with others, and shut down. These indifferent students may need these celebrations the most!
Activities Involving Apathetic Students
Convenience
When students simultaneously move their hands and head, their brains are rewired to complete learning. Enabling myriad hands-on activities fosters student creativity, engagement, and confidence. Check out the following blogs full of ideas.
Literacy Center Blog – This blog presents a quick and easy Literacy Center.
Using the Whiteboard Blog – Find out how a whiteboard can turn many activities into hands-on activities in this blog.
Brain Breaks Blog – Let’s move!
I hope you can come up with some ways and ideas to help lethargic students. We often fight over our lack of commitment to these students, but if we can adjust our expectations and find joy in the small steps, we may be able to relax, knowing that we are doing our best.
To read more about this topic, you can read the “How to Write Scenarios That Engage Learners” article
