Motivating Unengaged Students

Strategies to Consider:

Students may feel unmotivated for a number of reasons.  

1. If students are unmotivated because they are tired, then you may want to use an activity that requires them to move (See the resource entitled, Strategies for Motivating Students).  
2. If students are unmotivated because they are not interested in the topic of the lesson, then you may want to give them a choice of how they can complete an assignment (See the resource entitled, Strategies for Motivating Students).  If students feel as though they have a choice in regard to what they are being asked to do, then they may be more motivated to take ownership of the task. 
3. If students are unmotivated because they might need a little encouragement, then give them an incentive (See pages 53 to 58 of the Substitute Teacher Handbook.).
4. If students are unmotivated because they lack confidence in themselves, then offer them encouragement in the form of praise once they begin working (See page 53 of the Substitute Teacher Handbook.).