Surefire Ways to Motivate Your Under Achieving, Under Performing Students
Not all of your students are motivated to learn. Some of your students simply need that extra nudge to get them to perform at the level they need to in order to be successful. So, what do you do?
Well, the first thing you don’t do is give up. Let’s take a look at the things that cause students to be underachievers, and then, you can determine what you need to do to change things.
First, identify the problem. There is always a reason that students are underachievers. Here are a few of the reasons a student may be an underachiever:
- Boredom
- Frustrated
- Distractions
- Peer pressure
- A learning disability
- Poor student/teacher relationship.
Your bored students may be operating on a level that is ahead of their classmates. This is where differentiated instruction comes in. These students will need something to challenge them and pique their interest.
For some students, the material that you are teaching is too far advanced for them. They don’t understand it. They can’t keep up, and, as a result, they shut down.
It’s a sad reality, but family problems can spill over into school. Some of your underachievers are worried about the things that are happening at their homes. Their home situations may be so intense that it consumes all of their focus. Your lesson is the last thing on their minds when faced with poverty, homelessness, gang violence, and other family issues.
Peer pressure is nothing new. And, it can impact your students’ performance. A few years back, I had a student who would never answer any questions in class, and she would give me the “evil eye” when I called on her. This young lady never turned in her homework during class. However, as soon as class was over, she would rush out of my room, go up the hall, around the corner, and then, she would double back to my room. Once her classmates had completely cleared my room, she would turn in her homework and other assignments. The girl was smart. Her papers were perfect. Her answers were spot on. But, she didn’t want her classmates to know that she was smart. So, what did I do? I stopped calling on her during class. She was happy. I was happy.
There are some students who have a genuine learning disability. These students are simply not mentally capable of doing the work.
It’s amazing how much you influence what happens in your classroom. A poor relationship with your student/students can adversely affect their academic performance in your class.
We have all heard the catch phrase…increase the rigor…increase the rigor…increase the rigor. However, with these underachievers, you can’t just increase the rigor and hope they catch up. They won’t. They are already downing. Instead of pouring more water on top of their heads, you will need to throw them a life jacket.
Not of your assignments should be hard. Not all of them should be difficult. Be sure to provide your underachievers with opportunities for success. You do this by starting with things that they already know. Once they experience some wins, then you can begin to increase the difficulty of the tasks.
Create a safe, comfortable environment for your students. Make your students feel like they are understood and respected. They need to know that mistakes are okay. And, assure them that mistakes are a part of the learning process.
Underachievers should also be made to feel like they matter. How can you do this? You let them know that their feelings and accomplishments are important to you. Actively listen to what they are telling you.
Small groups are a great strategy to use with your struggling learners. Small groups can be one on one, or they can consist of a small group of no more than four or five other students.
Your students will give you just what you expect them to. They will rise to the level of your expectations. So, maintain high expectations even for these students who are underachievers. Continuously communicate to your students your expectations. Explain to your students that even though they’re not where they’re supposed to be academically, there is no excuse for not doing their work or for not trying harder.
Underachievers need rewards and other forms of validation. They need incentives. Offer them a reward. Offer them some type of recognition. It does not have to be money. It does not have to be candy or any other type of sugary sweet. Try the following:
- Friendly phone call to their parents
- A positive text message
- Publish something in the newspaper or on a social media site that’s recognizing their achievements.
- Wall of stars
- Certificates
- Stickers
- Pizza party
- Movie Day
Make a big deal out of it when they accomplish something. Give these students some type of a reward for their achievement.
Another way to get your underachievers involved in the learning process and more motivated to learn is to figure out what they actually enjoy. You can do this at the beginning of school using interest inventories. And, you can also find out what they like by being a little sneaky.
No, I don’t mean go stake out their house. I mean you can ask questions throughout your lessons or during your class that will help discover the things that interest them. Then, you can begin to incorporate these things into your class lessons.
Incorporate as much pop culture as you can. If we can find a way to tie these current events and celebrities into your lesson, then do it.
Learn to keep your cool. You can’t lose your cool in front of your underachievers. You can’t get mad. You can’t scream. You can’t yell. You may get frustrated. I know I do. However, you have to hold it together. Remember, your emotions and expectations will trigger your students’ emotions and achievements.
You want these students to keep achieving. So, you simply have to continuously communicate to them what you expect from them. You have to continue to encourage them, continue to motivate them, and little by little, you’ll begin to see progress. And, remember, even if you don’t see it today…even if you don’t see it tomorrow… eventually you will see it.
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