Motivating Disengaged Students Equals Success
Motivating disengaged students is important for learning and achievement. Students who are motivated to learn persist longer, learn more deeply, produce higher quality effort, and perform better in class.
‘My dad killed my mum’ he announced in class
We had quite a few disengaged students at an Aussie school I was teaching at. One day, a student, lets call him Dave [that’s not his name] was placed in my class mid-year. He walks in and announces ‘Hi, my dad killed my mum.’ Dave had been expelled from other schools so his development was slow. He hated school.
2 minute a day strategy that works!
Dave was imprisoned by fear and anger towards the world. Initially, he just refused to learn. Dave didn’t want to know. I decided not to push him but allowed him to learn at his own pace.
I didn’t start out thinking, ‘I’m motivating disengaged students by doing x, y, z…’ If he didn’t want to participate in an activity, I didn’t push him but rather distracted him with another activity linked to the main task.
Sometimes it was just a lower year level version of the task, but presented in a way that upheld his dignity. For example, don’t give a Year 5 student a Year 2 or 3 textbook. That just makes them feel dumb. We, as teachers, must present the task in the conversational style of the year level the student is in. That’s my approach.
I made sure we chatted every day for 2 mins. (I had completed a 2 hour online training on it, back in 2001, and it’s always worked. I always try to rotate through my primary class of students each week).
I believe it only takes 2 minutes a day over ten days to build a relationship and start to have an effect on that student’s behaviour. It really works. You must, of course, show genuine care. Don’t overdo it. Just show some interest in the student for 2 minutes each day about their interests. Gradually, the barriers went down. He couldn’t get enough of school.
Nick Woolf, in his SEL article, talks about the 2×10 strategy to build relationships. It’s an intervention that empowers educators to build authentic relationships with students and increase their sense of belonging.
Love Conquers All
Dave was no longer the disengaged student that he was two months ago. He laughed these days and became well-liked by his classmates. Motivating disengaged students with love works?
I happened to overhear Dave talking with his younger brother outside the classroom window. They didn’t know I could hear them talking. Dave’s younger brother was quizzing him “Dad’s coming out of prison so why don’t you want to leave school and go with him?” Dave replied “I want to stay because my teacher loves me!” I couldn’t believe it. Next day he left . . .
That’s the kind of unconscious feedback one can get, which shows how engaged even the most difficult students can become.
Motivating disengaged students
I have since had more students who were way behind their standard for age. Haven’t we all? Motivating disengaged students means that I not only assure that all basics are taught, it means a committed approach to adapting and re-adapting my materials and approaches to grab the attention of even the most disengaged student.
By focusing firstly on getting my students engaged in the classroom, behaviour management for me is secondary. It doesn’t always work. Like everything we have to trial and error. I’ve found nine social skills activities helpful in motivating disengaged students.
Do read this article ‘What to do about disengaged students: wisdom begins in wonder’ by Chris Holmes. I think he has a good handle on it.
Of course, there will still be the exceptionally difficult student like Dave. Every student is different so I don’t have the answer for all, that’s impossible but like Holmes, I’m not going to give up.
Feel free to comment below. Perhaps you have a similar experience to share.
The story in this post is very harrowing, but it’s great to hear that the student was still able to remain engaged with their learning.
Not that it relates to your story – but one of my biggest issues with a lot of school systems is their lack of inspiration towards the most basic methods of learning – like reading books for example. Most people hate reading because they were forced into it at school.
I think the key is to show students a goal that they can reach – whether that be financial independence or the development of a skill they love – so they develop their own drive for wanting to learn.
I feel like this was a massive thing that was missing when I was at school!
Hi Joshua, yes the story was very harrowing but also inspiring in that the student changed.
I agree with your perceptions about reading in schools but many teachers are changing that. I have developed over the years a classroom library adding the most unique books to tantalise the most reluctant readers. Of which most were boys. We also use technology reading aloud into an iPod and recording it and playing it back and listening to improve reading.
They also know I will spot check and give a response at least once a week but as you so rightly comment, the students quickly developed their own drive for wanting to learn. Especially when they want to share with the class a book review. Thanks.
Hey Sylvia:
Thanks for sharing your article ‘Disengaged Students Attitude’ and for forming I love to teach 101. I’m enjoying being part of this group. Some students have a really hard time of it, and very often it is a caring and creative teacher who can help them find their way through.
Hi Netta, thank you so much for your encouragement. It is amazing how many teachers just ordinary folk are so kind!
Sorry I didn’t get back to you earlier. We are in the middle of reworking the website but I thought I had better reply soon or you might think I’m ignoring you.
Thanks
Wow! What a sad story with such a good outcome. Have you heard of Torey Hayden? She is a special education teacher who writes about her class room experiences and your story reminds me of her book “One Child” and its sequel “Tigers Child”. Sheila, a severely disturbed little girl, remembers the care Torey gave her. I really hope Dave is able to take the care and support you gave him and go on to do great things in his life!
I really wish you’d been around when my son was in mainstream. It was the most awful experience for him. He is very bright but has severe learning disorders which has him years below age level in most subjects. I ended up pulling him out and putting him into distance education as it removed the behavioural issues of him lashing out because he couldn’t keep up and he was being bullied. Unfortunately the school decided he was the problem and whilst we had good teachers they were too scared to go against the establishment to fight for him. I am so glad Dave had you in his life, even for such a short period, as it could well make a huge difference to his future schooling.
Regards,
Megan
Hi Megan,
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment.
I had not heard of Torey Hayden but I looked her up on Amazon books. I liked so much what I read in the reviews, that I purchased one of her books. Can’t wait to get into it today being Saturday. Thank you for pointing me to such a good resource.
That is so sad what happened to your son. I hope he is doing well with the distance learning but that must put a lot of strain on you being mum and teacher 24/7. I take my hat off to you and other mothers who do this. Us teachers get a break at the end of the day but mums don’t.
Thanks for sharing.
Wow! That is such a sad story but we persevere and our students change. I think people should spend some time in classrooms so they know what it’s about. I love teaching and strongly recommend teaching as a career to everyone because it is so rewarding.
Thank you, Sophie. Perseverance is key. We must never give up on any child and like you say it’s so rewarding. So glad you love to teach. Sylvia