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5 Strategies to Motivate Disengaged Students

  • Leader
    October 27, 2020

    In each class, there are disengaged students. They're more interested in what's going on outside the window. They are competent students who are not yet "hooked". The first thing to know is why the students are not participating in class. Here are 5 strategies to motivate disengaged students: 1. Use white slates In class, giving a student a white slate and a marker is like turning on a light with a switch. Suddenly,the student listens to the teacher's explanations. However, using white slates requires some training. As with any other classroom tool, you won't engage your students just by handing them these things over and teaching them the wrong way to use them. Students are well aware that they do not scribble and that the cover remains on the marker until the teacher has instructed them to do so. Anyone who does not properly use the slate and marker loses the privilege of using them until the next day. 2. Students should not lift a finger in class Students who know you will only call upon students who politely raise their hands in response know it is safe to leave them. So try a random selection system. This forces them to be careful during your teaching time because they never know when they will be called next! Give up the habit of raising hands and use sticks to engage disengaged students. There is a quick and easy way to select students at random, is done with Craft sticks. These sticks bear the names of students. The teacher marks each end of the stick in a different color and turns it over when calling for a student. Red sticks for disengaged students to facilitate their motivation. 3. Classmates Kids LOVE talking with their friends. In the classroom, you take the opportunity to give them the opportunity to "turn and talk". It is extremely important to set a clear goal and identify exactly what you expect from them when sharing them. The students turn to each other, seated knees to knees. This way they can look each other in the eye while they are talking. Invest time at the start of the year to teach your students exactly what to do when they are talking as a couple. 4. Technology If you are lucky enough to have technology in your classroom, use it! You don't need more than an iPad or similar device to engage your students effectively. In addition to some of the more traditional apps for reading or math practice, there are plenty of choices like Plickers. Perfect for assessment, you provide your students with a printable code that they use to answer your multiple choice questions. You scan the students and see in real time who has the correct answer and who does not. 5. Hands up! The last tip for helping disengaged learners is probably the easiest… engage them with manipulatives! Students learn by doing, so what better way to keep them engaged in your lessons than by keeping those little hands occupied in a meaningful way?