Engaging reluctant learners: strategies for motivating secondary students
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Engaging reluctant learners: strategies for motivating secondary students
Engaging pupils can be one of the most challenging elements
of teaching, especially if an individual doesn’t want to be in the classroom. But
if your secondary class is being disrupted by a reluctant learner, fortunately, there are numerous methods which can be used to change the situation for the
better.
Here we explore why students may not want to learn and focus
on some of the ways to reengage with them in order to enhance their learning
experience.
Why understanding is critical to your approach
A key part of this process revolves around gaining an
understanding of why they may not wish to engage. Some pupils may be
particularly disruptive, while others may simply look to avoid questions or
leave work incomplete. If you see a child showing signs of disengagement or
displaying behavioural issues, it’s important to communicate with them to find
out why.
Look to make sure that a student understands your role and
that you are there to support them as a teacher. It’s important to build bonds
with pupils and gain their trust while showing that you believe in their
abilities. This tends to provide a valuable confidence boost and can go a long
way to minimalizing any potential future disruption.
Practical support in the classroom
According to Ofsted, the use of teaching assistants in the classroom can make a huge difference when looking to deal with disruption and boost engagement. Ultimately it frees up the teacher to focus on teaching, while assistants can also provide a further line of communication between the school and home, helping pupils to feel that their needs are being listened to.
Focused support in the form of one-to-one assistance can
also be pivotal when looking to drive engagement, especially if a pupil feels
left out or overwhelmed by the subject matter. Alternative approaches to
delivering lesson content can also help, such as using technology, video or
audio. This can help to stimulate pupils in a different way, meaning they might
be more prepared to engage.
Methodology for boosting engagement
The majority of pupils are more inclined to learn if they
feel the subject matter applies to them in some way. Look to link topics to a
disruptive pupil’s interests, as building lesson plans around what they love
has been shown to have a positive impact on engagement.
Pupils also need to be challenged, be it with gradually
tougher tasks, or by encouraging elements of self-learning. As a secondary
teacher, look to remove a fear of failure, if it still exists, and embolden
pupils to provide feedback on each other’s work. This form of peer assessment
often helps drive greater engagement.
In addition, making pupils feel like they have a choice over
their work tends to boost engagement too. If a reluctant learner is inclined to
believe they have an element of control, it can help to increase their willingness to learn.
As you can see, there are many different approaches and ways
of motivating pupils that can be used, but it’s vital you understand the
reasoning for their behaviour. A failure to grasp this usually means that any
method used is likely to be unsuccessful.
How Tradewind Recruitment can support Teachers looking for their next role in education
If you’re a Secondary Teacher looking for support in writing your CV and preparing for your interview then we can help! Alternatively, we have lots of resources to help with everything related to you and your career, from top ideas for lesson plans to keeping organised in the classroom.
We have hundreds of secondary teaching positions available if you’re looking for your perfect role as a Teacher – get in touch today.
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