18 Creative ways to Motivate Students

 

Here are 18 creative and reliable ways to motivate students in the classroom:

1. Make Learning Relevant

• Connect lessons to real-world situations and their interests.

• Use pop culture, current events, or their favorite games/shows.

• For more info, read: Making Learning Relevant 

2. Gamify the Classroom

• Use point systems, leaderboards, and rewards for participation and effort.

• Implement escape room challenges, scavenger hunts, or class competitions.

• Read more: Strategies to Gamify the Classroom

3. Offer Student Choice

• Let students choose between different assignment formats (essay, video, comic strip, etc.).

• Allow students to select projects based on their interests.

4. Use Engaging Technology

• Incorporate educational apps, interactive games, and VR experiences.

• Use tools like Kahoot!, Quizizz, or Nearpod for interactive quizzes.

5. Implement Hands-On Learning

• Use experiments, crafts, and building projects.

• Encourage role-playing or simulations.

6. Foster a Growth Mindset

• Praise effort, strategy, and improvement rather than just intelligence.

• Teach students about the brain’s ability to grow through effort.

7. Make It Collaborative

• Use group projects, peer teaching, and team challenges.

• Create buddy or mentorship systems.

8. Encourage Healthy Competition

• Hold friendly academic contests with small incentives.

• Use classroom challenges that promote engagement.

9. Provide Immediate and Positive Feedback

• Give timely responses to their work.

• Use verbal praise, written notes, or even stickers for encouragement.

10. Set Clear Goals and Celebrate Achievements

• Have daily or weekly objectives that students work toward.

• Celebrate successes with class-wide rewards like extra break time.

11. Bring in Guest Speakers or Virtual Field Trips

• Invite professionals, authors, or community members to talk about their work.

• Use virtual reality or online tours for unique learning experiences.

12. Encourage Classroom Leadership

• Assign students leadership roles (tech helper, class ambassador, etc.).

• Let them lead parts of a lesson or discussion.

13. Create a Fun and Welcoming Environment

• Allow for music, flexible seating, or creativity in classroom decor.

• Start the day with a joke, a fun fact, or an engaging warm-up.

14. Use Mystery and Surprise

• Reveal lesson topics with suspense (e.g., “Today’s lesson is a secret until you figure out the clues!”).

• Introduce lessons with a surprise prop or hidden object related to the topic.

• Read more: Mystery and Surprise for Student Engagement

15. Relate Learning to Their Future Goals

• Show how skills they are learning will help in their future careers.

• Have students research dream jobs and how class subjects apply to them.

16. Encourage Personal Reflection and Ownership

• Have students set personal learning goals.

• Use reflection journals to track progress and thoughts.

17. Use Humor and Storytelling

• Incorporate funny stories, memes, or jokes related to lessons.

• Use personal experiences to make learning relatable.

18. Build Strong Relationships

• Show genuine interest in their hobbies and lives.

• Hold casual check-ins and open discussions to build trust.