Unlocking the potential of disengaged students can be a challenge, but with creative strategies, it’s not just possible—it’s transformative. This article delves into eight innovative methods, each backed by expert insights, designed to re-energize and motivate the most uninterested learners. From leveraging the outdoors to gamifying the curriculum, these techniques promise to revolutionize the approach to student engagement.
- Get Students Outdoors for Hands-On Learning
- Create a Sense of Belonging and Value
- Gamify Learning to Boost Engagement
- Connect Learning to Student Interests
- Use Sporting Events to Inspire Effort
- Encourage Breaks with Pomodoro Technique
- Leverage Interactive Tools for Engagement
- Implement Accountable Talk for Student Interaction
Get Students Outdoors for Hands-On Learning
As a science teacher, I’ve found that getting kids outdoors works wonders for engaging even the most disinterested students. Nature journaling and hands-on exploration are especially powerful. When kids get to choose what they want to observe—like a bug, a flower, or a cool rock—they feel more ownership over their learning. It becomes personal and fun, and they’re much more interested because it’s something they picked, not just something assigned. Giving them the freedom to explore and make learning their own can spark curiosity and excitement in ways a classroom alone often can’t.
Tina Salmanowitz, Educator – Founder of LMU, Little Monsters Universe
Create a Sense of Belonging and Value
Over my career, I have found effective ways to motivate disengaged and academically struggling students. Serving this population of students—along with others who are farthest from opportunity and have the least privilege—is my passion and life’s work.
First, to serve these populations of students, it’s important to differentiate disengaged students from academically struggling students—while also recognizing the frequent intersection of the two.
For disengaged students without academic struggles, I’ve worked hard to create a sense of belonging and value. This has included visiting students’ homes (with permission, of course), standing at the door of the classroom to welcome students in, knowing personal information about students (e.g., favorite sports teams, pastime activities, etc.) and discussing it to ensure they feel “seen,” being available at lunch and after school, creating joy in the classroom by making learning fun and relevant.
When I taught high school in Washington, DC’s lowest-income community, only 10 students showed up for my social studies class when my roster was 25. My first homework assignment to those who showed up was to get me phone numbers for absent students. I then phone-banked them repeatedly to encourage them to come. Eventually, they all showed up, and I made the classroom engaging and welcoming enough for them to return.
For academically struggling students, I focused on deeply supporting their growth and improvement. I remained after school, showed up each weekend and offered lunch for students to come to school, brought in additional volunteers to work 1:1, and ensured IEPs were both accurate and fulfilled. Students who are struggling often have low self-esteem and lack confidence. Changing this mindset comes best with having the student experience their own success. This takes a lot of support to catch students up and fill gaps. They need skilled support and also more time on task.
In the charter high school I co-founded, we served students at 4th and 5th grade English and math skills as 9th graders. We instituted an intensive summer program with lots of perks to come and daily after-school support from 4-6 p.m. with a low tutor-to-student ratio. We provided dinner to incentivize students to participate. When students started to experience some success, their motivation to participate further kicked in.
Students have incredible ability and can “grow smart.” Adults need to make this possible.
Jacquelyn Davis, Founder, Clever Noodle
Gamify Learning to Boost Engagement
One student in particular really struggled with work falling behind and became unmotivated in one of our self-paced learning plans. So, we worked with him and designed an experience that took his learning into the form of a game. So in trying to make learning engaging, we set small attainable goals with him, but included some fun things such as earning digital badges and special features. We even created a leaderboard where they could get updates on how well they were doing to encourage some good-natured competitiveness among them.
What a difference. Within one semester, their level of engagement went up by 28 percent, while the next term, their grades actually leaped almost one full letter. For me, the most rewarding, though, is witnessing them become more confident at every little success they attain.
And it’s not just something we’ve seen—research shows gamified learning can boost motivation by as much as 60% and improve outcomes in a big way. We’re all about meeting students where they are and finding creative ways to make learning feel exciting and personal. Gamification is just one example, but it shows how small, thoughtful changes can make a huge difference.
Vasilii Kiselev, CEO & Co-Founder, Legacy Online School
Connect Learning to Student Interests
One creative method I’ve used to motivate a disengaged or academically struggling student is to take time to understand their interests and connect the learning to their life. For example, I once worked with a student who was disengaged in math but had a passion for art. I incorporated their love for art into lessons by showing how math concepts, like geometry and proportions, are used in drawing and design. This approach not only made the subject more relevant but also helped build trust and showed the student that I valued their unique interests. By making the material meaningful and personal, the student became more engaged and willing to put in the effort to improve academically.
Kimberly McNally, Assistant Superintendent, Rose Academies
Use Sporting Events to Inspire Effort
Taking my nephew to sporting events really helped motivate him to do better in school. Seeing the athletes work hard and the energy from the crowd inspired him to push himself, knowing that success doesn’t come easily. It became clear that if he applied the same effort in his studies, he could achieve his own goals. The trips gave us a chance to bond and talk about what he could do to improve, making the conversation feel more supportive rather than just about schoolwork. Since then, he’s been more focused and determined, realizing that dedication in all areas of life pays off.
Evan McCarthy, President and CEO, SportingSmiles
Encourage Breaks with Pomodoro Technique
Build in breaks! Encourage students to set timers for their study sessions or use an app that supports the Pomodoro technique like Focus Keeper.
Julie Ann Howlett, Edtech Professional & Instructional Designer, Julie Ann H Digital
Leverage Interactive Tools for Engagement
As a former educator, I’ve seen how tools like Promethean smartboards and interactive display panels can re-engage disengaged or struggling students. Smartboards have the power to transform challenging lessons into interactive experiences. For instance, by leveraging its dynamic tools while teaching math, such as animated manipulatives and drag-and-drop features, abstract concepts become more tangible, helping students build confidence through hands-on activities. The collaborative features of the interactive display panel also foster peer engagement, turning lessons into shared, team-based problem-solving opportunities. By combining creativity with advanced tools, educators can create engaging, personalized learning environments that inspire success.
Nick Kliminski, Client Relations Specialist, Go Technology Group
Implement Accountable Talk for Student Interaction
One creative method I’ve used to motivate a disengaged or academically struggling student is by implementing accountable talk strategies in a student-centered learning environment. For a student who struggled with engagement and confidence, I designed small group activities where they were encouraged to use specific accountable talk stems, such as, “Can you share more about that?” or “I see it differently because…”
This approach allowed the student to interact with peers in a structured, meaningful way without the pressure of performing individually. By actively participating in these conversations, they began to see the value of their contributions and how their ideas helped build collective understanding.
What made this method effective was its focus on collaboration and ownership of learning. The student felt empowered by their role in fostering discussion, and it encouraged them to think critically while also listening to others’ perspectives. Over time, this not only improved their academic confidence but also strengthened their ability to engage thoughtfully in class-wide discussions.
By creating opportunities for purposeful interaction and building a sense of belonging, accountable talk helps disengaged students find their voice and see themselves as capable contributors to the learning community.
Mandi StGermaine, Co-Founder, MBS | The Woman Beyond the Cape
Overall Takeaways
- Personalization is vital: Whether connecting learning to a student’s passion or letting them explore outdoors, students who see personal relevance are more eager to engage.
- Supportive Environments make a difference: From home visits to small-group check-ins, the sense of being valued and supported often catalyzes renewed motivation.
- Active Participation changes the game: Gamification, interactive tools, and accountable talk all shift students from passive observers to active contributors, sparking deeper investment.
Tips for Implementation
- Start small: Integrate one or two techniques (e.g., Pomodoro or a quick outdoor activity) to gauge students’ responses.
- Combine methods: Blend “belonging” strategies (like personal check-ins) with a gamified review session to cover emotional and motivational needs.
- Offer consistent feedback: A quick acknowledgment of effort or success—like awarding a badge—can be a motivator.
By weaving these ideas into daily practice, educators can revitalize disengaged learners, helping them find excitement in the process and satisfaction in their progress.
