Getting to the Root of Motivation Issues and How to Help
At the beginning of the year, students are often excited to return to school to see their friends and start new classes. They may be taking courses they haven’t had before or know they’ll be studying something that interests them. But as the year progresses, you may notice that your child seems to be losing motivation for school or a particular class. Their grades may be slipping, or they may be procrastinating completing assignments.
There can be many underlying causes of why they no longer seem interested or aren’t putting forth as much effort as they previously did. Work with your child to understand their needs and overcome challenges. Here are some common causes of motivation issues:
They’re overwhelmed. Does your child have a lot going on both in and out of school? They may want to consider cutting back on some extracurriculars to give them more time to focus on school. Choose one or two afterschool activities that are the most important to them and put the others on hold for now.
They also may be feeling overwhelmed about the amount of assignments or tests they have. Help them create a schedule to manage their time and stay organized. Break down big tests or projects into smaller parts that can be completed over a few days leading up to the due date.
They’re disinterested. Not every subject is exciting. If your child isn’t interested in what they are learning or don’t understand how it relates to real life, they can become unmotivated in class. Try to find connections and make topics relevant in fun ways. Help them see what they are learning as a stepping stone to get them to something that they are interested in.
They don’t understand. A big reason why many students lose motivation and start to fall behind is because they don’t understand the material. As they take more advanced classes, these courses often build on previously learned skills. If your child didn’t have a strong grasp on pre-algebra skills, it can make algebra more difficult. They may become frustrated or discouraged and stop trying as hard.
Working with a tutor on specific areas of need can help. They can build a stronger foundation to support what they are currently working on in class as well as future topics of study. The tutor can zero in on exactly where there are gaps in understanding or skills and present information in a way that makes sense.
They’re lacking confidence. The problem might not be the material, but rather your child’s belief in their own abilities. If an assignment or project seems difficult, they may be apprehensive to try. Or, if they missed a few points on a quiz, they may begin doubting themselves. Work with them to rebuild their confidence and see that they can be successful.
Praise them for their hard work and celebrate their successes. They may have gotten one or two questions wrong, but look at how many they got right. Their math problem may have been correct right up until they made a calculation error at the end. Focus on their progress, not getting everything perfect.
They could benefit from additional support. Tutoring can be a great way to help students overcome challenges that can be affecting their motivation. From learning how to take better notes or study more effectively to reinforcing key skills and concepts they’re learning in class, tutoring is customized to their individual needs. Contact Crafting Scholars to learn more about our programs and how we support students in maximizing their potential.
