Student Motivation & Engagement

Education news, analysis, and opinion about efforts to get students involved and active in learning and classroom activities
Portrait of Laurie Lehman in the classroom at La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on January 23, 2026.
Laurie Lehman, the esports manager for New Mexico's Albuquerque Public Schools, visits La Cueva High School on January 23, 2026.
Ramsay de Give for Education Week
School & District Management Leader To Learn From How This Leader Uses Gaming to Change Students’ Lives
Laurie Lehman helped her district see the power of esports to illuminate new career paths for students.
Olina Banerji, February 9, 2026
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12 min read
Elizabeth Stringer-Nunley, English Learner lead for Galax City Public Schools, works a jigsaw puzzle with students at Galax High School on Monday Jan. 12, 2026.
Elizabeth Stringer-Nunley, English-learner lead for Galax City Public Schools, works a jigsaw puzzle with students at Galax High School on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026.
Kate Medley for Education Week
English Learners Leader To Learn From How One Rural District Used College Students to Keep English Learners in School
This leader's mentorship program with a local university has helped rural English learners at risk of dropping out.
Lauraine Langreo, February 9, 2026
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13 min read
swingspaces pgk 45
Chairs are arranged in a classroom at a school in Bowie, Md. Classroom seating is one of the first decisions educators make at the start of the school year, and they have different approaches.
Pete Kiehart for Education Week
Teaching What's the Ideal Classroom Seating Arrangement? Teachers Weigh In
Educators employ different seating strategies to optimize student learning.
Jennifer Vilcarino, January 28, 2026
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1 min read
Students at Glover Middle School in Spokane, Wash. sing karaoke during Falcon Time on Dec. 3, 2025.
Students at Glover Middle School in Spokane, Wash., sing karaoke during Falcon Time on Dec. 3, 2025. The district has gone all-in on engaging extracurriculars and activities.
Kaylee Domzalski/Education Week
Student Well-Being & Movement One District's Battle to Curb Cellphones and Get Kids to Engage in Real Life
Spokane's leaders are pushing extracurriculars to help students strengthen in-person social skills.
Alyson Klein, January 26, 2026
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12 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Teaching Opinion A Little Shift in Teaching Can Go a Long Way in the Classroom
These teachers explain how a small change here and there can impact the classroom.
Larry Ferlazzo, January 20, 2026
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10 min read
Composite trend artwork sketch image 3d photo collage of huge black white silhouette hand hold book immerse yourself in new world fantasy imagination inspiration.
iStock/Getty
Reading & Literacy Opinion Stop Assigning Boring Books in English Class
Many teens and young adults aren’t reading for pleasure anymore. School isn’t helping.
Erich May, January 16, 2026
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4 min read
Teenage girl working on laptop computer at home.
iStock
Student Achievement Are Students 'Quiet Quitting'? What the Workplace Trend Can Teach Us About K-12
Students' homework production is at a record low. Is it a symptom of post-pandemic apathy?
Elizabeth Heubeck, December 17, 2025
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5 min read
Children playing and learning with their teachers, school supplies and books: back to school and education concept
E+/Getty
Teaching Opinion The Three Big Misconceptions About Student Engagement
For teachers, engagement is the holy grail. But what if we’re thinking about it all wrong?
Rebecca A. Huggins, December 5, 2025
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5 min read
Education Week opinion letters submissions
Gwen Keraval for Education Week
Assessment Letter to the Editor It’s Time to Think About What Grades Really Mean
"Traditional grading often masks what a learner actually knows or is able to do."
November 26, 2025
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1 min read
The United States Capitol building as a bookcase filled with red, white, and blue policy books in a Washington DC landscape.
Luca D'Urbino for Education Week
Classroom Technology Opinion Do Cellphone Bans Really Fix Student Engagement?
Can schools offer a more compelling alternative to social media or AI?
Rick Hess, October 28, 2025
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5 min read
Students in Saxon Brown's 9th grade English class take turns reading as the different characters in To Kill A Mockingbird during class at Bel Air High School in Bel Air, Md., on Jan. 25, 2024.
Students in Saxon Brown's 9th grade English class take turns reading as the different characters in <i>To Kill A Mockingbird</i> during class at Bel Air High School in Bel Air, Md., on Jan. 25, 2024. Teachers say several tips help them build the scaffolding and stamina kids need to tackle complex novels like Harper Lee's masterpiece.
Jaclyn Borowski/Education Week
Reading & Literacy These Teachers Have Their Students Read Multiple Novels a Year. How They Do It
Making time for reading, checking for understanding, and presenting works in context are top priorities.
Sarah Schwartz, October 21, 2025
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5 min read
Teaching Spotlight Spotlight on Teaching the Modern Learner: Maximizing Focus & Engagement
This Spotlight focuses on ways for teachers to motivate students, increasing focus and subject engagement in the modern classroom.
September 16, 2025
A classroom is seen at Woodmore Elementary @ Meadowbrook on August 15, 2025 in Bowie, Maryland. In a so-called ‘swing move,’ Woodmore Elementary has relocated to Meadowbrook Elementary school until Summer 2027.
A classroom is seen at Woodmore Elementary @ Meadowbrook on August 15, 2025 in Bowie, Md. A new survey shows most teachers have begun to use some elements of what's known as equitable grading.
Pete Kiehart for Education Week
Assessment Here's What Teachers Really Think About Equitable Grading Policies
A new study examines the prevalence of policies like no zeroes or unlimited retakes in classrooms.
Elizabeth Heubeck, August 20, 2025
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4 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Teaching Opinion How Can Teachers Meet Their Many Challenges?
If the education system focused on students' strengths instead of weaknesses, teachers and students alike would benefit.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 15, 2025
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10 min read
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