Student Motivation & Engagement

Education news, analysis, and opinion about efforts to get students involved and active in learning and classroom activities
Teenage girl working on laptop computer at home.
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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
5 min read
Children playing and learning with their teachers, school supplies and books: back to school and education concept
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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
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
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
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
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
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
10 min read
Image of two heads and symbols of bright ideas and growth.
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Teaching Here's What Most Teachers Prioritize on Day One of a New School Year
This back-to-school advice is also supported by research.
Elizabeth Heubeck, August 14, 2025
2 min read
 Back view of a male teacher in classroom lecturing to elementary school students.
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Teaching Professional Learning Guide Your Guide to Classroom Management & Student Engagement
This professional learning guide offers tips on leading your classroom and engaging students.
August 13, 2025
Rear view of a teenage boy sitting at a desk
Photodisc
Teaching Opinion The Classroom Observation That Made Me Want to Quit Teaching
An administrator said my students were "disengaged" and yet there's more to it than that, writes a 25-year teaching veteran.
Adam Patric Miller, August 8, 2025
5 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
Mathematics Opinion How to Help Students See the Relevance of Math
Empower students and then see how much more invested they are in the subject.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 25, 2025
11 min read
Young girl watching video online on laptop and doing fitness exercises at school. Distant training with personal trainer. Online education concept.
Konstantin Koekin/iStock
Classroom Technology Is Virtual P.E. the Future?
Physical education plays a big role in keeping kids active in an era dominated by screens. But as technology is increasingly incorporated into schools and classrooms, can it also be leveraged to get them moving?
Jennifer Vilcarino, July 22, 2025
5 min read
Teaching Reports Student Motivation and Learning: Teacher and Teen Perspectives
The EdWeek Research Center surveyed teachers and teenagers to learn more about student motivation. This report highlights key findings.
July 15, 2025