Student Motivation & Engagement

Education news, analysis, and opinion about efforts to get students involved and active in learning and classroom activities
Teaching Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Much Do You Know About Strategies for Student Engagement?
Answer 7 questions about student engagement.
September 1, 2023
A teacher plays the guitar for students during the first day of hybrid instruction at Jason Lee Elementary School on April 1, 2021, in Portland, Ore.
A teacher plays the guitar for students during the first day of hybrid instruction at Jason Lee Elementary School on April 1, 2021, in Portland, Ore.
Tom McKenzie/AP Images for Portland Public Schools
Teaching Do Teachers Have to Be Entertainers? Here's What They Say
Teachers speak out about how they work to engage students, and the fine line between teaching and entertaining.
Elizabeth Heubeck, August 30, 2023
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5 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
Teaching Opinion Want to Engage Students? Model Real-World Experiences
Students like a challenge. Give them an opportunity to imagine how they would solve a problem.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 29, 2023
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14 min read
Illustration of carrot attached to stick.
F. Sheehan for Education Week / Getty
Teaching Opinion How to Win Students’ Attention This School Year—and Then Keep Them Motivated
Teachers, principals, and researchers share their best advice, tips, and guiding principles for student engagement.
Mary Hendrie, August 21, 2023
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4 min read
Robbi Giuliano teaches her fifth grade class as they sit on yoga balls at Westtown-Thornbury Elementary School on Feb. 4, 2013, in West Chester, Pa. Replacing stationary seats with inflatable bouncers has raised productivity in her fifth-graders, making students better able to focus on lessons while improving their balance and core strength, she said.
Robbi Giuliano teaches her 5th grade class as they sit on yoga balls at Westtown-Thornbury Elementary School on Feb. 4, 2013, in West Chester, Pa. She said replacing stationary seats with the inflatable bouncers has helped her students focus more, while improving their balance and core strength.
Matt Rourke/AP
Teaching Do Classrooms Need Yoga Balls and Bean Bag Chairs? Teachers Weigh in on Flexible Seating
Expensive options and a lack of space make flexible seating difficult for some educators.
Caitlyn Meisner, August 17, 2023
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3 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
Reading & Literacy Opinion Can This 'Shark Tank'-Winning Platform Get Kids to Read?
Summer reading is always a big push for schools and communities. What tools are available to increase their success?
Rick Hess, August 17, 2023
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6 min read
Photograph of diverse group of primary school students using laptops in a bright classroom.
E+/Getty
Classroom Technology 4 Things Educators Need to Know About Kahoot!
The game-based educational platform can raise student engagement, but it is not good for deeper learning.
Lauraine Langreo, August 9, 2023
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6 min read
Aaron Bishop as Tremor, mascot for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, a single-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Aaron Bishop, dressed as the lime-green dinosaur on the right, poses during the national anthem for his summer job as Tremor, the mascot for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, a single-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Courtesy of Pete Soto
Teaching Profession In Their Own Words What Does a Teacher Have in Common With a Baseball Mascot? It's All About Engagement
Aaron Bishop reflects on his decades of double duty as a teacher and a mascot in the minor leagues.
Elizabeth Heubeck, July 31, 2023
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5 min read
Conceptual illustration of people and voice bubbles.
Getty
English Learners Explainer What Is Translanguaging and How Is It Used in the Classroom?
Research into the best instructional approaches for students classified as English learners has pointed to the concept of translanguaging.
Ileana Najarro, July 13, 2023
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1 min read
Photo of students using laptops and headphones.
Getty
Classroom Technology What Podcasts Did for Student Engagement in These Schools
Educators say the biggest benefit of podcasts in the classroom is that they help students find their voice.
Arianna Prothero, July 10, 2023
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6 min read
Blue comic book strip with the word WOW! in red in the center.
iStock/Getty
Teaching 4 Ways to Use Comics and Graphic Novels to Engage Students
A social studies teacher uses comics to make history feel relevant to his high school students.
Alyson Klein, July 5, 2023
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4 min read
A young person reaches out from behind a virtual reality headset
Natasa Adzic/iStock
Classroom Technology How This Teacher Tapped Virtual Reality to Pump Up Student Engagement
A Milwaukee-area teacher used VR to teach about the water cycle, and saw a huge spike in student engagement.
Alyson Klein, June 27, 2023
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2 min read
young female wearing glasses in red t-shirt pointing at laptop screen with game characters
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
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Science Sponsor From players to creators: how game design is empowering students
Could teaching video game development help schools and colleges to level-up?  Frank Moody, education relations lead at GameMaker - a game development engine used by schools and colleges, believes now is the perfect time for educators to introduce video game development in classrooms.
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Teaching Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Much Do You Know About Student Engagement?
Answer 7 questions about student engagement.
June 2, 2023
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