Student Motivation & Engagement

Education news, analysis, and opinion about efforts to get students involved and active in learning and classroom activities
Rear view of a teenage boy sitting at a desk
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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
A student works a problem in a second grade math class at Place Bridge Academy, May 20, 2025, in Denver.
A student works a problem in a second grade math class at Place Bridge Academy, May 20, 2025, in Denver. Early experiences with math can shape whether a student decides they're a "math person" or not.
Rebecca Slezak/AP
Mathematics A Third of Students Don't Identify as a 'Math Person.' Can Teachers Change That?
Most students have made up their mind about whether they identify as a math person by the time they’re in middle school, a new study finds.
Sarah Schwartz, June 23, 2025
3 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 to Change Teachers' Minds About Leaving the Classroom
The underlying reasons teachers are leaving the classroom aren't always obvious. Here's how they can be overcome.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 19, 2025
6 min read
Diverse school children students build robotic cars using computers and coding.
iStock / Getty
Science Download How Teachers Are Motivating Students To Learn STEM (DOWNLOADABLE)
Teachers asked students what motivates them to work harder in STEM. Here's what they found.
1 min read
Cropped from original illustration, silhouetted figures water a blooming STEM flower.
Danny Allison for Education Week
Science From Our Research Center Students Say They Care More About STEM as They Get Older. Teachers Disagree
An EdWeek Research Center survey examined student motivation in STEM classes.
Lauraine Langreo, June 13, 2025
3 min read
Photograph of a young Caucasian female teacher showing right way of connecting wires to robot prototype while a diverse group of curious middle school students watch her carefully
iStock/Getty
Student Achievement Teens Are Confident They Can Succeed in Class. Do Teachers Agree?
Survey examines student confidence in STEM and English/language arts classes.
Arianna Prothero, June 10, 2025
3 min read
Image of pep rally gear with "2-4-6-8"
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Mathematics Q&A How This Teacher Makes Math a Team Sport—and Gets Kids Excited to Participate
Fifth grade teacher Michaela Sicuranza helped lead her Title I school to a math championship. Here's how she gets kids excited about math.
Sarah D. Sparks, June 2, 2025
5 min read
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Silhouetted figures water a blooming STEM flower.
Danny Allison for Education Week
Special Report How to Motivate Students to Succeed in STEM
Students can offer teachers valuable insights into what motivates them to tackle challenging STEM subjects.
May 27, 2025
A student and parent look into a landscape of many roads and opportunities.
Danny Allison for Education Week
Student Achievement From Our Research Center Many Kids' Parents Didn't Go to College. You Can Still Motivate Them in STEM
Students whose parents did not go to college often do not feel they have the necessary support to excel STEM subjects.
Jennifer Vilcarino, May 27, 2025
6 min read
A group of students follows their role models towards a bright STEM future.
Danny Allison for Education Week
Science Q&A Teachers, Parents, or Peers: Who Motivates Students Most to Pursue STEM?
Encouragement from adults—like teachers, school counselors, and parents—is crucial for motivating students in STEM.
Arianna Prothero, May 27, 2025
4 min read