As the holidays wind down, see how to reboot student motivation and inspire them to learn!
Winter break is great for many things: downtime to recharge, spending time with loved ones, celebration… but it’s also a time for some not-so-great things. In particular, a loss in momentum and pre-holiday academic gains. According to UCMAS (Universal Concept Mental Arithmetic System) Center, during the holidays, learners “can experience a brain drain that comes with adjusting to days without school & after-school programs.” So give your students the reset they need with these tips on how to amp up student motivation and get back into the learning groove.
Ways to Boost Student Motivation
1. Reintroduce Routines
A week or two has gone by and kids are used to sleeping in late, hanging out in their PJs and less structure to their days. Help students through the post-break transition with a morning meeting. This is a great way to greet your students and welcome them back into the familiar learning environment. Here are some productive ways to use this time:
- Remind them what the daily schedule looks like and about projects and what they were learning before the break.
- Pick a familiar, fun learning activity to help ease them into the day. This will give them a chance to connect with peers and can remind them of lessons they might have forgotten without fear of failure.
- Check in with a group question to gauge how they’re feeling. You could ask mindful questions that invite them to reflect, using activities like this “Rose, Thorn and Bud” exercise or this “Blob Tree” prompt.
In general, build in time on the first day to let them get reacquainted with the rules and classroom environment before diving into the day. Keep things simple to avoid overstimulating them with too much, too fast.
2. Set Goals
Research shows that educators who establish goals notice a significant improvement in their classrooms and their self-perception. Plus having a solid set of goals helps you make the most of the remainder of the school year following your break. Here are some strategies you can follow to make sure you’re setting realistic goals that makes sense for your teaching objectives and students’ needs:
Make SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time bound) goals: Using this method ensures that your goals are tangible and realistic. See here to learn more about SMART goals.
Embrace tech tools: Use your dashboard on Epic to see where your students are at with their reading goals and gauge where to start from there. You can view their progress and time spent and number of books read. Then assign books based on their skill levels.
Don’t forget to make goals for yourself: Your personal and professional development are also important when it comes to achieving goals you set for your students. Check out online courses and webinars devoted to teaching methodologies and strategies like this one.Take a look at this article from UC San Diego for in-depth information on educator goal setting.
3. Build Confidence
It’s not uncommon after a long break to see a bit of a slide as they regain learning lost while away from the classroom. Boost student engagement by helping them believe in their own abilities. Help them embrace a growth mindset—the belief that they can succeed and improve through effort, persistence and learning experiences over time. This gives them space to stumble through obstacles and challenges without giving up or feeling like failures.
You can learn more about this approach here. In the meantime, nurture a growth mindset in your students with this motivational collection on Epic.
4. Involve the Parents
When it comes to figuring out where your students’ heads are at and getting them school ready following a lengthy break, why not enlist the help of the experts (parents!)? If you can, try to chat individually to ask if they have any insights or concerns about their progress. Do they have any advice? Suggestions? A little extra connection can go a long way toward promoting their well being and a positive transition back to school.
5. Get ‘em Excited With Books!
Last but not least, get them stoked to learn through reading! We’ve got thousands of fun, sneakily educational books on Epic, which you can offer them for free in class with Epic School. Make it extra exciting with activities, like these daily challenges in our January Activity Calendar, and our Inspiration collection.
Ready to reset? Learn more about all of the ways Epic School can help support your curriculum, boost student motivation and get you back in action faster, and share this link with a colleague and get started!
