Ideas for Motivating Students in the Classroom

My hot take for the day is that the best thing to do in response to genAI in the classroom has nothing to do with genAI. Instead, we should use any disruption to double down on building classroom communities full of trust and an embrace of the frictionful state of learning. 1. Learn students’ names: perhaps one of the highest ROI things you can do to create a foundation for community. 2. Foster metacognitive habits: help student reflect on what they're learning and how. You want to build independent, active learners instead of passive receivers of information. 3. Teach with transparency: don't hide the ball. Put your motivations and pedagogical decisions on the table. 4. Communicate explicit learning objectives: tell them the point of every assignment and what they're supposed to get out of it. 5. Make communication policies clear: tell them how to get a hold of you and set expectations for when they can expect a response. h/t to Robert Talbert for this one. 6. Create frameworks for feedback: help them understand how to give and receive feedback. I really like @kimballscott's framework of Radical Candor for this. 7. Double down on active learning: get them engage in the work of learning. This is fun and often looks a lot like play! Don't just talk at them but get them talking to you and to each other. 8. Encourage experimentation: iterative improvement and failure is the way. 9. Cultivate community: help them fully leverage the rich relational web that is in the background of every classroom. This is so often untapped. 10. Connect individually with each student: it might be challenging, but do your best to get to know each student as an individual person. Feeling like you're seen and that you belong matters. 11. Build shared responsibility for learning: teacher and student both have to bring something to the table for learning in the classroom to happen. Call this out explicitly and have a conversation about what everyone is bringing. 12. Get alongside students: try to avoid being in front all the time but get beside your students so that they see you are on their side and wanting them to succeed. 13. Model vulnerability: when you mess up, and you will, own it. Much easier for them to do it if they see it from you. 14. Reframe from "have to" to "get to": everybody has some level of agency in their choice to be in the classroom. Remind everyone of the opportunity and privilege it is to be in a classroom. 15. Trust your students: what if you gave your students the benefit of the doubt and trusted them until they gave you a reason to do otherwise. 16. Offer opportunities for failure and retries: learning happens when we try, fail, reflect, and try again. 17. Embrace friction: learning, like any worthwhile activity, is hard work. Instead of looking for a frictionless experience where we accomplish things without effort, encourage students to dig into the worthwhile challenge of learning something new and growing.

🧬Teaching Practices that Also Boost Students’ Natual Mood Enhancers🧬 You’ve probably heard of Oxytocin (“love hormone”), Dopamine (“reward hormone”), Serotonin (a mood stabilizer), and Endorphins (the natural painkiller). Did you know your teaching strategies could boost students’ natural production of these chemicals, improving regulation, and creating the biological conditions for individual success?! Fostering Social Connections (Oxytocin): - Encourage group activities and collaborative projects to promote bonding among students. - Incorporate activities that involve positive physical contact, like handshakes, high-fives, or team huddles, respecting personal boundaries. Setting Achievable Goals (Dopamine): - Break down large assignments into smaller, manageable tasks to help students experience a sense of accomplishment. - Encourage goal-setting for both academic and personal growth, and celebrate these achievements in class. Incorporating Physical Activity and Humor (Endorphins): - Start classes with short, fun physical activities like stretching. - Use humor in teaching and encourage laughter in the classroom, perhaps through funny anecdotes or educational games. Promoting Outdoor Activities and Mindfulness (Serotonin): - Organize outdoor lessons or field trips to expose students to natural settings. - Implement mindfulness practices, such as meditation or deep-breathing exercises, which can increase serotonin levels. Keep in mind that it’s still crucial to create a supportive and stress-free learning environment and check in on student mental health, but I hope folks find this helpful! #personcenteredcare #studentmentalhealth #traumainformedcare

1. Refocus the Energy Then (2016): Redirect a student’s attention by engaging them in a task. Now: Invite the student into purpose. Example: Instead of: “Stop tapping the desk!” Try: “Can you help pass out the journals?” Or: “Let’s see who can get their materials out and ready the fastest—you lead.” Why it works: Children don’t always need a correction. Sometimes, they need a mission. 2. Give Students a Break Then: Offer short mental or physical breaks to reset focus. Now: Normalize breaks as brain regulation. Example: “You’ve been working hard—take two minutes at the calm table.” Or for younger kids: “Let’s visit the breathing corner.” Pro tip: Let breaks be chosen—not assigned as punishment. Empowerment changes everything. 3. Use Non-Verbal Cues Then: Use eye contact, gestures, or signals. Now: Make cues a shared language. Example: Tap the desk twice = Eyes on me. Hand on heart = Remember our classroom promise. Current child need: Visual learners, neurodivergent students, and anxious learners benefit from predictable, non-verbal systems. 4. Address the Disruption Quickly and Quietly Then: Handle problems without embarrassing the student. Now: Preserve dignity as a sacred practice. Example: Walk over. Whisper: “Can we talk for a second after the activity?” Avoid: Correcting in front of peers or making it a “teachable moment” at the student’s expense. Today’s child: They are emotionally aware. They remember how you made them feel. 5. Offer Kinesthetic Movement Options Then: Allow students to move or stretch to release energy. Now: Build movement into daily structure. Example: “Would you like to stand and work today?” “We’re going to learn this vocabulary while clapping it out!” Brain breaks every 20–30 minutes. Why it works: Movement builds memory. Motion strengthens focus. Stillness isn't always engagement. 6. Give Anonymous Reminders Then: Remind the class without calling out specific students. Now: Use inclusive language that invites reflection. Example: “I notice some folks need a reminder about voice levels.” “Let’s all check ourselves—are we focused or distracted?” New suggestion: Use self-assessment cues: thumbs-up, sideways, or down behind the back to check in. Keeps ownership with the student. ✨ Final Thoughts This generation is different. They’re more sensitive, more aware, more expressive. Disruption isn’t always defiance. Sometimes it’s a cry for connection, a need for movement, a test of trust. As leaders, we don’t just teach reading. We set the conditions where children can think, feel, and thrive. This summer, reflect deeply. What are you willing to change so children don’t have to be changed to survive your classroom? #LavertLines™ #TeachTheBrain #DisciplineWithDignity

I used to struggle connecting with my students. I knew that was the most important part of my job. So I found a better way. I hope you find it as useful as I did. It's the R.E.L.A.T.E framework. Don't skip any step. It's a package deal. R - Recognize individuality Every student is different. Notice their strengths, weaknesses, and interests. If you don't understand them, you can't reach them. E - Empathize with them What might they be experiencing? Don't just assume. Dig and find out. Teaching isn't just about academics. L - Listen to them Find out what they're going through. Understand why they might be disengaged. When you care you become someone they trust. A - Affirm their feelings Identify their concerns. Explain why their feelings are valid. Make sure they see you understand them. A few moments can make them feel seen and respected. T - Teach human skills It's not all about academics. Teach them empathy, responsibility, resilience. Validate their need to learn these skills. This helps them trust your guidance. E - Ensure regular feedback Address any concerns they have about their performance. Provide constructive feedback (hint: use AI). Encourage them to do better. When students see you put in effort They will reciprocate. This framework has been a game-changer for me. I hope it does the same for you.

A Teacher's Simple Strategy That Changed 30 Lives Every Morning Ever wondered how one small gesture can transform an entire classroom's energy? Let me share a powerful thing that's reshaping how we think about starting our school days. Here's how it works: Each student gets to choose their preferred way to start the day: - A gentle high-five - A quick hug - A friendly fist bump - A simple smile and nod - A quiet "good morning" The results? Remarkable. Students who once dragged themselves to class now arrive early, excited to make their choice. Anxiety levels dropped.  Class participation soared.  Even the most reserved students found their comfortable way to connect. What makes this approach powerful is its simplicity. It: - Respects personal boundaries - Builds trust - Creates a safe space - Teaches emotional awareness - Promotes daily positive interactions This isn't just about starting the day right – it's about teaching our children that their comfort matters, their choices count, and their well-being is priority. What if we all took a moment each day to ask others how they'd like to be greeted? Sometimes, the smallest changes create the biggest impact. #Education #TeachingInnovation #StudentWellbeing #ClassroomCulture #PersonalizedLearning