Positive peer interactions can help to motivate low performers.
Students may perform on a low level academically primarily due to a lack of motivation. This failure to be motivated may be tied to different factors such as lack of academic assistance, little or no parental involvement or social and emotional issues. If educators can help to motivate students who are struggling academically, they can potentially affect these students' futures in positive ways. Motivating low performing students successfully can help to reduce the retention and drop out rates and can increase the number of students who graduate and go on to higher learning or productive career paths.
Instructions
1. Offer academic assistance in the form of teacher tutoring, peer tutoring, subject-oriented initiative programs and recovery programs that specialize in helping students who have been struggling to "catch up" with their classmates.
2. Assist students in setting goals and personal rewards. If a student can set a goal, along with measurable steps toward that goal, he may be more likely to achieve the goal. Likewise, anticipating a reward, such as a special privilege, also may be a strong motivator.
3. Remind students of the potential consequences of continuing to perform poorly. Discuss the cause and effect scenarios associated with situations such as failing a grade (less free time in the summer, for example) or failing to graduate (less job opportunities, for instance).
4. Encourage a student's peers to support her not only in academics, but as a person in general. Positive relationships with peers can help students to find the motivation that they need to succeed.
5. Communicate personal care and concern for a student. When educators show that they truly care, students are more likely to want to perform well.
6. Provide counseling for students who may be suffering from various stresses that are affecting their motivation and academic performance. Social problems, family crises, grief and substance abuse are a few of the possible problems that may be affecting students' motivation in negative ways.
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