How can you identify and re-engage disengaged students?

One of the key aspects of being an effective teacher/lecturer is to understand that every student is different - different background, different learning experience, different motivations, etc. Causes for disengagement often are not only down to students, but the learning environment provided (classroom, university/college, manner of subject delivery, etc). Having worked with thousands of students, it is clear that by treating everyone as an individual, with personal goals and learning ability, plays a major role in their engagement or not.

Show them you care, show them they matter, Listen without prejudice, adjust your thinking, don't expect immediate results, persist, allow for mistakes and remember they are all individuals not a collective.

I have found that the starting point is always building trust. Only then can you begin to unpick the often complex underlying reasons behind disengagement. Many of these young people have been let down by the education system in the past and lack the ability to view their own potential. Therefore, they also lack the aspiration required to invest in their own future. It is important to listen to each student to gain an understanding of their individual journey and identify any unmet needs. Once you "know" the student, you can then work to guide them towards re-engagement through regular informal meetings, monitoring and guidance, removing barriers to learning, and ultimately helping them to become the best version of themselves.

Recognizing disengaged pupils is essential to their performance in the classroom. Track performance, involvement, and attendance with data analytics. Use proactive measures to help disengaged children succeed academically and personally, such as individualized outreach, mentorship programs, and customized support services.

1. Regular assessment and monitoring. 2. Individualized attention and support. 3. Building positive relationships with students. 4. Using varied teaching methods and instructional strategies. 5. Making the content relevant and meaningful. 6. Encouraging active participation in class. 7. Setting achievable goals and celebrating progress. 8. Collaborating with parents and guardians. By implementing these strategies, educators can effectively identify and re-engage disengaged students, creating a more inclusive and supportive learning environment.

Teacher - student relationship plays a vital role in motivating students and engage them in learning process. Teachers need to consider the fact that each student is different in many aspects such as learning styles, background, culture, etc. Instead of ignoring students who shows lack of interest in studies, the duty of a teacher is to build a positive relationship with them so that they can talk openly without any barrier. Effective communication between teacher and student will definitely help to identify the reasons of the disagreement in studies and provide support accordingly.

Identify the causes of disinterest. Sometimes the background the students come from, financial & family issues, broken homes, hunger, physical causes - hearing loss, vision problem, learning disability, language, parents are not educated to guide the child in studies and learning gap . If the teacher is able to identify what is causing the disinterest, it is easier to handle the situation. Every problem has a solution, if one addresses it as the problem. If the child has LD parent should accept and seek counselling. Teacher's/School's duty to convince the parent, who doesn't accept the truth easily. Counseling help should be made available by school on subsidized rate. Peer pairing helps & child should be treated with dignity.

Establishing strong relationships with students is paramount for cultivating engagement with a subject. While it's not essential to be universally liked, conveying genuine fondness for students is crucial. The demoralising impact for a student of perceiving that a teacher views them negatively significantly hinders motivation. Creating personal connections communicates a teacher's recognition of students as individuals, fostering a sense of care and consideration. This understanding is pivotal in fostering an environment where students feel valued and motivated to actively participate in their academic journey. Reminding students that you care how they do, can sometimes reignite a lost motivation.

Building relationships within the student sphere is very important. This can alert you to any problems that may occur. Keep your "partners" with you.

Listen. Most of the time, students who are starting to slip away from mainstream education, or who find themselves on the fringes of social inclusion, are facing some form of fear, uncertainty or doubt. Without prying, remain open to them sharing their insecurities in order to plan an incremental path forward. Sometimes, the mere act of you showing this level of care and concern, by genuinely listening without judgement, will reignite a student's engagement with a subject.

It's essential for educators to reflect on their teaching methods and continuously adapt to the needs of their students rather than placing blame on them. By being open to self-assessment and improvement, we can create a more inclusive and effective learning environment that benefits everyone involved. This proactive approach empowers both students and teachers to grow together.

Tailoring education to individual learning styles, interests, and levels is an effective way to rekindle student enthusiasm. This entails tailoring information, procedures, and products to provide students with options. Integrating actual subjects and resources from their experiences promotes relevance. This customisation encourages more engagement, curiosity, and creativity, making learning a more meaningful and pleasant experience.

Educators can use a variety of instructional strategies such as differentiated instruction, project-based learning, and adaptive technologies. By incorporating diverse activities, offering choices, and adjusting the pace and content to match students' needs, teachers can enhance engagement and cater to individual learning requirements.

One-size-fits-all learning leaves some students behind! ♀? Customize instruction: **Tailors learning to individual needs & strengths ** **Sparks interest with relevant topics & activities ** **Boosts engagement & motivation ** Remember, every student is unique! ?

Through your contacts, stimulate and promote the flow of information. Students who have already graduated will be able to provide insights and perhaps even know what causes so much disengagement.

Promoting collaboration among disengaged students not only improves classroom dynamics, but it also cultivates important life skills beyond academic understanding. It enables children to investigate many points of view together, cultivating empathy and understanding. Collaboration provides an environment in which students understand the importance of collaboration, which is required for success in real-world circumstances. Furthermore, it cultivates a supportive community in which students feel heard, acknowledged, and encouraged, resulting in a positive learning environment favourable to growth and resilience.

Teachers can promote cooperative learning projects and peer-to-peer interactions. Encouraging teamwork and fostering a supportive classroom environment where students feel valued and respected can enhance motivation and participation. Incorporating collaborative tools and platforms, such as online discussion forums or shared documents, can also facilitate communication and collaboration both in and out of the classroom. Additionally, providing clear guidelines and expectations for collaborative tasks and offering opportunities for reflection and feedback can further promote meaningful collaboration among students.

Team up to learn up! Collaboration sparks engagement & motivation. Sharing ideas & working together helps students: 1. Dive deeper: Multiple perspectives = richer understanding 2. Boost confidence: Teamwork = support & shared success 3. Develop skills: Communication, problem-solving, teamwork Give it a try! It might just re-ignite the learning flame.

Transform feedback into a collaborative discourse that fosters a relationship between instructors and students. Encourage self-reflection by asking them to evaluate their own development and create personal objectives. This strategy not only allows students to take control of their learning experience, but it also fosters a sense of responsibility and intrinsic drive. Timely, detailed, and constructive feedback transforms into a dynamic instrument for mutual progress, building a culture in which learning is a shared and developing experience.

Feedback is king/queen of learning. This is the most meaningful conversation between a teacher and a student. In fact, in my experience, this tends to be the most important aspect of communication that a student often is interested in or eagerly looks forward to - especially where there is a grade or a lower grade associated with an assessment. It is also an opportunity for the teacher to raise the bar - take the student to the next level by detailing what else could or should have been done to gain a higher mark or award. Students readily pay attention to this as it matters - shows on their transcript, and often contributes towards their final GPA or degree classification. Feedback is also a vehicle to help students who may be struggling.

Feedback is essential for anyone to be able to move forward. However, much of the feedback given is from a point of judgement..."I am the expert so therefore do it my way". If you remove the judgement attached to feedback, by sharing the conversation and asking for the other persons point of view, you end up with a conversation that leads to next steps and goals and allows the student to take more ownership over their work.

Providing regular feedback and opportunities for self-assessment allows students to track their progress and take ownership of their learning journey.

**Feedback = Fuel for Re-engagement ** It shows students where they stand, helps them course-correct, and boosts confidence to jump back in. Remember, feedback works best when it's: 1. Specific: Points to exact areas for improvement 2. Actionable: Gives clear steps to move forward ?? 3. Positive: Focuses on strengths & potential ? Help them see the "how" & they'll be zooming ahead in no time! ?

Parent/carer liaison and engagement is vital. Families need to feel a part of the school/college community; give them opportunities to be involved in the school, run events, send out newsletters, hold 'coffee and cake' mornings, make sure they know who you are and share the positives not only the negatives - make those positive phone calls too!

Once the problem is detected, involve everyone who is linked to the causes of disengagement. A simple statement of the problem can solve everything.