Encouraging Students Is Important
We all have a lot on our plates these days - young students included. If you would like to find some ways to help keep students feeling encouraged, inspired, and motivated, read on for some helpful tips.
Students today deal with many different challenges. Often, they face issues that have never been faced by their teachers, parents, or school administrators. The rapid pace of advancements in learning technologies means students are constantly needing to adjust to new tools and techniques. Increasing social media use by young students can have some positive benefits. However, it can also increase their risk of exposure to cyberbullying. Supporting children's mental health and emotional resilience is essential to help them cope with these challenges and thrive in both academic and personal settings.
Today, learning in the context of the global pandemic adds another layer of complication, and often confusion. Students in school have to get used to new rules, adjust to wearing masks and learn to practice social distancing. Students learning remotely may have to deal with feeling isolated, technology limitations, or struggle with the discipline to stay focused on learning with interactive learning tools that support engagement and help them stay on track.
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With so many variables and constant changes to manage, it can be a challenge to find a sense of stability. This is why encouraging students is so important. Fostering a strong belief in oneself is crucial for students to persevere and succeed, helping them build the confidence and mindset needed to overcome obstacles. Encouragement can help them to keep going, even in the face of uncertainty. It can provide the much-needed reassurance that they are on the right track, no matter what projects or assignments they are undertaking. But is there more to encouragement than just making someone feel good? Yes! And it’s proven by scientific studies. Some benefits include:
Encouragement not only helps students feel supported, but also boosts their motivation and self-esteem. It can positively impact a student's outlook on life and personal development, inspiring them to embrace challenges and grow both academically and emotionally.
Encouraging students helps them excel
In 2017, a journal article in Research in Higher Education found that students who were actively encouraged were more likely to go to college.
Encouraging students boosts their performance
Researchers at the Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania gathered over a dozen athletes and tested their performance with and without encouraging words. The results? The athletes performed significantly better when they were encouraged. This extends to the classroom as well. Encouraged students are more likely to score well on tests and other activities.
Encouragement affects our brain
In his book Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships, Daniel Goleman found that encouraging words not only feel good, but there’s a science to it; when we are encouraged, the areas of our brain that help us with creativity and cognitive thinking light up.
How Do Students Feel Discouraged?
Sometimes we discourage people without even knowing it. Here are some warning signs that you might be discouraging your students:
- Comparing them to other students.
- Being overly helpful or too dominating.
- Setting expectations, goals, or standards that are not reasonable.
- Giving outlooks that see the worst in things.
- Trying to motivate students by showing their mistakes.
- Making participation or certain actions feel required in a way that discourages students.
- Providing negative or unhelpful comments that can undermine student confidence.
Understanding Student Needs
You know, every kid who walks into your classroom brings something totally different to the table—their own strengths, interests, and stories that make them who they are. Understanding what students really need means you've got to look past the surface stuff and figure out what makes each child tick. When you give kids the chance to actually share their thoughts and experiences, honestly, that's when you start building the kind of trust that gets them excited about learning. It's kind of like opening a door—once students feel heard, they're way more likely to jump in and participate.
Here's where things get interesting though. Supporting kids on their learning journey isn't just about having good lesson plans; it takes real empathy and being willing to switch things up when needed. Maybe that means tweaking your lessons to match what the class is actually into, or giving extra help to those who need it. When administrators, parents, and teachers team up—and I mean really work together—you create this environment where every student feels like they matter. It's not pushy or forced; it's more like everyone's got each other's backs, helping kids realize what they're capable of and feel like they belong.
First off, when you focus on what each student actually needs, something pretty amazing happens. Kids start building confidence, their strengths really shine through, and they make progress that feels meaningful to them. Encouraging open communication and letting students have a voice in their own education? That doesn't just help with grades—it gets them hooked on learning for life. It's kind of like planting seeds that keep growing long after they leave your classroom.
How to Encourage Students
Encouraging students is more than saying a few words of praise every now and then. In fact, many educators encourage teachers not to praise students at all. Why? Because many research studies have shown that too much praise can lead to lower self-esteem and reduced resilience over time. Conversely, encouragement rewards effort and focuses on improvement or progress towards a goal. Motivating students requires a thoughtful strategy that goes beyond praise, using deliberate approaches to inspire student engagement and foster a positive classroom environment. Students who are encouraged show more resilience and willingness to keep trying when faced with challenges.
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So how do we encourage students? Here are 15 ways:
1. Give positive feedback
Instead of telling a student that they are doing something wrong, give them suggestions for improvement.
2. Listen
Encouragement doesn’t always involve words. Simply by listening actively you can let a student know that you care and believe in what they’re doing. Encourage students to talk and engage in meaningful talking during discussions, as this helps foster collaboration and understanding. Using the right type of active listening can help students feel heard and valued.
3. Show empathy
Being empathetic towards a student shows them that there’s someone who understands what they are doing and is supporting them along the way. By offering empathetic support, you help students understand their own abilities and growth, encouraging them to reflect on their progress and develop greater self-awareness.
4. Use positive body language
Your gestures and mannerisms mean a lot to your students. A simple eye-roll can go a long way towards discouraging your student, while a thumbs-up or genuine smile can help them feel encouraged.
5. Give students control of your classroom
A big part of encouraging your students is making them feel like they have a role. Letting students play a more significant role in the classroom will make them feel more valued and engaged. When you let students explore ideas and learn from their mistakes, you encourage participation and curiosity, helping them develop confidence and a love for learning.
6. Set realistic expectations
Every class and student is different. Set expectations that are appropriate. Students feel encouraged and motivated when they can see their progress as well as their achievements.
7. Keep it interesting
Be willing to switch up your usual teaching methods and try new strategies. Showing enthusiasm for new material can inspire students and make lessons more engaging. Selecting relevant and interesting material also helps capture students' attention and encourages active participation. Students will be encouraged by seeing their teacher embrace new ways of doing things.
8. Offer incentives
Incentives don’t have to be tangible things; they can be as simple as letting a student make the announcements for the week.
9. Let your excitement come through
Students need to see a teacher that is excited to see them succeed. Don’t be afraid to crank up the music or bring out some games to celebrate your students’ success.
10. Show students their own success
Don’t just tell your students they did well. Show them why they succeeded, so they can repeat the success again.
11. Create an “Encouragement Wall”
Set out a place in your room or virtual classroom that showcases what success looks like. Make sure something from every student is included by displaying their names alongside their papers or written work on the encouragement wall to personalize recognition.
12. Get students actively involved
Find activities that get every student involved; it shows them that you believe in them and helps build their confidence. Encourage all students to participate actively in group activities, emphasizing the importance of each group member's contribution to foster collaboration and shared success.
13. Look back to move forward
Sometimes it can be encouraging to see how far you’ve come. Remind students of what they have been through, overcome, and succeeded at. Encourage them to reflect on each stage of their learning journey, connecting past experiences to their real lives, interests, and cultural backgrounds.This helps them see what’s possible and keep a positive outlook.
14. Know their interests
Making your lessons relatable to what your students are interested in, is a great way to encourage and engage them. Ensuring the relevance of lesson content to their interests and experiences can significantly increase student motivation. They will be motivated and inspired to keep learning.
15. Validate and be honest
When students share, validate their contributions. Model honesty with your students to show them respect and create a sense of trust. This helps to create an environment where students can feel safe, supported and encouraged.
Intrinsic Motivation: Fostering Internal Drive
You know, praise and rewards can definitely get kids going, but honestly? The most lasting encouragement comes from within. Intrinsic motivation is all about helping students find joy and meaning in the learning process itself. When students get the freedom to choose projects or topics that actually spark their interest, they become way more invested in their work and take real pride in what they accomplish. It's kind of like the difference between doing chores because you have to versus working on a hobby you're passionate about.
Creating a warm and meaningful classroom environment is key to promoting this kind of internal drive. Teachers can support students by acknowledging their efforts, offering constructive feedback that actually helps, and encouraging self-reflection. Giving students opportunities to set their own goals and track their progress? That's where the magic happens—it helps them build a sense of ownership and accomplishment that feels genuine. It's like giving them the steering wheel instead of just being passengers on the learning journey.
To foster this internal drive, educators can use strategies such as providing choices in class projects, promoting a growth mindset, and celebrating those small victories along the way. Here's where things get interesting: by supporting students' interests and efforts, teachers help them develop resilience and a genuine love for learning that sticks around. This approach doesn't just motivate students to achieve their best in the classroom—it actually sets them on a path of lifelong growth and discovery. And honestly, isn't that what education should really be about?
Encouraging Your Students with Digital Signage
If you are looking to encourage your students visually, we have several templates that you can display on TV screens across your campus. Never thought about digital signage software at your school? Or, not sure exactly what digital signage is?
Digital signage can be used each day to provide ongoing encouragement, helping to build a positive classroom culture and keep students motivated throughout the school year.
Here are a few of the ways you can use free digital signage tools to encourage your students in just seconds! For example, you can display daily tasks or reminders to help students stay organized and focused on their goals. All of our templates can be customized to fit any school’s branding or message. Click the Add Template button and it will be added to your account: it’s that simple!
Showcase your student of the week or month:
Congratulate students for their accomplishments:
Show off teacher and student achievements:
Do you have other creative ideas for encouraging students? We’d love to hear them.
Encouraging students isn’t the only thing you can do with digital signage. Here are just a few other ways schools use digital signage to make a difference at their school:
- 5 Steps to Creating a STEM Project with Digital Signage
- Live Stream Your School Sporting Event
- Creating a Cost-Effective Financial Literacy Lab
- How to Use Emergency Alerts with Digital Signage
- 20+ Google Slide Features You Might Not Use...But Should
