Instant gratification, social media, friends, parents, jobs, homework assignments (i.e. TOK essays and exemplification essays), divorce, mental health and the list goes on; what do all of these have in common? Each of these is a distraction. Students are continually bombarded by daily challenges. The result is that students often lose their motivation. Any one of these pressure points can choke ambition and starve their drive. Students are young and easily lead astray from their goals and ambitions. Losing focus can have serious consequences and without the life experience to see how bad choices can change their future it is clear that teachers have a very important role to play to keep their students motivated.

Motivation as part of the teacher's job

Some teachers may not believe that motivating their students is part of their job. After all, these are not kids – these are high school students. Students are dealing with a very different world than their teachers could have envisioned even a generation ago. Social media is woven into the fabric of today's teens and they are virtually hardwired to their devices. The demand on students' time and the requirement to be 'always on' creates psychological pressures that are exhausting while derailing motivation. One mistake today is not lived in that single moment; but, instead, is re-lived over and over in social media. The lasting repercussions of these events can shatter fragile self-esteem while crushing motivation.

We can see that the problem exists but what do we do about it? Teachers are in a unique position and often gain the respect of their students. They are witness to a large cross section of students with diverse lives. The only tie bringing these students into one classroom is the subject they are taking and the teacher at the front of the class. Teachers have the ear of the students and thus a unique opportunity to motivate their students. It would be a mistake to pass up the challenge of motivating these great young people.

Weaving into the curriculum motivating accounts of overcoming challenges, monumental accomplishments, breaking down stereotypes, acceptance and respect can all accomplish this goal. Smaller opportunities exist where a teacher can write a compliment to a student about what they did correctly; or, recognizing a student's accomplishments which can go a long way to connecting students with their successes while building motivation. Furthermore, offering flexible assignments that adjust to the diverse backgrounds of students can motivate them to pursue their dreams.

Benefits of Motivating Students

The end result of teachers motivating students lifts them to become their best selves. Motivating a student towards success is the highest reward for a teacher. Today's students are weighed with more burden than any previous generation. A quickly changing world, incredible social pressures, the breakdown of many families, the slowdown in the development of today's youth and the constant distractions in their environment make it critical that teachers address the need of motivation in the classrooms.

Many students dream to become a teacher and today we need to incorporate strategies to keep students motivated. Teachers are role models for students and their actions reverberate through time. Successful teachers not only educate their students but also motivate them for success. They can help a student stay on task, sense trauma and assist students to seek help, they can work to improve students' abilities and they can stir students to make a difference. Motivation is a powerful tool. Who better than a teacher to light a fire within a student? That fire may burn for a lifetime – so be that teacher, motivate your students and change their lives.