At some point in every teacher’s career, he will come across unmotivated students who may disrupt class or influence other students in a negative manner. Dealing with unmotivated students involves a little detective work and some creative strategies to re-introduce passion and instill a desire to learn. The sooner you address the problem, the more likely it is that you will see improvement in the child.

Deal with disruptions first. While it’s important to determine the cause of the student’s lack of interest, the most important factor is to prevent his attitude from affecting the entire class. Step in quickly to confront a disruptive student and enforce classroom behavior rules. Allowing disruptions to continue encourages misbehavior in other students. Call the student by name and request that he follow classroom rules.

Involve unmotivated students in classroom discussions. Most of the time, these kids will not take part in activities that center around educational topics, but you can draw them out by asking them questions that cannot be answered with a simple “Yes” or “No.” Instead of asking whether their summer vacation was fun, ask them to describe their favorite summer vacation activity.

Compliment unmotivated students. It’s a natural human desire to want to please the people you like, so when a student respects and admires a teacher, she is more likely to make an effort to learn the subject matter and participate in class. Make it a special point to compliment these students on the smallest accomplishments instead of berating their lack of motivation. For instance, if a student who usually fails an exam gets a passing grade, point it out and praise her progress.

Present your lessons in creative ways so the entire class looks forward to projects. This is the task of every teacher—instructing so students want to learn. Enthusiasm is contagious, so make your lesson plans resonate with the class. Turn a history lesson on Henry the VIII into a classroom skit and get all the students involved in the production.

Create a strong mental link between education and life fulfillment. For unmotivated students, it’s difficult to see a positive benefit from learning. Not only must you convince them that their financial future will be better, you must also show them that they can live a happier life, with more options. For instance, if an unmotivated student shows an interest in art, show him all the options he might have as an adult in graphic arts, interior design, architecture or or advertising, and explain how education is important to each of these career paths.

Schedule a time when an unmotivated student can discuss her problems with the school counselor. Studies indicate that self-worth is a big factor in student motivation, and a student’s home environment figures prominently in the child’s emotional and mental outlook. Counselors can offer techniques to bolster a student’s self-image. Take the time to ask the counselor for advice you can use in your classroom to reinforce her counseling.

Keep the atmosphere lighthearted. Unmotivated students already expect the worst, and their attitude creates a self-fulfilling prophecy when teachers become angry and judgmental. Take a deep breath and exhale slowly before you make a biting comment. Then, smile and emphasize a student's positive aspects.

Network with other teachers to create a comprehensive plan when dealing with a specific student. In middle school and high school, students change classes and teachers during the day. When all teachers involved with the student are on the same page, there is a better chance of successfully motivating the child.