Monitor the behavioral patterns of students in the classroom in all aspects of their interaction with each other as well as how they spend time on their own. Observe emotional reactions; such as happiness or sadness and what led to that response. Some students show pride in knowing the correct answer to a question, while others are shy to raise their hands. Watch how children react to others when they succeed, and see if there is jealousy or humiliation for doing well on a quiz. Watch how they work on an activity; some students thrive in a group setting, while others like to work alone. Some children abandon their assignments if they aren't pressed into completing them. Get to know the students by their interests and see what methods they respond to when it comes to instruction and classroom challenges.
Some children who do not speak English as their first language may feel uncomfortable participating in class, and it may appear that they are not motivated to learn. Therefore, it is crucial that teachers find a way beyond these barriers and prevent these children from being reserved and passive in class activities. They are often eager to learn and they should not be considered learning disabled, so their competency levels are particularly important to assess so that an appropriate syllabus can be tailored to their skills. Helping them to feel more comfortable with a language that they are unsure of is an important first step to opening them up to new ideas.
Frustration with the class curriculum is a large factor in the lack of motivation in students, but it doesn't just apply to underperforming students. Children with consistently high marks and competency skills may also feel unmotivated due to the ease with which they complete assignments and score well on tests. They sometimes begin to feel as if they aren't being challenged enough and their potential for increased growth and success is capable of becoming stunted. So it is important to keep all children motivated by monitoring their individual success and understand when they need more encouragement to strive for higher goals that may exceed those of others in the class.
Keep records of each students progress throughout the school year by composing brief reports at the beginning, halfway point and finale of the school year. Discuss the child's habits and behaviors with others whom they interact with on a daily basis, such as other teachers, parents, tutors or family friends who know the child. This helps shape a picture of the student's growth and better informs observations of behavior or motivational levels in the classroom from week to week. Keeping all of this information handy will help future teachers inspire children to succeed to their fullest potential.