Give your students some choice in the projects that they do. Instead of creating a single project or assignment that students are required to complete, make two or three and give them the choice. If you can, select projects in different formats: a paper and a visual piece, for example. In doing so, you can allow students to work to their strengths instead of forcing them to struggle through something they are not interested in. The choice can give students a sense of control, which can increase their motivation.
Many children can feel constrained by schoolwork that limits their creativity. To keep your students on their toes and interested, allow them to break the rules on occasion. Several times a semester, create an open-ended assignment with no restraints on the result. Give students freedom to complete the assignment any way they see fit; encourage them to think creatively to find unexpected solutions. Give students extra motivation by turning the assignment into a contest; award prizes for different categories like the most creative, most time-consuming, funniest or most surprising.
The atmosphere of a classroom can play a big role in the motivation of your students. An environment that focuses on consequences and negative reinforcement can make students scared and unwilling to work. Instead, create a caring, positive classroom environment that will empower your students to try new things without being afraid of making mistakes. By supporting your students and showing that you want them to succeed, you can give them the inspiration to work harder.
For students who don't understand how schoolwork will ever benefit them in real life, it can be difficult to find the motivation to put effort in to complete it. Help your students realize that your assignments are not without merit by demonstrating the connections to the real world. Show them how they might use the math, science and English skills you are teaching by giving actual examples from your own life; for even more impact, look for surprising situations.