Students may become unmotivated because they don't see how the subject is relevant to their day-to-day lives, making it appear redundant and unnecessary. It can be useful and motivational to suggest real-world situations where the classroom's lessons will assist them in achieving desirable goals. For example, examine contemporary events and newspaper articles with your students to discuss situations where individuals knowing more about a particular subject have made a difference in a situation or when additional knowledge about the subject could have prevented unfortunate circumstances. This discussion will allow your students to appreciate that knowledge of a subject may be incredibly useful in unforeseen situations.
Positive reinforcement is always useful for motivating students, and it is especially applicable when you help them recognize how their knowledge and capability are improving. When teaching your class, use visual aids to underline students' improving performance and increased understanding. For example, if you teach literature you can create a slideshow that summarizes all the books and materials discussed within the previous semester, adding particularly insightful quotes from your students' essays alongside each title. This approach lets your students know that their contributions have been appreciated and can give them added confidence about their ability to understand future topics within the subject material.
When students lack motivation, you can inspire them through exposure to a successful role model. Although it's feasible for teachers to be role models for their students, it isn't realistic that this relationship will always develop. Instead, consider using case studies of real people who have done great things after working hard in their chosen subjects. Even if the subject doesn't appeal to your students, they may appreciate how the role model could become passionate about it.
A sense of belonging can provide your students with confidence and added enthusiasm for their subject, making them feel more motivated and interested in the educational material. Different strategies can produce this feeling, and one may be to display your own passion and interest for the subject, and express why you wanted to teach students about it in the first place. This explanation will help make students appreciate that there's a reason for them to be in the class, and that you appreciate them taking part in it.