Boys thrive on competition, so it naturally follows that introducing competition in the classroom motivates middle school boys to perform. Create competitions by having students race against one another to solve math problems or turning a test review into a basketball game, allowing students to shoot a basket for every correct answer. Place students in groups and award points based on certain behaviors and completed tasks. Give a prize to the group with the highest score at the end of the week.
For middle school boys, school itself is often the least important factor in their lives, and with all teenagers, their mind is self-focused. Tap into that self-focus by relating the curriculum to the interests of boys in your class. If you have a difficult scientific concept to teach, relate it to a video game or movie. Connect math concepts to sports. Teach history with action-packed videos and analogies. Get boys to read in a language arts class by suggesting books that relate to their interests. Many boys will not pick up a novel, but will read a biography of an athlete or another non-fiction book.
While they might pretend to brush it off, boys thrive on positive praise and rewards. Do not call out boys in class and pour praise on them for a job well done, but do give them a secret thumbs up, a pat on the back or a note on a test saying job well done. Awarding candy, free homework passes and other small prizes also motivates boys to do well.
Boys at this age cannot sit still for long periods of time in a classroom. Do not spend the class period lecturing or having students read silently. Create activities that allow students to get up and move at least every 20 minutes. Cooperative learning groups and stations allow boys to interact with other students and get out of their seats regularly. If cooperative learning groups or stations are not feasible in the classroom, build in some time every 15 or 20 minutes to allow boys to get up and stretch or switch seats to keep them focused on the lesson.