The Science of Motivating Older Students

• How Adults Can Best Get Through to Young People

  Read David Yeager's short case for the mentor mindset: high standards, high support, and respect for status.

  UT AustinQuick readLearn more

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• Science of Adolescent Learning: Risk Taking, Rewards, and Relationships

  Use the educator recommendations on interests, peers, meaningful work, and goal setting to adjust one unit.

  All4EdResearch summaryPlan togetherWhole class

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• Improving Adolescent Literacy: Practice Guide

  Go to Recommendation 4 for four moves that raise motivation: learning goals, choice, relevance, and collaboration.

  What Works ClearinghouseResearch summaryPlan togetherWhole class

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• The Importance of Student Sense of Belonging

  Pick one of five research-based ways to build belonging, such as student agency and high expectations.

  REL MidwestQuick readLearn moreWhole class

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• Belonging for Educators

  Take a short course on the small classroom cues that tell students they belong, then try one.

  PERTS Mindset KitTraining module45 minLearn moreWhole class

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• Relationships Check

  Rate your relationship with one student on care, challenge, support, shared power, and possibilities. Then pick one to strengthen.

  Search InstituteTemplate or formUnder 5 minUse with a studentOne student

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• Purpose Playbook

  Use three plain strategies, model it, celebrate it, enable it, to connect schoolwork to what a student cares about.

  Character LabQuick readTry tomorrow

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• The Science of Learning

  Read section 4 for a short, sourced answer to what motivates students to learn.

  Deans for ImpactResearch summaryLearn moreWhole class

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• Supporting Social, Emotional, and Academic Development

  Download the infographic and review for what research says about engagement, mindsets, and responsive classrooms.

  UChicago ConsortiumResearch summaryLearn moreWhole class

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• What a Mentorship Mindset Can Do for Student Motivation

  Researcher David Yeager explains pairing high standards with high support, and telling students why you are pushing them. Transcript included.

  The 74: Class DisruptedPodcastLearn more

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These resources are shared for professional learning and planning. They are meant to inform your professional judgment, not replace it. Each student's IEP and your district, state and federal requirements always come first. Listing a resource here is not an endorsement by Layered Education. This is educational information only, not legal advice.