It’s normal for students to feel mixed emotions at the start of a new term. Some may greet the start of school with eagerness and be ready to reset and do better. Others might feel tired or distracted after such a long break away from their desks. Tutors are often the first to notice when a student’s focus starts to slip or when motivation is low.
The good news is that focus and motivation are easy to fix and can be supported and rebuilt with the right approach. From making small changes to how sessions are structured to reframing progress, there are many ways to ensure your students stay on track and feel ready to do their best.
Start by Understanding the Student’s Headspace
Before you push ahead with new material, take a few moments to understand how your student might be feeling about school. Lack of focus can be linked to several problems besides ability alone.
Have open conversations where possible. Ask how they are feeling about the term so far, or what they are finding challenging. Ask if there are any issues they are facing that could be holding them back. When students feel heard, they are more likely to engage. At Tutor Doctor, our approach is to personalise learning around these deeper understandings, recognising that progress starts with the student, not what’s on the syllabus.
Break Tasks Down to Rebuild Momentum
When students experience low motivation, large tasks can feel particularly overwhelming. You can help by breaking work into smaller steps, helping your students to experience success faster. This helps to build confidence and keep momentum.
Instead of focusing on completing a whole topic, aim to master one concept or skill at a time. For example, if you have a student who needs help with GCSE English Literature, practising past papers can be more useful than being able to recite quotes from Macbeth. This approach also aligns with our guidance on building confidence through manageable learning goals.
Make Sessions Active, Not Passive
Nobody loves reading swathes of text or listening to long monologues, especially if they’re already feeling demotivated. When students are actively involved, focus and attention improve.
Instead of long explanations and causing students who already struggle with attention to disengage, here are some ways to keep sessions interesting and valuable:
- Use questions and problem-solving exercises
- Ask students to explain their thinking or predict an answer
- Use short challenges to keep students mentally present
Everybody has different learning styles. Finding out more about your students’ styles can help you tailor sessions and get the best results.
Use Progress, Not Perfection, as the Measure
Many students lose motivation because they feel they are “behind” or not good enough. As a tutor, you play a key role in reframing their progress and boosting confidence.
A student’s well-being and motivation can be lifted by the smallest improvements. Highlight progress even when it feels small. Something as simple as noticing spelling has improved or they are grasping better sentence structure can make all the difference. Try to focus on anything that has changed for the better since the last session. This mindset can help students to stay motivated and also reduce the fear of making mistakes.
Helping Students Start the Term Strong
When you support focus and motivation as a tutor, you help students to feel capable and hopeful about their learning. From listening carefully to breaking learning into smaller steps and celebrating small wins, you can help students to make meaningful progress throughout the year.
If you’re a tutor looking to make an even greater impact, Tutor Doctor provides the support and structure to help you do your best work with students. Learn more about becoming a tutor with Tutor Doctor and supporting students with confidence and care.
