Smart Strategies for Keeping Sec V Students Motivated at the End of the Year

Just because a student is already accepted to CEGEP, that does not mean that they can spend the rest of the school year goofing off. Perseverance is a valuable trait for every student, as they still have to pass their last few high school classes to be admitted to CEGEP, even after they have been accepted. This is all the more true for competitive programs: a drop in their average may result in a student losing their spot to someone with better marks.  

It also goes without saying that it is in students’ best interests to stay focused and maintain their usual study habits so they have an easier transition to CEGEP in the fall. You can remind students of some of the challenges they will face once they graduate:

• Lectures are commonplace in CEGEP, which is why it is so important to learn how to take good notes. 
• The workload in CEGEP is often heavier than it is in high school, with longer courses and higher academic expectations. Mental preparation, autonomy, and time management are invaluable skills for new CEGEP students.  
• For those hoping to enter a competitive university program (e.g., pharmacy, medicine, optometry), their marks will count towards their R score and may be used by the university to decide whether to admit them over another student. It is all the more important for these students to arrive at CEGEP ready to give their best effort. An outstanding R score may also qualify a student for merit-based scholarships.

The final months of the school year should not be seen as just a countdown to graduation, but rather as an opportunity to enhance skills and put learning into practice. Thus, it can be beneficial to involve students in projects that they care about and that demonstrate the utility of what they have learned throughout the year. Here are a few ways to go about it:

• Assign interdisciplinary projects: Design projects that require knowledge of different subjects. For example, a research or media project where students create a class newspaper, blog, vlog, or podcast would require them to draw on their writing, social sciences, science and technology, critical thinking and, of course, digital literacy skills. Moreover, this holistic approach prepares them for the working world, where skills are rarely used in isolation. 
• Promote learning through community service: Encourage students to get involved in initiatives that benefit their community. From organizing a fundraising event for a local cause to planting a community garden, these types of projects reinforce a sense of responsibility and belonging, while providing young people with a rewarding experience. As an added bonus, volunteering gives students who are finishing high school their first real exposure to the working world and enables them to develop essential soft skills such as teamwork, responsibility, and communication, while making a positive contribution to their community. 
• Adapt your lessons to students’ interests: When you take the time to relate concepts and skills to students’ interests, they will feel more motivated and engaged in class. For example, you could ask students to give presentations on a subject they are interested in or on a topical issue. 
• Assign non-assessed activities: Your students will enjoy learning in a relaxed environment where they can do interesting non-assessed activities, such as labs where they can imagine themselves as old-fashioned chemists with limited resources. 
• Introduce inspirational role models: To keep students interested and engaged until the end of the school year, it can be helpful to introduce students to inspirational role models who embody passion in the field being studied. For example, you (or your students) can highlight the contributions women have made to science or study scientists from diverse backgrounds throughout history. 
• Encourage mentorship and cooperative learning: Encourage your students to share their knowledge with their classmates who need help understanding a concept. Not only will they feel valued, but they will also put active learning into practice. The Alloprof Help Zone is an excellent platform for cooperative learning.

Providing attentive individual support means recognizing that every student is a unique individual with unique needs. This can go a long way toward keeping young people motivated and helping them end the school year on a positive note.

Plus, it creates an environment conducive to student motivation and success. By showing appreciation for your students and preparing them for their future, you will help them stay on course until the end of the school year. Here are some suggestions for ways to provide individual support to your students.
 

If your workload allows it, take the time to sit down with each of your students individually. This time can be used to talk about their future plans, set (or revise) their personal goals for the end of the year, and identify areas where they may need additional support. Work with each student to create a personalized action plan that takes into account their strengths and interests. This may include study strategies, enrichment activities, or personal projects that motivate them.

If you do not have the time to do everything yourself, ask for assistance from other education professionals at your school, such as the resource teacher or educational consultant.

Relate what you have been learning in the past few months to your students’ immediate future. Working with your school guidance counsellor, you can help organize information and counselling sessions about CEGEP and possible career paths after high school, meetings with former students, or even virtual school visits to keep students engaged and help them understand the long-term benefits of perseverance.

Provide regular feedback on students’ progress and encourage them to keep trying. Celebrate their successes, no matter how small, and congratulate them on their choice of post-graduation plans. Positive, constructive feedback can boost students’ self-confidence and motivation. Be there for your students when they are worried or discouraged. When you offer emotional support and strategies for managing stress and anxiety to your students, you can help them feel better prepared to face the challenges ahead. Communicating with parents is also important, as they play an essential role in their child’s education, especially at this pivotal time in their life.