Problem: My student is unmotivated, falling behind and does not care about school.
30 Answers By Expert Tutors
Angel C. answered 10/13/25
English Grammar Tutor & Linguist with 12+ Years of Experience
This is one of the most common challenges I see — and it’s absolutely solvable. When a student is unmotivated or falling behind, the key isn’t just more homework or stricter routines — it’s rebuilding confidence and curiosity.
I start by identifying why the student feels disconnected: sometimes it’s frustration, sometimes boredom, or simply not seeing the purpose behind what they’re learning. Then, I adapt lessons to match their interests and learning style — turning abstract subjects into something that feels personal, achievable, and even fun.
Once students start experiencing small wins, their motivation naturally grows. I also teach strategies for focus, organization, and self-assessment so they can track their own progress and feel in control of their learning.
With consistent support and encouragement, students who once “didn’t care” often become surprisingly engaged and self-driven. The goal is not only to catch up, but to help them rediscover the joy of learning and the belief that they can succeed.
Stacie K. answered 10/03/25
K-6 Teacher | Special Ed M.Ed | Experienced Elementary Educator
This is a very common question that I hear frequently from parents. I understand from a both parent's and a tutor's perspective that this can be so stressful! A tutor can help in ways that go beyond just teaching content; the right approach can actually re-engage your child and help them feel more confident and motivated. The individualized attention I can offer as a tutor allows me to identify gaps in your child's understanding that may be causing frustration or disinterest for them. I can tailor lessons to your child’s specific strengths, weaknesses, and learning style. Once we break down concepts into manageable steps, we can build foundational skills that make schoolwork feel more achievable. We can work on study strategies, time management, and organizational skills. This often improves motivation because your child feels more capable. It is important to me that your child feels successful in a safe, supportive environment as this can reduce anxiety and avoidance around school. I will work to connect lessons to your child’s interests, turning boring material into something relatable. I use creative methods (games, interactive exercises, project-based learning) to make learning feel meaningful and fun!
A lack of motivation can stem from multiple sources. Sometimes a lack of comprehension and continued struggling leads to frustration. For this, digging into the problem areas, discussing what specifically makes it so hard, and coming up with a personalized action plan can help build up confidence, and consequently motivation.
Sometimes motivation can be hard to come by if the student doesn't understand why they're learning something. It can be hard to find motivation when you don't see the point in trying. For this, the answer is simple: demonstrate the real-world usage of the lesson topic. Even if a student isn't planning to go into something like languages or social studies, being able to critically read news articles, scan for bias, and come to one's own conclusions are useful skills for everyone. As another example, the present perfect tense is very useful in job interviews for describing one's accomplishments.
Lack of motivation often stems from lack of comprehension or lack of payoff. Both of these problems are solvable and often solve the lack of motivation problem in turn.
Susan W. answered 13d
A Passion for History and Reading
I've seen this a lot, but I also had this problem. Our education system teaches to a specific type of kid and specific type of learning style. But kids learn in all kinds of wonderful ways! For me, the problem was processing and short term memory issues. It took me longer to process what they were teaching me, and my short term memory is terrible so test taking was a no go. Find out how your kid learns. Find out what interests him/her. And try to relate it the lessons he/she is learning. Positive reinforcement also goes a long way. When I was struggling with math, I would always get popcorn(which I loved) when I was done. It kept me motivated to finished. So maybe at the end of a hard school week, if your kid tries super hard, have a fun movie night or something.
Jamie H. answered 28d
Spellbound: The Power of Words
Many times, students become like this because they are either bored or not challenged. Every student, every person for that matter wants to learn and get good grades. I always say that there is always a reason for a behavior. Talk to your child and see what that reason is for their disengagement. You will be surprised at the honesty of responses that you will receive.
Brandy B. answered 29d
Experienced Teacher: Boost Confidence & Literacy Skills
I understand how challenging it can be when a student becomes unmotivated, begins to fall behind, and seems disconnected from school. I’ve experienced a similar situation with my own child, and what helped most was slowing the learning process down and making it feel manageable. We broke assignments into smaller chunks and focused on one part at a time. This reduced overwhelm and allowed them to experience small, meaningful successes.
To keep them engaged, I connected the work to something they cared about—basketball. Using familiar language and examples helped make the content more relatable and increased their willingness to participate. As they began to understand the material more deeply, their confidence grew, and they started applying some of the strategies independently during class.
Organization was another area of struggle, so we created a weekly routine together. Every Sunday evening, we reviewed the previous week, looked at the teacher’s newsletter, and planned for upcoming assignments. This structure helped them feel prepared and less anxious about what was ahead. Knowing they had support at home made school feel less intimidating and helped them stay motivated.
Over time, these strategies—chunking tasks, connecting learning to personal interests, and establishing predictable routines—helped them regain confidence, stay on track, and approach school with a more positive mindset.
Alita R. answered 29d
Elementary / Early Educator & Literacy Tutor | ELL Specialist
This is a very common issue among many children—your child is not alone! When it comes to larger classroom settings, it is very difficult for teachers to be able to get the one-on-one time to engage with each student individually and understand their unique needs and interests, as well as their skillsets. This can lead to students feeling disengaged with the content because they are simply uninterested and/or they feel the workload is too difficult. Education is a marathon, and many children often feel like they are falling behind, comparing themselves to their classmates and feeling stuck because they are not running at the same speed.
The biggest way to get students engaged is to spark their curiosity and hone in on their interests! What is your child interested in? Is it cars? Great! We can come up with ways to do science experiments with cars. How can I create a math problem involving cars? It is our job as educators not only to know and "teach" the academic content, but also to work around your child's individual needs and interests to get them engaged and motivated to learn. Sparking their curiosity is the first step, as children are the main drivers in their own learning experiences — teachers are just here to guide them!
Taylor M. answered 01/23/26
Experienced Educator Helping Build Confidence & Master Skills
To address this issue, targeted interventions should focus on rebuilding engagement and confidence through consistent support and achievable goals. Breaking assignments into smaller, manageable tasks can help the student experience success, while positive reinforcement and regular feedback can encourage persistence. Additionally, building a supportive relationship and connecting instruction to the student’s interests or real-life applications may increase motivation. Through structured support, clear expectations, and ongoing encouragement, the student can begin to reengage with learning and make academic progress.
Tracy W. answered 01/10/26
Credentialed Teacher (M.Ed.) Reading, Writing, Executive Function
Often, what appears to be a lack of motivation is actually a signal that the work feels too difficult, overwhelming, or disconnected from the student’s interests. Learning challenges do not always appear early, and many children become skilled at masking confusion or frustration. Acting out, avoidance, or refusing work are common responses when students feel unsuccessful or discouraged.
The first step is building trust and emotional safety so the student feels comfortable speaking honestly about their experience. Once trust is established, instruction can be adjusted to meet the student where they are. This may include identifying gaps in foundational skills, addressing executive functioning challenges such as organization, task initiation, or working memory, and breaking tasks into manageable steps.
Engagement improves when students experience success. Connecting learning to topics they enjoy and offering choices in how they demonstrate understanding can help rebuild confidence. With targeted support, clear structure, and opportunities for small wins, motivation often increases naturally as students begin to feel capable and understood.
Kashish S. answered 01/10/26
Helping Young Students Build Strong Math Foundation and english
When I work with an unmotivated student who is falling behind, I start by building trust and understanding the student’s mindset. I take time to listen, identify learning gaps, and determine whether frustration, lack of confidence, or external factors are affecting their engagement.
I break lessons into small, achievable steps so the student can experience quick success and regain confidence. I adjust my teaching style to match the student’s learning preferences and connect concepts to real-life examples or their personal interests. I also set clear, short-term goals and celebrate effort and progress rather than focusing only on grades.
By maintaining consistency, patience, and encouragement, I help students feel supported instead of pressured. Over time, this approach improves both motivation and academic performance.
Ume A. answered 01/07/26
High-Achieving Honor Roll Tutor
I understand how challenging it can be when a student is unmotivated or falling behind. My approach focuses on building confidence and engagement first, by connecting lessons to the student’s interests and showing them that learning can be rewarding and achievable. I break down concepts into manageable, step-by-step explanations, making even difficult topics feel less overwhelming.
I also work to set achievable goals, celebrate small wins, and develop study habits that help the student take ownership of their learning. My experience tutoring students with a range of abilities has taught me how to be patient, adaptable, and supportive while still maintaining accountability. Together, we can turn frustration into progress and make learning something they feel motivated to do.
Sarina K. answered 12/31/25
Reading, Writing, and ELA Tutor with 10+ Years of Experience
I am so sorry your family is going through this! I know it can be really stressful and frustrating to see your child struggling in school, especially when they seem unmotivated or disconnected. The first thing to remember is that every student has interests and passions, even if school doesn’t feel engaging right now. Finding ways to connect what they’re learning to the things they care about, like sports, music, games, or a hobby, can help them see the relevance of school in a new light. Even small connections can make a difference in helping them engage and feel capable.
It’s also important to consider that low motivation can sometimes be a sign of bigger challenges. Executive function struggles, learning differences, ADHD, anxiety, or depression can all make school feel overwhelming. Checking in with your child about how they’re feeling, and considering support from a counselor, therapist, or tutor, can be crucial. Professional guidance can help them manage stress and give them tools to approach school more confidently.
Setting achievable goals and creating a routine can give your child structure and a sense of accomplishment. Breaking assignments into small, manageable steps, celebrating even tiny wins, and providing tools like visual planners or checklists can help them feel more capable. Encouraging hands-on projects or giving them some choice in how they show what they’ve learned can also increase their investment in school.
Finally, be patient with them...and with yourself. Reflecting with your child on what they’ve learned, supporting small improvements in effort, and celebrating progress can foster motivation and resilience over time. Tutoring can be especially helpful, bridging the gap between schoolwork and their personal interests while supporting study skills and executive function. With empathy, encouragement, and targeted support, your child can begin to re-engage and find success in school. I promise you're taking the first step in the right direction by asking for help!
Mesha S. answered 12/29/25
Experienced K–6 Elementary Math Teacher with 12+ Years Experience
When a student appears unmotivated, it’s often a sign that they feel overwhelmed, discouraged, or unsuccessful—not that they truly don’t care.
I start by identifying where the breakdown is happening (skill gaps, confidence, attention, or understanding). Then I set small, achievable goals so the student can experience success quickly.
Motivation grows when students feel capable. I use short lessons, clear expectations, and positive reinforcement to rebuild confidence while closing learning gaps.
Consistency between tutoring sessions and home routines is key, and I work closely with parents to support progress.
Stephen F. answered 12/06/25
Elementary Math Tutor | Building Confidence & Strong Foundations
I start by finding exactly where my student is getting stuck so we can fix the real problem - not just the grades.
In online sessions, we keep momentum with short, doable tasks so my student gets quick wins and rebuilds confidence.
Between sessions, we stay connected with simple check-ins and clear "next steps" so they feel supported and on track.
I look forward to working with your student to see them motivated about their studies and understanding how this can change their lives and future.
Take care. Mr. Steve
Goodness, really hope that your child can find their joy in school... Have had the privilege of 12 years elementary classroom teaching experience, worked with many different types of students, including those needing motivational support. Every year when I started a new school year, the very first message I passed along to my new students was ' School is hard, it is not easy, we will learn brand new things that sometimes can be frustrating to understand, you may need 6 months to understand one skill ... Guess what, that is perfectly NORMAL!! My job as your teacher is to be here for you every step of the way until you understand. If I have to repeat myself a thousand times in a million different ways until you understand, that is absolutely fine.' This message seemed to resonate positively throughout the school year with the majority of students, they knew that if they didn't get a skill..they would have my utmost patience and energy to help them be their best. In my experience, listening and being interested as an educator promotes learning.
Claudine J. answered 11/11/25
Expert Math & French Tutoring from a Cornell-Trained Educator
Does your child have a hard time paying attention for long periods of time? It could be that your child has some ADHD or ADD traits, which are not uncommon.
"Body doubling", as in doing work with another person who holds the student accountable, really helps neurodivergent students, or those with a few of these traits.
The bottom line comes down to several factors, either inattentiveness or feeling out of touch with the environment. OR it could be that the child is struggling with perfectionism (yes, believe it or not), and cannot start a task unless they feel assured that the outcome will be just right. Believe it or not, perfectionism can cause a student to delay tasks to such a point that it never gets done.
It may help to take an interest inventory of your child to rule this factor out as a cause for your child's lack of motivation.
A tutor can certainly help fill the learning gaps that may be leaving your child frustrated, helpless, disinterested or unmotivated with regard to homework, assignments or academics in general. With renewed confidence in academics, your child will certainly perform better and find the motivation to get started AND finish studying, projects, etc.
Don't give up! This is a common problem with many students. Please reach out if you would like to discuss this further, or would like to discuss tutoring options.
Sadaqa E. answered 11/11/25
Phonics & Reading Foundations for Neurodiverse Learners
I understand, and this is a challenge I help families with every day.
A student's "I don't care" attitude is often a mask for feeling overwhelmed or a lack of the tools to succeed.
My approach uses my Life Coaching and Behavioral Technician skills to rebuild motivation from the ground up.
We'll start by creating small, quick wins to rebuild confidence and teach practical skills in organization and time management to make school feel less daunting.
Let's connect to make a plan that helps your student rediscover their capability!
Jillian B. answered 11/09/25
Certified Elementary and Middle Grades Teacher
A lot of good analysis and advice exists in the answers. Here is my targeted feedback. I agree that one or more of several factors is at play:
- loss in confidence
- loss in connectivity
- untapped diverse intelligence
A tutor can help boost a student's confidence, find meaningful ways to introduce content and skills, and explore and build on the learner's diverse strengths (diverse intelligences). As a teacher and tutor, I enjoy consulting with the parent and student and creating a tailored plan of action. I also think reducing the pressure and resetting the purpose for learning is necessary. Yes, grades are important, but motivation and the whole development of the learner are even more important.
I hope that you found support, but please reach out if you need a talented teacher/tutor. I would love to work with you and your learner.
Raymond B. answered 10/24/25
Math, microeconomics or criminal justice
provide some incentive/motivation
pay her for good grades
money is the universal motivator
The best book I ever read as a teacher was Howard Gardner's book "Frames of Mind: The theory of Multiple Intelligences" First , how most classes are taught is pencil paper book. Observe any elementary school classroom. Especially 5th grade or below, even pre=K. Children learn how to walk, talk, sing, play. They are excited about trying new things. But as they progress in school learning changes from hands on to abstract. Most learners do NOT learn by pencil paper book. Only at most 20% of children and adults. Are they artists, musicians, love pets and animals, like to grow things, take things apart and put them back together, love to walk in nature. Do they sing and dance, love music. Do they love being told stories. Are they friendly? Do they love sports. Find out what kind of intelligence your child knows. Do they build things? Do they fix things. Do they invent things? How do they relate to people. Gregarious? Shy? Do they make things?
For a time after I retired I taught Pre-school science, acting, reading, agriculture, colors, shapes, scientific method and multiple ways of learning. None of the babies through Kindergarten could read. But they had a thirst for learning. I organized simple cheap experiments for science. A bag of white beans, dirt potting soil, water, little red solo cups. The kids planted navy beans, tended them, watched them grow, measured them, watered them, gave them sunlight. I made salt dough by the bucket. We mixed primary colors to make other colors. We experimented with scientific method.
For example; what if you had 4 paper plates, each plate has a white substance. How can you tell what the substance is? Try an experiment. Taste. feel. smell. touch. They looked and tasted salt. Tiny cubes and salty taste. Baking soda, bitter chalky. Sugar gritty and sweet. Floue powdery and dull. That's a science experiment. you can do at home.
I taught my students hands on math. 9,10,11,12 and college. How about math? I love puzzles and figuring things out. There are no answer books in real life. You must learn to prove your answer is right or wrong by thinking. Does it make sense. If I try to find out the answer do i get the same result? Gather any round object. string. scissors. pie pan, soda can, pizza , anything. Take the string and measure it across the center from one edge to the other, then take another piece of string and measure around the object. Compare the across string to the around string it should take a little over 3 pieces across to 1 piece of around. No matter what round thing you measure. This is the power of pi about 3.1417. If your child read a dull book with 20 or 30 math problems that stated the formula to memorize instead of trying the experiment themselves they would be excited. Pi built the world, the romans, the egyptians, thousands of years people understood the power of this ratio of the diameter of a circle to it's circumference. People tell me often they hated math, but I think they hated the dry boring rote do 30 odds and see me in the morning. Math is everywhere, every minute of a person's life, math is not the dry crinkle of paper and pencil. It is the stars, the universe, the ocean, the waves, animals, food, and negotiated the world around a person. There is an excellent you tube video available about the types. Basically Verbal, Logical/mathematical, Visual/Spatial, Musical, Bodily/Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Naturalist., and existential. Use all the students senses to understand how math works. Hope this helped.
Often times when I was in school and I was not motivated to complete the work it was because I was not interested in the work. I have worked with homeschool students whose parents use everyday life to teach reading, writing and math (especially). I am not suggesting to homeschool. Next time you all go to the grocery store give the child a calculator to add up the price of groceries and teach them about percentages to figure out sales discounts. For reading have them play video games where they have to play with no dialogue and read the dialogue. Zelda Ocarina of Time is a great video game title with lots of dialogue that has to be read. Another suggestion is to bake and have them read the instructions to you and they learn how to do all the measuring.
Another thing to do is to help them find an interest. Often times schools don't acknowledge other types of genius. I was an arts kid in both theater and studio art. I became an knitter and crocheter without the help of really anybody. There was no classes, no YouTube and no stores. I had to learn from books. My parents were always supportive of my hobbies. Knitting involves math and logic too. I met a lot of brilliant people who were all teachers through knitting. Waldorf Schools teach knitting
Elizabeth P. answered 09/21/25
multi-Subject|ELA| Reading|Writing|Certified TEFL|ESl
When a student is unmotivated and falling behind, it is often because school feels too hard, boring, or disconnected from their real life. If they keep struggling without success, they can lose confidence and start to believe they will never “get it,” which makes them stop trying. They may also feel like their effort goes unnoticed, so they don’t see the point. Sometimes the best step is to give the student a fresh start—a chance to reroute, clear away frustration, and focus on getting fully back on track. When a child is buried under both old assignments and new lessons, it becomes nearly impossible to learn anything meaningful. That’s why there sometimes needs to be a pause or a reset, where teachers and parents work together to reduce the load, set realistic priorities, and make sure the student is truly learning rather than just chasing deadlines.
Helping a child catch up starts with small, achievable steps and celebrating each success to build confidence. Lessons should be connected to the student’s interests so they feel relevant, and structure at home—like a set homework time and a quiet space—can provide consistency. For some students, struggles may come from deeper issues such as mental health conditions or neurodivergence. In those cases, families should not hesitate to ask the school for support. Schools can provide an IEP (Individualized Education Program), which includes specialized instruction and services, or a 504 Plan, which is a legal plan under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. A 504 Plan doesn’t change the curriculum but gives accommodations like extra time on tests, breaks during class, or organizational support so the student can learn on equal footing with their peers.
Problem: My student is unmotivated, falling behind and does not care about school.
To state the obvious, your student does not like school!
It is reasonable to assume something in his educational environment is not working for him. It may be the teacher’s approach. It may be the material. It may be his skill set. & it may be fear - of failure - or of learning.
This situation presents a good reason to hire a tutor as part of your student’s educational team.
The successful tutor will need to spend adequate time building trust. Key is selection of things to read/explore that are of interest to your student & that your student can understand, regardless of the subject or his level. It might be helpful to spend some time co-reading. It might be helpful to spend some time playing. Capturing his interest, trust & willingness to voluntarily follow the tutor into areas he doesn’t usually want to go is absolutely key.
~~~~~
Wow! There are robots we can buy now?
I wonder how it would be possible for the sky to make a hurricane?
I wonder if this author means there used to be people in the olden times? Who?
You can take 5 eggs & that’s the same as 3 eggs over here & 2 eggs over there? I wonder If that’s the same as 1 egg over here & 4 eggs over there?
Everybody used to hunt their own food? I wonder what kind of food? How do you hunt water?
~~~~~
These are examples of questions meant to capture the interest of a reluctant student. Once your student’s interest has been captured, and the tutor is trusted, the door will be opened.
Remember: what is happening at school isn’t working. Allow the tutor to approach your student & the subject(s) in a different way.
This is a very common challenge for younger students, and it often isn’t about laziness; it usually reflects frustration, lack of confidence, or feeling disconnected from the material they are learning. To solve this, I would focus on understanding your student’s unique interests and learning style. This can help break down lessons into achievable steps and connect their schoolwork to real-life relevance. By achieving small successes and connecting learning to goals they care about, students can regain confidence, develop motivation, and get back on track.
Greetings!
Often times, instructors would follow the textbook with textbook based examples. However, the writers of these textbooks are masters who think differently than students. My goal during the tutoring sessions is to also link and provide examples of the topics to everyday life such as shows, movies, and especially food! By doing this it provides reason for the student to care about topics like grammar, photosynthesis, and the water cycle. By showing them why topics are important and how it related to them personally will help them to stay motivated and eager to learn more!
Let me know if I can be of further help!
Suzie S. answered 08/20/25
ON LINE/FACE to FACE: Accent Reduction - College APS - Essays - Speech
Not sure this is a GRAMMAR question (the category it is in) - but: depression, boredom, and lack of motivation hit this question with all tires spinning.
Teenagers have so many physical and thus mental and emotional changes going on. Add to that the news (if they hear it/follow it) which is mostly gloom and doom; the social media which makes it seem like EVERYONE else is having a grand time (they aren't); and, frankly, too many choices - which also seem unobtainable.
Oh.
So! as a teacher/parent/support person - your job is to pay attention, provide loving support - including setting boundaries; and SEARCHING for a tiny match to get that fire started. Yes - you are busy - but this kid is your responsibility - so work hard to find something that....WORKS.
Donna B. answered 08/15/25
More about Donna
Problem: My student is unmotivated, falling behind and does not care about school.
As a mother of 4 and a grandmother of 8, this is one concern that isn't foreign to me at all. Now being related to them gives me the advantage because I am familiar with their learning styles and believe me, no two were/are alike. Children absorb information in different ways so a good understanding of how they learn can make education more effective while giving it a personal touch. Knowing a student's learning style assists me in creating activities tailored to their individual needs that will help to increase their confidence. As a result, they are more likely to retain the information. Let's face it, in a classroom of maybe 15 students or more, it is very difficult to give every child the special attention they so richly deserve. This is why tutoring would be the answer. If you would like to hear more about how I can assist in getting your student motivated, please contact me so we can get started!
Andrew F. answered 08/14/25
Andy F. Elementary/Middle English, Reading, Math, and History
Students often feel unmotivated because they don't have a personal stake or vested interest in the task at hand. I like to relate my lessons to everyday life and how it may be related to what students enjoy spending time doing. For instance: The students who love building may use a coding program to design lego pieces while also learning mathematical concepts such as measurement, scale, area, volume, etc. Through the overall experience, students will learn mathematical concepts and formulas while having fun in the creation process. Students will feel more pride in their creation and can admire what they have created. Rewards, Points and achievement badges also help to motivate students.
Alora Y. answered 08/08/25
Published Author And Youth Poet Laureate at Vanderbilt
HI!
My name is Alora, and I specialize in helping people like your child. Oftentimes, what a child with no motivation to learn needs is not more pressure, and especially not being forced to talk to someone who doesn't understand that struggle, and has no idea how to help. The best way to help a child is to find what they love. Some might already have a passion, like video games or Barbies, but a lot of kids don't know what they love, or what they want. A lot of adults don't either.
Finding what your kid loves is a transformative experience. You will suddenly see a light switch go on in their head. You will see joy and optimism in them that you probably have never seen. Especially if your child may be neurodivergent, which a lot of kids who struggle with motivation are. Once your child figures out what they love, what I do is, using my educational methods that I am developing at Vanderbilt, I connect everything they are learning in school back to that passion. And once they see how it relates, suddenly it doesn't seem so terrible and impossible anymore.
A lot of kids who fall behind on work and struggle to care about school get called lazy, but the fact of the matter is, Laziness is often a fictitious idea used to belittle people who are struggling with something else, like being overwhelmed, or anxious, perhaps burnt out, or depressed. Struggling is not a character flaw. And the best thing you can offer someone who is struggling is help and support. not judgment. As a tutor, I would teach your child the skills necessary to not get so overwhelmed. To tackle that messy room with bravery and most importantly, a STRATEGY!
These kids are struggling because people are trying to force them to function in a world where they have no tools designed for THEIR brains. I design tools for these kids. That is what I am getting my PHD in at Vanderbilt. If your child is wandering blind and feeling like nobody understands them, and they struggle too much and won't ever be good enough at it to even bother trying, you need me.
I used to be a struggling apathetic kid, and once I started developing my methods and strategies, I went on to be the 5th Youth Poet Laureate of the Southern United states, A Presidential Scholar of the Arts, A 2x TEDx Speaker, and a critically acclaimed poet and published author (Walking Gentry Home by Alora Young) with Penguin Random House, all before age 22. (I'm currently 22) I received a Davidson Fellows "Youth Genius Grant" in my senior year of high school and have been acclaimed as "profoundly gifted" by professors all over the country. I am a professional public speaker with the Penguin Random Speakers Org, the most elite speakers organization in the country. Also, I have an IQ of 150.
I'm here to help!
Lastly, I write all my own answers and materials. No AI needed. It's not smarter than me yet!
Michele W. answered 08/05/25
Elementary Grammar and Writing
Q: My child is falling behind, unmotivated, and doesn’t care about school. How can a tutor help?
This is one of the most common concerns I hear from parents—and the good news is, change is possible. I specialize in helping students who are struggling with low grades, lack of motivation, and falling behind in reading, writing, grammar, phonics, and math (PreK–8).
As a certified K–8 teacher with over 25 years of classroom experience and 10+ years of tutoring, I know that when students shut down, it's usually not about laziness. It’s often frustration, low confidence, or not feeling successful at school. That’s where I step in.
I don’t just reteach content—I build trust, motivation, and momentum. I take time to understand what’s holding your child back, and I use a warm, structured approach that makes learning feel achievable again. I celebrate small wins, introduce engaging tools, and guide students to build confidence one step at a time. Once they begin to feel capable again, motivation often follows naturally.
Parents often tell me that their kids become more focused, start turning in work again, and even begin participating more in class after just a few weeks of tutoring.
If your child needs both academic support and a confidence boost, I’d love to help. Message me, Michele W. , by scrolling to bottom of my profile today to set up a free consultation—we’ll work together to help your child turn things around.
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Michele W.
Thank you for sharing your concerns. It’s not uncommon for students to feel unmotivated or disconnected from school, especially when they are struggling or don’t see the purpose in the work. The good news is that with the right approach, we can re-engage your child and help them start to feel successful again. Here are a few strategies I use to build motivation and get students moving forward: Start with strengths: I find out what your child does enjoy and connect new learning to those interests, so school feels more relevant. Small wins first: Setting up short, achievable goals builds confidence and helps students see that success is possible. Choice and voice: Letting students have some say in how they learn or demonstrate their knowledge increases buy-in. Active, hands-on learning: Using games, visuals, or real-life applications makes the work feel more engaging and less like a chore. Celebrate progress: Recognizing effort, not just outcomes, encourages persistence and helps shift their mindset. My role as a tutor is not only to teach skills but also to build your child’s confidence, show them that learning can be enjoyable, and give them tools to succeed independently. Next Steps: If you’d like, we can set up a free consultation where I’ll learn more about your student’s specific challenges, then create a personalized plan to get them back on track both academically and motivationally.09/02/25