What does Motivation and Engagement mean in Reference to Literacy?

Student motivation leads to student engagement. However, motivation is not something always focused on in literacy instruction. Students may come to middle and high school with literacy skills - they can read the books or comics they enjoy, text with their peers, and socialize appropriately. When it comes to academic literacy, however, many students struggle to know how to apply their knowledge. Students must be both motivated and engaged for literacy instruction to be most effective.

Characteristics of Students who are Unmotivated and Unengaged:


Importance of Motivation and Engagement and How to Achieve It:

Motivation refers to extending choice, autonomy, voice, and encouragement to students within literacy instruction and activities. One example of this would be allowing students to choose a reading or set of texts for a unit of study, providing a variety of texts, using a variety of instructional activities to work on skills, incorporating listening and speaking activities, giving choices in activities to amplify student voices, and providing many "low-risk" opportunities for students to practice.

Engagement is tied to motivation. Engagement, however, is also tied to a positive classroom culture and excellent instruction. A few conditions that lead to more engagement are:

Motivation and Engagement Activities