152 | The Truth About Lack of Student Effort in Your Classroom

Enjoy Teaching Again | Elementary, Teacher Burnout, Student Behavior, SEL, Classroom Management · Jul 7, 2026 · 15m

If you've ever thought "they just aren't trying" about a student in your class, I want you to hear this one before you step foot back into school. In this episode, I'm challenging a belief I've held myself — and one I hear from teachers constantly — that a checked-out, unmotivated-looking student is simply choosing not to try. What I've come to realize, in my own classroom and in working with teachers everywhere, is that what looks like a lack of effort is often a lack of access. I'll walk you through why that shift matters, how it connects to Engagement and what to actually do differently…