“When am I ever going to use this?” You may not have imagined it this way, but Newton's first law of motion offers a helpful lens for understanding motivation. Just as an object stays at rest unless acted upon by an external force, motivation acts as the push we need to overcome inertia and get started.  Cartoonists playfully apply this law, such as in the “law of exams,” where a book stays untouched until an exam looms, or the "law of sleep," where a student stays in bed until panic strikes.

As Kate Kelly, of the website Understood, notes, motivation is a driving force—one that needs fuel.

“A motivated child who feels rewarded by praise and a positive outcome is more likely to keep going again and again even when something feels tough.”

(Kelly, 2020)

Thinking and learning often come with setbacks that leave students feeling unmotivated. Here’s how you can help:

• Celebrate progress: Recognize positive moments and small wins throughout the journey, not just at the end.
• Focus on effort: It’s not about the grade; acknowledge the hard work and steps taken along the way.
• Encourage growth: Today’s result isn’t tomorrow’s limit. Remind them that practice leads to improvement.
• Try new things: Help your child explore new experiences to discover strengths and passions beyond school.