John Hattie’s Five Steps to Deepen Student Engagement

As educators, we know that student engagement strategies aren’t just buzzwords; they're the foundation of effective teaching and learning. Over the years, I’ve found that fostering active participation and curiosity isn’t a single event but a process we can strengthen every day in our classrooms. Here are five steps that can make a genuine difference for our students.

1. Set Clear, Challenging Learning Goals to Drive Student Engagement

Students get motivated when they understand what they’re learning, what success looks like, and why it matters. Every lesson should start with clarity. By making learning intentional and success criteria explicit, we give students a roadmap for success and how to achieve it. The key here is to ensure that students know and understand the learning goals. Then success, no matter how small, can be motivating to continue to engage in learning.

I like to begin lessons by teaching students what it means to be successful in this lesson and then asking, “Where do you think you’ll be by the end?” and closing with, “Show me the evidence of your progress.” When students see their own growth, it’s deeply motivating. Feedback is key here: it’s not just about giving feedback (or a grade) but helping students see how far they’ve come and what’s next. Over time, this becomes a habit that builds confidence, a sense of direction, and a growth mindset.

2. Offer Purposeful Student Choice to Build Motivation

Choice is powerful but only when it’s meaningful. I’m not talking about letting students pick between blue or red paper. And I’m not talking about them choosing the task, the success criteria, or their preferred way of doing the task. Too often, when given choice, students select what they can already do, thereby minimizing risk and constraining learning. Purposeful choice must be bound by clear learning intentions and nonnegotiable success criteria. The choice lies in how students engage with the challenge not whether they face it.

Effective choice introduces productive struggle. It requires students to commit, persist through difficulty, and adapt their strategies in response to feedback. When the challenge is well-calibrated, choice becomes a lever for agency rather than avoidance, culminating in a genuine sense of accomplishment that comes from mastering something that was not initially within reach.

When we give students options, with clear guardrails and success criteria, we’re supporting their need for autonomy. Suddenly, they’re not just doing the work because we said so; they’re doing it because it matters to them. That’s when intrinsic motivation and curiosity really take off.

3. Make Learning Relevant through Differentiated Instruction

Students engage the most when their work feels important, enjoyable, and useful, and they see evidence of progress in their learning toward success. If they believe doing well matters and see connections to their own lives or future goals, they’re much more likely to dig in. That’s why I encourage offering content that’s age-appropriate, interesting, and flexible enough to meet students where they are and where they need to be with content that truly resonates. 

Differentiation isn’t about making things easier; it’s about offering different ways (and times) for every student to achieve success, whether reaching proficiency, strengthening Tier 1 knowledge, or building skills and confidence that go beyond the classroom.

4. Maximize Instructional Time for Student Engagement

As you know, time is precious in the classroom, and we often don’t have enough of it! The best learning happens when we keep a good pace—enough energy to keep things moving but with space for students to process and practice. 

Frequent checks for understanding, smooth transitions, and intentional sequencing all help maximize every minute and keep students focused and on-task. For striving learners, this includes timely, targeted support tied directly to upcoming grade-level work. This way, we accelerate learning for our students without slipping into remediation. It’s not about rushing; it’s about making sure every moment has purpose.

5. Provide Challenging Tasks That Promote a Growth Mindset

Let’s not shy away from challenge—let's embrace it! Students thrive when they’re stretched just the right amount. The “Goldilocks Zone” isn’t too easy, too hard, or too boring; it’s that sweet spot where effort and feedback motivate students and lead to real growth.

It’s important to remember that struggle is a sign of learning not failure. When we pair difficult tasks with scaffolding and feedback, students think, “This is hard, but I can do it.” As teachers, we need to challenge our own expectations too. When we expect more from our classrooms, we teach more and support more.

Bringing It All Together

Engagement is built on clarity, agency, relevance, purposeful pacing, and challenge. When we bring these pieces together, we support what matters most for our students’ futures. And with deeper engagement, students don’t just participate, they invest in and drive their own learning and success.

For a more in-depth explanation of these five strategies and how they can make a difference in your classroom, tune in to John's webinar.  

Looking to engage your middle school students? Check out our Middle School Topics Page, or download your Middle School Engagement Playbook.