Engaging students for success: What teachers need to know

By Liu Ziyu; Institute of Curriculum and Pedagogy, Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, China

Recent research by Wong et al. (2024), which synthesized 137 studies from various educational settings, underscored the importance of student engagement in promoting academic success and emotional well-being. The study identified three key types of engagement that shape student outcomes: affective (emotional connection to school), behavioral (active participation), and cognitive (mental effort in learning). Behavioral engagement, such as consistent effort and adherence to classroom rules, was strongly linked to academic achievement (r = .39), especially when measured by teacher observations or school grades rather than standardized tests. Affective engagement, which involves feelings of belonging and positive relationships, was most closely associated with students' emotional well-being (r = .40). This highlights the importance of creating emotionally safe and supportive school environments. Although cognitive engagement was slightly less impactful overall, it becomes particularly important for older students and in cultures that emphasize self-regulated learning, such as in Asia and Europe.

These findings have practical implications for teachers seeking to enhance student engagement. To support academic growth, educators can promote behavioral engagement by establishing clear routines, recognizing student effort (e.g., “I see you worked hard on this—your persistence is paying off!”), and using low-stakes assessments that highlight progress. To improve students’ well-being, fostering affective engagement through relationship-building practices like morning check-ins, peer mentorship, or projects that connect lessons to students' cultural backgrounds (e.g., writing about family history) can be effective. For older students, cognitive engagement can be encouraged through tools like goal-setting templates or reflective prompts (e.g., “What strategy worked best for you today?”). It’s crucial to adapt these strategies based on developmental stages (e.g., play-based learning for younger students vs. choice-driven projects for teens) and subject needs (e.g., collaborative labs in science vs. debate formats in social studies). By balancing all three types of engagement and considering contextual factors, educators can create learning environments where students thrive both academically and emotionally.