Blog

Motivational interviewing can help address chronic absenteeism by shifting the conversation from “You need to come to school” to “Let’s understand what’s getting in the way and what might make school worth coming to for you.”

Motivational interviewing can help teachers boost student engagement by shifting from pushing students to participate toward building real partnership, listening for what matters to them, and inviting them into choices about their own learning. Instead of nagging or lecturing, MI uses open questions, reflections, and autonomy support to make engagement feel like the student’s decision rather than the teacher’s demand.​

The spirit of MI gives us a different starting point: walking alongside students as partners in change, not managers of their motivation.