A few years ago, I encountered a class that challenged all of my teaching and motivational skills. I had been teaching for almost 20 years but was no match for the pessimism and apathy in the class. It got me thinking a lot, so next semester I started the year very differently. (I taught English at a career college where nobody wanted to take it.) I spent the entire first class talking about expectations, motivation ("why are you here?") and what it would take to succeed in the class. The #1 thing to improve their skill: CARE. I emphatically told them that I would work my hardest to help them learn and grow....but I cannot work harder than they do! (I learned this from my therapist husband as it's an important tenant in therapy.) It was revolutionary to me and my students, it's THEIR education and I can't force them to learn, but instead of resigning to the fact, I challenged them...and they accepted! I also incorporated the inspiring and humbling message of Dr. Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture" so they could find the intrinsic reasons why they are there and to be proud of their work. I think back on what a gift that "bad" class was for me because they made me a better teacher.
