"Laziness" and How It Affects Our Students

Online

This article analyzes the use of the term “lazy” in the educational setting, how this term affects students, and the pedagogical approaches educators can take within their subject areas to reduce stress for their students. Pedagogical decisions affect student stress, and this article provides suggestions to prevent student burnout in order to improve curricula offerings in secondary and higher-level classrooms. Results show that students often reduced to “lazy” are most likely struggling with an underlying cause for their lack of performance, such as stress, burnout, depression, anxiety-induced procrastination, unknown and undiagnosed mental challenges, and misguided apathy. Results concluded that to reduce student stress and increase intrinsic motivation, educators should avoid shaming students, provide rationale for learning, express interest in students, teach with enthusiasm, and contribute to building a positive learning environment.