This is tough and something that gets brought up every time I talk to someone about Project Based Learning (PBL). I think the answer is multidimensional and usually is not just a single issue but a combination of many issues. Here are a few…

Their more important needs are not being met by you and/or someone else

Learning is not my number one need. Learning is not anyone’s number one need. Talking about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs almost seems cliché but I think that it is important to remember when talking about students who have a hard time being engaged. Is the child hungry? Probably not going to be totally engaged. Does she feel like she is unsafe? Probably not going to be able to concentrate. Does he feel like he is loved and belongs in your classroom? Probably not going to be able to think about the project. Does she feel like her ideas are good enough to contribute? If not, she probably won’t contribute them.

With the students I have who I think this might be the issue I walk over and sit next to them and just watch the class for a couple minutes. After a few minutes we have a conversation that goes like this….
“What’s up?”
“I WAS WORKING BUT…!!!!” (They’re ready for this confrontation)
“Well… let’s just calm down for a second. How is your minecraft server going?”
At this point the student will go on and on about whatever is going on in their life. It usually starts with minecraft, or soccer, or gymnastics but can turn into a conversation about anything. After a few minutes of listening and building a deeper relationship with the student I tell them that they can talk to me about (whatever it was) any time. They vented, they feel like someone cares and usually they can go back to work. Sometimes their problems are bigger than a five minute conversation can fix. When that happens (which for me as a k-5 teacher is not very often) I find someone for the student to talk to. We need to realize our kids our people, not just empty vessels. Life happens.

If that doesn’t work….

I heard a great quote last night. “Who am I being that the musicians in my orchestras eyes are not lit up.” Ben Zander the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic said when he was talking about being a leader. As teachers we are all inspirational leaders. What he is really talking about is drawing all of the musicians in his orchestra to be present in their music making. He is igniting passion in those around him. It’s a great way to look at teaching and learning. Who am I being as a teacher that is causing my students eyes to not be lit up. Who am I being as a teacher that is causing my students to not be filled with passion.

When things don’t go well in the classroom we need to stop always blaming the kids. There is only one person in the room that has control of the culture and day-to-day activities. It’s not them.
Usually for me when we’re in the middle of a project and I see a group completely disengaged it is because the question driving the project wasn’t big enough for them or they didn’t understand it. If the question is not open enough they can’t include their own interests. When this happens we talk about how they can show their understanding of the topic and include what they want to include. For me it’s about the understanding, not the work. If they don’t understand the question they are working at a frustrational level. This takes some extra scaffolding and help but usually in about fifteen minutes they’re back on track and happy.

Yes, both of these ways of getting kids to go back to work takes more time than telling them to “do your job.” In the end you can only work with what is inside your circle of influence. As a teacher you are constantly selling ideas to your students and they are choosing to buy them… or not. We need to make the learning worth their time and attention.