Cathleen Beachboard, 4 Ways to Use the Fresh Start Effect to Motivate Students: Research has shown that people put in extra effort on their goals after meaningful time markers like the start of a new year. The good news is, teachers can engineer these markers for students (October 17, 2025).
. . . Research shows that people are more likely to pursue goals and try harder right after meaningful time markers—like the start of a semester, the first class after a break, or just any Monday morning. These markers create a mental line between the “old me” and the “new me,” helping us let go of past struggles and lean into growth with renewed effort.
. . . [T]eachers don’t have to wait for the calendar to create these turning points—we can design them on purpose. Here are four classroom moves I use to set up fresh starts and boost students’ motivation.
1. SCHEDULE DO OVER DAYS
Every few weeks, I dedicate at least part of a class period—typically 20–30 minutes—to revisions, retakes, and unfinished work. Occasionally, if students need more time, we devote the full period to Do Over Day. No new content is introduced. Students know this is their chance to wipe the slate clean. I encourage them to show mastery in more than one way through corrected work, a project, or reteaching the concept aloud. One student recently rewrote his essay introduction with clearer evidence. Another created a short slide show explaining grammar rules to the class.
Why this works: A planned reset functions like a calendar landmark. Students mentally put the poor quiz or essay in the past and approach revisions as the “new me” who is capable of success. Plus, having time to address and learn from feedback can also motivate students, research demonstrates.
Try this:
- Place one Do Over Day in each unit.
- Allow multiple demonstration formats, such as projects, corrections, or explanations.
- Update grades to reflect current understanding and emphasize growth.
