As a result they feel that it is useless for them to try to succeed in school, since their efforts have nothing to do with their success. Teachers can empower these students by helping them to see that they control their outcomes by their effort. This may require that you start off with very small steps, so that the student can experience success. Then, take extra care to point out to them the specific action on their part that led to their success. It is also beneficial to praise them when they succeed, but don t go overboard on this.
Children can easily detect false praise.
A display in the room that publicly charts progress and effort is also an excellent way of assisting students in seeing the results of their efforts. Help them to connect learning to life. In order to be motivated students must see the utility of what they are learning, and that utility must be of two types. They must see utility to themselves and they must see the utility to the world around them. Provide activities where students can apply what they are learning.