This Digest focuses on motivating the low performing adolescent in a remedial reading or subject area classroom--the idea is that students who are disengaged from their own learning processes are not likely to perform well in school. The Digest points out that such adolescents are often caught in a cycle of failure and that secondary teachers must help the student break the cycle of failure. It offers several practical and effective methods for motivation from the research literature that can be used by the classroom teacher. The Digest also states that a wide variety of teaching materials can help provide for differences in students' ability to learn, and that teachers must continue to create contexts which promote success. It concludes that there is much truth in the statement"The only way to improve reading skills is to read." (Contains eight references.) (NKA)