Telling students to study simply because they must or making narrow pitches to a subject's future utility typically fail to generate student interest. Six common mistakes that undermine student motivation can be easily avoided--among them are telling students they need to learn the content now because they will need it when they grow up or when they go to college. High school students are far more interested in subjects and knowledge areas that have a present utility, and they are less interested in studying content they are told to study simply because they must.