The author reframes the concept of motivation through the observation of a student who is a recent immigrant and seems unmotivated because he is not doing well in his classes. Instead of a lack of motivation by the student, the author finds the system failing to engage the student by enacting four conditions of a motivational framework: establishing inclusion, developing a positive attitude, enhancing meaning, and engendering competence. The author suggests that when and where that is done, student engagement and motivation will improve and so likely will student achievement improve.