Students need to find the “why” before they will invest in the “what:” in other words, they won’t buy into learning unless they see purpose and possibility. This session explores practical ways to activate students’ prior knowledge and lived experiences as entry points, setting the stage for deep thinking and sustained engagement. You’ll leave with ready-to-deploy ideas for making lessons feel meaningful from the very first minute. If you have students who struggle to invest in academic work, you won’t want to miss it!