Fostering Independent Learners
July 31st, 2025
Building Independent Learners
Why Intrinsic Motivation Matters for Boarding School Students
Lake Tahoe Preparatory School offers support to all students despite their learning differences. Not all students learn at the same pace, and this is why Lake Tahoe Prep encourages intrinsic motivation to foster more independent learners.
Our goal is to help you understand what motivates your teen to learn and why this should be an important part of deciding on which school to enroll your teen in.
What Is Intrinsic Motivation?
Intrinsic motivation is derived from within. Joy is often expressed through this type of motivation. For this reason, students are more likely to excel in topics they love and enjoy. The internal satisfaction a student gets from solving a problem or learning something new about a topic can truly inspire and motivate everyone around them.
Our approach is to help students be curious— curious about what they need and want. This enables students to develop a genuine interest in their education, rather than merely following instructions.
What Is Extrinsic Motivation?
Extrinsic motivators stem from external factors such as grades, rewards, praise, punishments, and the desire to please others (think ‘carrots and sticks’). These types of motivators work only for a short time. They can get learners excited about a subject, but it will take more than extrinsic motivators to keep them interested.
The goal isn't to eliminate external motivators but to help students develop an internal drive that will serve them in college and career settings where no one will be checking their homework.
How Lake Tahoe Prep Encourages Independent Learners Through Intrinsic Motivation
Educators should not stand in the way of independent learners; therefore, it is essential to understand what motivates a teenager to learn.
What distinguishes Lake Tahoe Prep from other boarding schools is the therapeutic support our students receive. To ensure that our students benefit from our learning environment, our facility has clinical therapists and a clinical director who are in direct contact with Ed consultants, our admission department, and our Academic Dean.
Intrinsic motivation comes from internal sources. Independent learners will discover what interests them and motivate themselves to learn more. Extrinsic motivation from external factors refers to the motivation provided to a student by a parent or teacher to learn a subject.
This provides short-term interest, but intrinsic motivation is one of the most essential parts of learning. This type of motivation will bring satisfaction and push students to engage more with the lessons that are being taught.
Short-term educational goals may be obtained with extrinsic motivators, but intrinsic motivators are needed to help students get the most from their academic journey.
Kids with learning differences can benefit from a flexible learning environment. This allows them to explore topics more freely and find a passion or connection with what is being taught.
How Lake Tahoe Prep Encourages Intrinsic Motivation
Small Classroom Environments
Lake Tahoe Prep has a maximum of seven students in a classroom. This allows educators to reach the students where they are and ensures that students do not feel left out of the lessons being taught.
All students have different foundational skills, but with smaller class sizes, educators can more effectively identify their needs. By doing this, independent learners can find joy in the lessons that are being taught, and through that, they are more motivated to learn not only in the classroom but outside the classroom as well.
Having a small class size also allows for more flexible learning. This means that students can ask all their questions and become more engaged in the topics being discussed. As a result, students can discover their passion for a subject more easily. It can spark an interest that students may not have realized they had. Intrinsic motivation is an essential skill set for success, not only in current studies but also when the student steps into a career or higher education.
Encourage a Growth Mindset
While some kids are talented in specific areas, learners can enhance their abilities through effort. With small class sizes, educators can foster a growth mindset. Students can reach a point where they are excited about learning, and this leads to hitting the potential goals set by educators for students.
“Practice makes perfect,” and this is upheld at Lake Tahoe Prep. Focus should not be based solely on grades, as all students learn in different ways. While they may not have an “A” in a subject, they may have improved their letter grade compared to six weeks ago, and those progressions should be celebrated and acknowledged. Educators enrich the minds of students and encourage continual growth.
Finding Fun In Learning
Lake Tahoe Prep encourages fun through learning. One of the best examples is the music program that we have to offer. This program allows students to explore the world of music while enriching their lives in several ways. This type of learning encourages intrinsic motivation for independent learners.
Independent Living
With a dorm atmosphere, students are expected to learn several skills that may not otherwise be taught in a regular school environment. Students are responsible for ensuring they have the necessary items; they must maintain a clean dorm room, track their finances, and make informed decisions about how to spend their money, among other responsibilities. These are all things that students learn in a boarding school environment, but they also evoke intrinsic learning.
Students learn what is needed to run their lives. At the end of the day, parents are not there to hold students accountable, so students must take on that role.
Providing Intrinsic Motivation For Independent Learners
Lake Tahoe Preparatory School provides an environment where kids must listen to themselves, their behaviors, and their choices. Students must determine what they need to do in life, whether it is practical or academic. Intrinsic motivation is highly valued at Lake Tahoe Prep, and for this reason, students can graduate with confidence and step into the opportunities that life holds for them after high school.
Schedule your campus tour today and meet our amazing staff who encourage your teen to learn in and outside the classroom.
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