Teachers’ Strategies in Establishing Positive Relationships to Enhance Students’ Learning Motivation
Abstract
Learning motivation in Islamic Religious Education is not only influenced by instructional models but also by the quality of teacher–student relationships. However, existing studies in madrasah contexts tend to emphasize quantitative measurement of motivation rather than examining the relational processes underlying its formation. This study aims to analyze teachers’ efforts in building positive relationships and their implications for students’ learning motivation at MTs Negeri 1 Tanjung Jabung Timur. A qualitative descriptive approach was employed, with data collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. The data were analyzed thematically using an interactive model of data reduction, display, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicate that positive relationships are developed through empathetic attitudes, two-way communication, personal approaches, constructive responses to mistakes, and motivational reinforcement. These practices are strengthened by the madrasah ecosystem, including the 5S culture, collective prayer, and leadership support. The study demonstrates that learning motivation functions as a relational construct shaped by supportive pedagogical interactions that fulfill students’ need for relatedness, resulting in psychological comfort, increased self-confidence, active engagement, and learning persistence. The novelty of this research lies in proposing a relational model of learning motivation that integrates pedagogical practices and institutional culture within the framework of Self-Determination Theory. It concludes that teachers’ relational competence plays a strategic role in fostering intrinsic motivation in madrasah education.
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Amerstorfer, C. M., & Münster-kistner, C. F. Von. (2021). Student Perceptions of Academic Engagement and Student-Teacher Relationships in Problem-Based Learning Academic Engagement in Tertiary. Frontiers in Psychology, 12(October), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.713057
Diseth, Å., Kathrine, F., Mathisen, S., & Samdal, O. (2020). A comparison of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation among lower and upper secondary school students. Educational Psychology, 0(0), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443410.2020.1778640
Fadli, R., Hidayati, S., Cholifah, M., Siroj, R. A., & Afgani, M. W. (2023). Validitas dan Reliabilitas pada Penelitian Motivasi Belajar Pendidikan Agama Islam Menggunakan Product Moment. JIIP (Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Pendidikan), 6, 1734–1739. https://doi.org/10.54371/jiip.v6i3.1419
Hagenauer, G., Muehlbacher, F., & Ivanova, M. (2023). “ It ’ s where learning and teaching begins ‒ is this relationship ” insights on the teacher ‑ student relationship at university from the teachers ’ perspective. Higher Education, 819–835. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-022-00867-z
Hidayah, T., Akhiruyanto, A., Yudhistira, D., & Virama, L. O. A. (2025). Cakrawala Pendidikan Teacher interaction enhances engagement and motivation in game- centered basketball learning. Cakrawala Pendidikan, 44(3), 665–672. https://doi.org/10.21831/cp.v44i3.84299
Hidayatul, M., Dafik, Tirta, I. M., Wangguway, Y., & Suni, D. M. O. (2020). The implementation of research based learning and the effect to the student metacognition thinking skills in solving H-irregularity problem The implementation of research based learning and the effect to the student metacognition thinking skills in solvin. Journal of Physics: Conference Series PAPER. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1538/1/012113
Hotimah, Hidayat, S., Lestari, I., Endang, S., Herianto, E., & Sumardi, L. (2024). 5S Culture in Strengthening the Character Education of Students at SD Negeri Manggong Lombok Tengah. International Journal of Education and Digital Learning, 2024(5), 83–88. https://doi.org/10.47353/ijedl.v2i5.151
Khusnul, Z., Febrianisya, M., Rusli, R. K., Adri, H. T., Islamia, T. N., & Lathifah, Z. K. (2025). Educational management perspective on project-based learning in collaborative subjects : Case study of student-centered learning ( SCL ) paradigm in Indonesia. Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences, 46. https://doi.org/10.34044/j.kjss.2025.46.2.13
Košir, K., & Jugović, I. P. (2025). Investigating the Interplay Between Teacher ‐ Student and Peer Relationships in Predicting Academic Engagement in Early Adolescents. Psychology in the Schools, 2608–2619. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.23491
Longakit, J. C., Lobo, J., Gazali, N., Toring-Aque, L., C., M., Sayson, … Celestial, E. F. (2025). The influence of teacher emotional support on academic engagement of university students: Examining the mediating role of academic motivation through the lens of Self-determination theory La. Sportis Scientific Journal of School Sport Physical Education and Psychomotricity, 11, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.17979/sportis.2025.11.2.11328
Mahfud, M., & Riniati, W. O. (2023). Exploring the Role of Teacher-Student Relationships in Academic Achievement : A Qualitative Study in Primary Schools. The Eastasouth Journal of Learning and Educations, 1(02), 76–83. https://doi.org/10.58812/esle.v1i02.111
Marlina, E., Purwaningsih, M., Siagian, A. H. A. M., Hakim, S. Al, & Maryati, I. (2025). Ensuring Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research : The Role of Triangulation Techniques Triangulation in Qualitative Research. In Qualitative Research Methods for Dissertation Research. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-3069-2.ch012
Martinez, B. R., & Wighting, M. (2023). Teacher-Student Relationships : Impact of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. Athens Journal of Education, 10(3), 397–410. https://doi.org/10.30958/aje.10-3-2
Maulidin, Abdullah, N., & Saifuddin. (2025). Strengthening Pedagogical Competence Of Teachers Of Ulumul Qur’an Pidie Jaya Junior High School And Its Implications. Majority Science Journal (MSJ), 3(2), 147–158. https://doi.org/10.61942/msj.v1i1.344
Mayasari, A., Arifudin, O., Herawati, S., Rosanti, A., & Prayogi, R. A. (2024). Optimizing Student Management to Improve Educational Service Quality : A Qualitative Case Study in Integrated Islamic Elementary Schools. EDUKASIA: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Pembelajaran, 5, 799–808. https://doi.org/10.62775/edukasia.v5i2.1965
Natow, R. S. (2019). The use of triangulation in qualitative studies employing elite interviews. Qualitative Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794119830077
Nikmah, K. (2023). Penerapan Metode Pembelajaran Observasi Lapangan Pada Mata Kuliah Studi Arsip Untuk Meningkatkan Kemampuan Berpikir Kritis Mahasiswa. Journal of Social Science and Education, 04(01), 26–33. https://doi.org/10.21154/asanka.v4i1.5912
Niu, S. J., Niemi, H., Yang, J., Wang, J., Wang, H., Li, J., & Liu, F. (2025). From Play to Progress : Student Learning of Social Skills with a Solution-Focused Approach. Education Sciences, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15020218
Republik Indonesia. (2003). Undang-Undang Nomor 20 Tahun 2003 tentang Sistem Pendidikan Nasional. Sekretariat Negara Republik Indonesia.
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2020). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation from a self-determination theory perspective : Definitions , theory , practices , and future directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology, (xxxx), 101860. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2020.101860
Santos, S., Ribeiro, M. C., Ulisses, D. E., Pereira, I. A., Maria, S., & Ferreira, S. (2020). The use of multiple triangulations as a validation strategy in a qualitative study. Asociación Brasileña de Salud Colectiva (Abrasco), 655–664. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232020252.12302018
Sewang, A., & Aswad, M. (2023). The Impact of Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition ( CIRC ) on Student Learning Results. Al-Ishlah: Jurnal Pendidikan, 15, 6446–6456. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v15i4.4591
Sholeh, M. I., Haris, M., ‘Azah, N., Shobirin, M. S., Sahri, Wahruddin, B., … Ali, H. (2024). The Role of Teachers in Increasing Students ’ Learning Motivation in Islamic Religious Education. 21(2). https://doi.org/10.14421/jpai.v21i2.8846
Sumarsono, R. B., Imron, A., Wiyono, B. B., & Arifin, I. (2025). Strengthening Educational Quality through Parental Engagement in Islamic Primary Education : Evidence from a Madrasahh Context. Munaddhomah: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam e-ISSN:, 6(3), 420–433. https://doi.org/10.31538/munaddhomah.v6i3.1919
Wang, F. (2024). The Relationship Between Students and Teachers and its Implications. Journal of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences Volume 29 (2024) PSHE, 29, 390–395. https://doi.org/10.54097/rzvpb402
Widdah, M. El. (2022). Madrasah Management Strategy as the Education Base for Religious Cadre. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 21(11), 227–242. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.21.11.13
Zhang, W., & Hu, J. (2025). The relationship between perceived teacher support and student engagement in Chinese senior high school English classrooms : the mediating role of learning motivation. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1563682
Authors
Chayanti, S., & MY, M. (2026). Teachers’ Strategies in Establishing Positive Relationships to Enhance Students’ Learning Motivation. At- Ta’lim : Jurnal Pendidikan, 12(1), 77–86. https://doi.org/10.55210/attalim.v12i1.2436
Copyright (c) 2026 Sari Chayanti, Mahmud MY
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