Needs Self Esteem

Well, if you sure his teacher doesn't like him, you should speak with the Principal or Conselour of the school and talk to him or her about it. Maybe there's another class with a different teacher where he can be switched to. There might be poor chemistry between the teacher and student and that may be the cause of lack of motivation (in my opinion, this shouldn't be a reason for a teacher not to motivate his or her students).

As a teacher, I find it hard to watch a student not live up to his potential. If your son's teacher is not helping to motivate him, you need to step up to the plate. Insist on sitting down with your son every day after school to go over what he learned that day and insist on checking his homework once he finishes it. Encouraging him with kinds words like "great job" and "you're so smart!" are also very helpful. Letting the child feel a sense of achievement when he completes a problem is great motivation to continue working hard. I hope this helps.