The article that I read was Ten Steps to Better Student Engagement. I found this article interesting, there was a lot of information that was very familiar and then there was information that made me think and question: How does this information relate to the work that I do in my classroom? The article starts by raising a very valid point and goal I think for most teachers. How can I go home at the end of the day with more energy than what I started with? This really leads into the body of the text and how we can go about achieving active engagement that flows naturally and with student centered learning. The text then goes into the authors tips or ten steps that he thinks will help achieve better student engagement. To answer the question how do these relate to my work and my classroom, I try to frame my room around most of these ideas, such as: Creating an emotionally safe classroom, practicing journal writing to communicate with my students, creating a culture of explanation, self-awareness, making students think and answer, and increasing the quality of work!
How does this deepen your thinking about this domain? Through this article and others, along with the blogs, I think that it really made me think when the aspect of how to cultivate your engagement meter. A teacher that is really in tune with their students is creating an active-learning environment, in which students are on-task, thinking, questioning and answering 100% of the time. So in turn these teachers are able to assess the rate of student engagement more so than on-task behavior. This may take years to develop the skills and tools to create this type of environment, but it really had me thinking about my classroom and how I am positively working towards this type of environment. I think that it takes one step at a time and yes, years of practice. Which could be the frustrating piece to this puzzle. As teachers you want to achieve success here and now. But, I did find that I relate my framework to others who are working towards success in student engagement.
How could this fit into my inquiry plan? I think that this piece will fit nicely into my inquiry plan. I am all about finding out what and how is going to actively engage my students 100% of the time so that I am able to assess the engagement more so than the students ability to maintain being on-task. Of course though high quality lessons and activities that have meaning and purpose to each student no matter what learning style.
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Classroom environment is very important to student learning and engagement. Creating a place where students feel comfortable and challenged is difficult. I agree that it does take years of practice to see what works and what procedures/routines fail. I read the same article and i loved it as well. For me it re-assured and reviewed several basic methods of teaching. I feel that these, even though building blocks, are easily overlooked becuase of stressor teachers feel with state testing. I feel that many teachers, try to teach the test and review and give practice problems for the test. When in truth this is not engaging for our students. I have posted those 10 steps up by my desk so i know to use them on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point on "a teacher that is really in tune with their students is creating an active-learning environment, in which students are on-task, thinking, questioning and answering 100% of the time". I do feel your environment helps lead to active engagement of the students too. Classrooms should feel safe and comfortable for all students. I think about our ELL students as they walk into a classroom full of English speaking students especially the first time in school and leaving their parents. Even though we create a safe environment how do they feel walking in to a classroom where they do not understand us. I know in time they do become comfortable as they learn English but wow that first day must be scary. As hard as you try to create a safe comfortable environment reading this I stopped and thought hmm those students in my class probably did not feel very safe and comfortable the first few days or maybe weeks of school!
ReplyDeleteYour article sounds very interesting with the 10 steps to achieve better student engagement I think I will take a look at it.
How can I go home with more energy!? I want to know!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat grade(s) do you teach? I find that the learning enviornment has so many factors. I had stated in my last blog about age,time of day, day of the week, time of year, weather,what is going on at home etc. I teach 9-12 social studies. I find that at 7:35 am juniors and seniors in an elective that they don't need to graduatesecond semester can be an uninspired group. However,during the last bell of the day for the same elective can be and are completely different.Freshman at the same morning time slot are awake and responsive,seniors not as much. Part of engagment is being able to adapt your methods to that particular class.I read about actively engaging your students in a learning enviornment 100% of time. You have high standards. My number lower. Though, I would love 100%!
Dan - I currently teach 3rd and 4th grades! I am a special education teacher and have three home room classrooms that include students who are on my class list.
ReplyDeleteFunny how many of you stumbled on that article- must be a good one- I should check it out. I think on another blog I suggested an interesting inquiry could be to try to implement the ten suggestions and monitor them and see what works for you. I also wrote to someone about a conversation calendar I use (kind of like journaling but more accessible- I think that might have been Kim's blog). I too like that part about leaving with more energy than I come with. I find that works sometimes but not always- many times it depends on having good activities. this week in my undergrad class I was feeling a bit tired and it is a week before spring break so the students were not totally motivated (echo of what Dan says about first thing in the morning)- I ended up doing an activity with a fish bowl literature circle and they totally got into it- it turned out to be a really great class- go figure--
ReplyDeleteI read the ten suggestions and I found them very interesting as well- I always feel like the activities that you do on a whim are the ones that leave the greatest impact on your students!
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