Sharing Good Practice
Five essential student
engagement tips
By Joe Fatheree
T
here is something truly magical
about a classroom where the
students are actively engaged
in the learning process. There is
a constant flow of energy, as students
work together to solve complex
problems. Classroom environments
like this don’t happen by accident. It
takes a lot of planning and a willingness
to trust the potential your students
have to create a culture that promotes
innovation and creativity.
One of the first thing visitors notice
about my classroom is how engaged
all of my students are from bell to bell.
It takes me approximately 3 weeks at
the start of each school year to create
a culture that empowers my students
with the tools and support they need
to begin their journey. Here are 5
tried and proven tips I have used to
motivate students.
We are in this together
One of the most important lessons that
my students learn is that if it matters to
them it matters to me. Unfortunately,
for many of my students, this will be the
first experience they have with an adult
actually sitting down and listening
to their dreams and aspirations.
Together, we learn to celebrate the
positive and deal with the negative.
This requires that I schedule a regular
time to meet with all of my students
both individually and as a class. I
understand the lure to steer away
from doing this in today’s pressure
packed school calendar. Don’t! Find
something else to cut. Use this time to
create a classroom family. For some of
my students, it’s the only family they
have. One of the major reasons my
students find success is that they know
they are part of a family and together
we will solve whatever problem stands
in our way.
Embrace failure
Don’t let the pressure of high stakes
testing and new evaluation models
scare you into thinking there is no
place for failure in the classroom
setting. Failure is one of the most
important tools in my student’s
toolbox for success. As a class, we
constantly probe and research why
things don’t work. Those efforts pay
big dividends. My students develop
the skills they need to understand
how to solve complex problems, grow
through persistence, and learn how
to handle both success and failure.
Failure is an inherent part of life. Teach
your students how to overcome it.
Make your learning space a
learning space
Ask yourself the following question?
Does your learning space promote
learning? The tables and chairs in my
room are constantly being rearranged
to support the learning of the day. Ask
your students how the room could be
better arranged to support the task at
hand. You may be surprised at some of
the ideas they have.
students and asked what they want
to learn and why? If you want to see
the motivation in your students grow
exponentially find a way to ‘tie in’
something they care about. Likewise,
do you offer your students alternate
ways to share their knowledge on
a specific topic? Some of the best
student work I have seen came in the
form of plays, short films, songs, and
video games they created in order to
showcase the mastery of a skill.
Connect the curriculum to
the real world
Have you ever been asked, “Why do
we need to know this stuff?” Help
your students answer the question by
connecting the curriculum to the real
world. Your assignments will take on a
new purpose that will drive students to
do their best.
Discover their interests
Have you ever sat down with your
Class Time
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