I want to start by thanking everyone for getting their 1st quarter grades completed and updated. Even
though grades can at times be a cumbersome job duty for teachers, it’s important to frequently step
back and see how students are progressing. As the semester continues on, this is the time of year when teachers can start to see student engagement decline if they do not make changes to their instructional practices. If students know what the routine is going to be each day, they will start to lose interest which will hurt their chances to master the knowledge and skills expected of them. The following are a few suggestions that might help keep things in your classroom “fresh.” Have students complete quick-writes to promote student reflection and to regain attention after a group activity. Simply ask students to answer a few questions about the activity or lesson. These questions can be as simple as “The most interesting thing about _______ was?” or “The most confusing thing about ________ was?” Another suggestion that will help maintain high levels of student engagement is to vary your checking for understanding techniques. Relying on students to raise their hands to answer is useful but if this is the only method you employ think about mixing it up. One way is to have the students frequently use whiteboards to share their work. This allows students and the teacher to see the work that is completed in the classroom. If you are in the computer lab, try using an online program such as Poll Everywhere or Today’sMeet to engage students in class participation. The most under-estimated strategy to maintain and/or increase student engagement is preparation. It is vitally important that as a teacher, you are prepared each day to provide your students with highest possible quality of instruction and those students are provided a learning opportunity throughout the entire class period. Have a great 3 day weekend and TURN UP THE HEAT!!!!!!!
though grades can at times be a cumbersome job duty for teachers, it’s important to frequently step
back and see how students are progressing. As the semester continues on, this is the time of year when teachers can start to see student engagement decline if they do not make changes to their instructional practices. If students know what the routine is going to be each day, they will start to lose interest which will hurt their chances to master the knowledge and skills expected of them. The following are a few suggestions that might help keep things in your classroom “fresh.” Have students complete quick-writes to promote student reflection and to regain attention after a group activity. Simply ask students to answer a few questions about the activity or lesson. These questions can be as simple as “The most interesting thing about _______ was?” or “The most confusing thing about ________ was?” Another suggestion that will help maintain high levels of student engagement is to vary your checking for understanding techniques. Relying on students to raise their hands to answer is useful but if this is the only method you employ think about mixing it up. One way is to have the students frequently use whiteboards to share their work. This allows students and the teacher to see the work that is completed in the classroom. If you are in the computer lab, try using an online program such as Poll Everywhere or Today’sMeet to engage students in class participation. The most under-estimated strategy to maintain and/or increase student engagement is preparation. It is vitally important that as a teacher, you are prepared each day to provide your students with highest possible quality of instruction and those students are provided a learning opportunity throughout the entire class period. Have a great 3 day weekend and TURN UP THE HEAT!!!!!!!