tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8613905436703209536.comments2011-09-24T07:11:28.169-07:00From the desk of the principalRetired Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12097035207448519581noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8613905436703209536.post-79418944956965847002011-09-24T07:11:28.169-07:002011-09-24T07:11:28.169-07:00We are studying this idea in my online course at P...We are studying this idea in my online course at P2PU: Student Engagement- http://p2pu.org/en/groups/pd-on-p2pu-engaging-students-and-checking-for-understanding/<br /><br />For me, engagement is a VERY big subject area that involves many aspects of teaching and learning. Teaching that I have seen that engages, seems to use a type of chemistry with one or a number of these elements:<br /><br />relationship and rapport<br />relevance, importance, or fun<br />choice<br />novelty<br />participation<br />interaction<br />creativity<br />music, art, physical learning<br />fabulous questioning (especially open-ended)<br />zone of proximal development<br />technology<br />student opinion and argument<br />wonderment/curiosity<br />creation and encouragement of student agency<br />culture-classroom and beyond<br />purpose and meaning<br /><br />:)Great topic<br />BonitaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8613905436703209536.post-36495205731158112692011-09-21T16:31:48.775-07:002011-09-21T16:31:48.775-07:00Lisa I agree. I don't think that you can ever...Lisa I agree. I don't think that you can ever go wrong listening to the kids. I think everyone knows how much I value service learning as method of teaching that is sure to engage all students at a high level. Thanks for your input. Aimee, I call that the Socratic Seminar. What a great way to challenge kids. I love your analogy with the breadcrumbs! Thank you for commenting.Retired Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12097035207448519581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8613905436703209536.post-35680863034318518472011-09-19T09:14:26.618-07:002011-09-19T09:14:26.618-07:00How do I get students to be actively engaged?? I ...How do I get students to be actively engaged?? I don't answer their questions!!!! I know that sounds really strange for a teacher to say. The reality is that students ask teachers for the answers all the time, they don't ask how to go about finding the answer for themselves. So when they ask me questions, I turn it around on them and I keep asking them questions until they discover it on their own. They will eventually realize that they can discover more on their own than simply asking me for the answer... because I won't give it to them.<br /><br />My approach to introducing new material is to (as often as possible)relate the information to something they already know and then start asking open ended questions until I lead them to the new information. I love to lay "a trap" and lead them to it with a trail of breadcrumbs.Aimee Gaylordnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8613905436703209536.post-22532826688493823492011-09-19T05:00:46.324-07:002011-09-19T05:00:46.324-07:00I agree, giving students ownership makes a huge di...I agree, giving students ownership makes a huge difference. A goal of mine is to continue growing in this area. (It's also one of my biggest challenges.) However, I started small, with class meetings. The students gave suggestions and constructive feedback. I listened. I learned it’s worthwhile. Amazingly, many of their suggestions on improving the class and the lessons are in alignment with educational research. <br /><br />Then, I noticed how well they were with finding solutions when I started doing service learning. It was new to me, so we spent time together, moving the projects forward. They felt useful and invested, and, as a result, they tried much harder than I had experienced in the past, even with my best planned lessons. Now, I am convinced that if I want them to be fully engaged, they need to have a voice in what we are doing and how we are going to accomplish it. <br /><br />Another helpful way I have gotten feedback from them is through "Teacher Evaluations," which they complete periodically, throughout the year. While I always get one or two wacky suggestions, I see themes in their responses that show me where and what I need to change. Some of the best changes I’ve made have been a result of their feedback. And, I must say, they love it when I remind them that they, too, teach me how to improve!<br /><br />Lisa BuchmeierAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8613905436703209536.post-77333023719221464632011-09-17T10:40:49.242-07:002011-09-17T10:40:49.242-07:00Wow, thanks guys! Great input. It sounds like yo...Wow, thanks guys! Great input. It sounds like you all agree that taking time to build trusting, caring relationships with students is an important part of having actively engaged learners. Creating activities that are relevant to their lives and having a voice in things that are planned is also important. Val's comment about being the guide reminds me of an analogy I once heard. You are the traffic cop directing the car in traffic, not the motorist driving the car in traffic. Let the students do the driving! Thanks for your comments!Retired Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12097035207448519581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8613905436703209536.post-92095811656621844182011-09-16T19:55:41.268-07:002011-09-16T19:55:41.268-07:00When the students are actively engaged, the teache...When the students are actively engaged, the teacher is guiding the students and not lecturing the students. The teacher might be making important points by paraphrasing the students, but the students are guiding the lesson. Therefore, the teacher is very flexible and takes advantage of the moments.<br /><br />The students will not take the risk to be actively involved if they do not trust the teacher. So I completely agree with the statements earlier in regards to taking time to build the relationship with the students. I start the process to build relationships with my students by making taking time at the beginning of the year to have a conversation with each individual student. I also encourage and offer support to students to participate in sports, clubs and other organizations. By taking an interest in who they are and what is important to them, they tend to be more inclined to trust me to help them learn.Val Adkinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8613905436703209536.post-15826215819397011282011-09-16T07:00:02.437-07:002011-09-16T07:00:02.437-07:00I have had tremendous success when I allow the stu...I have had tremendous success when I allow the students choices. When I have material to cover and it is not necessarily important the order in which it is covered, I give them a choice of what they would like to do next. In the long run it really doesn't matter the order, just that it gets covered.<br /><br />Also, I have the students come up with ways to review the material. For example today, we reviewed all the vocabulary we have learned up to this point. I gave them a challenge to come up with 3 of the most crazy, creative sentences using as much of the vocaulary as they could. They came up with far better sentences than I or any book could have produced. It was often relevant to their lives or shared class experiences or discussions.<br /><br />I regularly ask for feedback on pacing, ideas on lessons and activities we do. I seek their input in how to make something interesting. I tell them they are a part of the class and they actually have a role to play in making the class what it can become, that it isn't all on me. They seem to invest themselves much more.Karen Holtmannhttp://kholtmann-karen.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8613905436703209536.post-90236097106885375052011-09-16T06:56:19.938-07:002011-09-16T06:56:19.938-07:00In order for students to become actively involved ...In order for students to become actively involved in school, they need to be shown the full impact on their lives learning a concept can have. In order for this to happen, the teacher MUST make real connections with between the content and the "real-world". As JP said, you must build a relationship, but not just with the teacher and students, but take it a step further, a strong relationship with concepts and their impact. When that relationship is fostered, an innate desire to learn more happens by design, not happenstance. <br /><br />Josh KrisherJoshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16680596691228111516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8613905436703209536.post-63572955695052554472011-09-13T18:05:48.938-07:002011-09-13T18:05:48.938-07:00Thanks for posting Jeff. I think you are right on...Thanks for posting Jeff. I think you are right on the money. I want to try to create a conscious understanding with my staff of what it means to have their student "actively" engaged in class. What the teacher does has to be different if we want to change what the students do. I'm trying to develop some deliberate acts that teachers can embrace. I hope all is well the STUCO and NASSP. I really enjoyed my time with student activities. It is definitely a career highlight.Retired Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12097035207448519581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8613905436703209536.post-25225268579222697892011-09-12T16:41:25.815-07:002011-09-12T16:41:25.815-07:00An engaging teacher presents challenges, not probl...An engaging teacher presents challenges, not problems; challenges that dare students to use course content and their prior knowledge to solve real world issues, and to use multiple skills and technologies to present measured and measurable outcomes.J. Sherrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01525935082526353568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8613905436703209536.post-66564942754121962612011-09-12T07:53:11.157-07:002011-09-12T07:53:11.157-07:00I agree. Building positive relationships... It...I agree. Building positive relationships... It's not about English, it's about you and me! Thanks for your comments.Retired Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12097035207448519581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8613905436703209536.post-76184996758784310712011-09-12T04:33:50.128-07:002011-09-12T04:33:50.128-07:00Teachers who have actively engaged learners take a...Teachers who have actively engaged learners take a genuine interest in their students and view them as more than a name or letter grade. <br /><br />When my students know that I care about them, they care more about my class.JP Prezzaventohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11964724345612260363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8613905436703209536.post-52428781404622593172011-09-11T16:40:57.748-07:002011-09-11T16:40:57.748-07:00Thanks Justin! I know that you know first hand wh...Thanks Justin! I know that you know first hand what happens in an engaging teachers classroom! I think I am trying to figure out how to bottle up the things you did in class so I can serve it up as needed.Retired Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12097035207448519581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8613905436703209536.post-69662717810664724062011-09-11T16:12:03.355-07:002011-09-11T16:12:03.355-07:00Teachers with actively engaged learners have both ...Teachers with actively engaged learners have both a passion toward their content and a passion toward learning. These teachers are always looking to improve and enhance their craft; they are not afraid of failure, and they believe that in order to do great things in the classroom there needs to be a certain level of risk.<br /><br />These teachers not only expect a lot from themselves, they expect a lot from their colleagues. They are easily inspired, and they are always looking to inspire and motivate others.<br /><br />These teachers realize that relationships are more important than any piece of content or information. They understand that it takes time to develop strong and enduring relationships, but that the time is also well spent.<br /><br />The teachers with engaged learners are able to make school relevant, purposeful and enjoyable. An engaged learner most definitely has an engaged teacher, and engaged teachers will do whatever they can to engage others.<br /><br />An engaged teacher also needs to find their job as more than just a paycheck. They need to be a part of an environment that meets their needs before they are able to meet the needs of their students.Justin Tartehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8613905436703209536.post-6939568788598410412011-09-04T18:21:17.759-07:002011-09-04T18:21:17.759-07:00It's very important that folks who can't a...It's very important that folks who can't afford to go to college to be offered opportunities to enroll in their choice college courses with the help of the government. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.bluegemexplore.com.au/aqtf-avetmiss-compliance" rel="nofollow">AVETMISS</a>Phil Grahm Salthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15261275534038943440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8613905436703209536.post-10510531551548447372011-03-21T19:49:36.923-07:002011-03-21T19:49:36.923-07:00Awesome list of practical ways to teach digital ci...Awesome list of practical ways to teach digital citizenship. Thank you for writing it all down and sharing these tactics. How many of your teachers are teaching these explicitly?Sylviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09589187474768950585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8613905436703209536.post-71804173758119467372011-02-26T15:25:44.144-08:002011-02-26T15:25:44.144-08:00Wow! This fits in quite nicely with some thoughts...Wow! This fits in quite nicely with some thoughts I have been having recently. Students have not seemed engaged and have not been showing learning to the expectations I have had. And this is school wide, not just my classroom. I have begun talking directly with my Jr and Sr highs to find out how education would be different if they had a say in it. I'm collecting some good ideas, ideas that are largely echoed here. I know I've got some work to do, but I'm learning more of how to help my students learn. Thank you!sarcasticnemesishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903732724676814096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8613905436703209536.post-45045554411213920112010-11-23T06:08:55.681-08:002010-11-23T06:08:55.681-08:00Why not return to the Trivium with a modern flair?...Why not return to the Trivium with a modern flair? Our current system of education has obviously failed, for a number of reasons. Clearly the Trivium produces thinkers, even if the method was a bit boring. I'd rather be bored and brilliant than stimulated and dumb.Rbortinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02256763499318244862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8613905436703209536.post-6918737094219631222010-10-05T17:39:04.643-07:002010-10-05T17:39:04.643-07:00Mr. Grimshaw - So when do we get port steaks and c...Mr. Grimshaw - So when do we get port steaks and chips/potatoes at a faculty meeting...? I tend to agree with you on this philosophy...I have mainly used rewards (homework free cards) as a way of reinforcing good behavior. By doing this it is meeting the students half-way, but also requiring them to produce something. Later this year in book club we will be reading "Drive" by Daniel Pink, and this book promotes self-motivation which is possible when three criteria are met: autonomy, mastery, and purpose. Check out this cool RSA:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJcJustin Tartehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8613905436703209536.post-77783145133442563172010-09-30T21:25:28.855-07:002010-09-30T21:25:28.855-07:00I read that and would like to implement a version ...I read that and would like to implement a version of that kind of PD day for our high school. It probably couldn't be completely free formed as we need to balance district demands with building staff wants and needs. Our own flavor is definitely a possibility.Retired Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12097035207448519581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8613905436703209536.post-53316908179808291792010-09-29T18:46:43.936-07:002010-09-29T18:46:43.936-07:00Mr. Grimshaw - I totally agree with using the reso...Mr. Grimshaw - I totally agree with using the resources we have available to us within our own building. We have some tremendous people at SHS who are doing some great things to improve the overall effectiveness of classroom instruction. I know we talked about this principal's PD day, but if you have not yet seen check out the results of his first PD day:<br /> http://burlingtonhigh.blogspot.com/2010/09/professional-development-day-that.htmlJustin Tartehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.com