Student Engagement Betz Elementary

Small Group Discussion Think of the various professional development trainings you have attended: How would you characterize the instruction? About how much time typically passes before you lose focus, become bored, or struggle to remain seated? What do you do throughout the day to appear to be on-task? Habituation: Habituation occurs when an individual’s response to a stimulus decreases after repeated stimulation. “The longer we talk, the more students we lose”

Cost of Disengagement Students become “listening objects” Teachers find themselves having to repeat themselves Retention of content is limited Drop outs Listening objects: People need to have the opportunity to process, interact, articulate their learning or their questions.

Why Focus on Student Engagement? Strong core curriculum Improving student engagement can be targeted by all teachers Active student engagement: Positively impacts student learning Reduces student misbehavior Creates a more enjoyable and positive learning atmosphere Elevating current teaching “The more educational fun we can introduce into our classrooms, the more students will learn and the fewer opportunities there will be for challenging behavior.” Chris Biffle “Students learn best when they are actively involved in the process. Researchers report that, regardless of the subject matter, students working in small groups tend to learn more of what is taught and retain it longer than when the same content is presented in other instructional formats. Students who work in collaborative groups also appear more satisfied with their classes.

Observe Three Classrooms Compare and contrast the following videos: Focus: Student engagement, feedback, and assessment Classroom #1 Classroom #2 Classroom #3

Small Group Discussion Compare the videos: What are some ways students were engaged in their learning? How was feedback provided to students? How was learning assessed and monitored? Describe the learning environment and climate

Book Study You will either be reading Total Participation Techniques by Himmele & Himmele or The Highly Engaged Classroom by Marzano The Highly Engaged Classroom: Working with Cindy and she will provide you information regarding the book study TPT: You will be expected to read the book independently or with a partner

Book Study (Continued) On November 7th the Betz staff will come together to share ideas on student engagement Identify two engagement strategies that you have implemented in your classroom What suggestions do you have for other staff members? Are there any resources you can share with other teachers?