E NGAGING T EACHERS IN THE L EARNING P ROCESS Back to School – August, 2012 Sue Van Hoozer

E NGAGING T EACHERS = E NGAGED S TUDENTS

D ID Y OU K NOW ? T HE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A STRONG TEACHER AND A WEAK TEACHER LASTS A LIFETIME. Having a good 4 th grade teacher: makes a student 1.25 percent more likely to go to college, makes a student 1.25 percent less likely to get pregnant as a teenager, increases annual earnings by $25,000 as an adult, and this is the effect of only one strong teacher! Conversely, a poor teacher has the same effect as a pupil missing 40 percent of the school year. Study conducted at Harvard & Columbia Universities

R EFLECTION What do I do to engage students in learning? What do I do that causes students to disengage?

“O NE GOOD TEACHER IN A LIFETIME MAY SOMETIMES CHANGE A DELINQUENT INTO A SOLID CITIZEN.” Philip Wylie - American author

I N THE AVERAGE CLASSROOM, WHO TYPICALLY DISENGAGES FIRST – TEACHER OR STUDENT ? Question??

W HAT DOES TEACHER DISENGAGEMENT LOOK LIKE IN THE CLASSROOM ? Absence of teacher in hall or doorway before or after school; during passing periods At desk On cell phone – talking, texting… At computer during class time (excluding taking attendance) Little or no planning evident Utilizing last minutes of each class period for homework or other class work Student misbehavior – sleeping, acting out, failure to turn in work Other?

I S T EACHER E NGAGEMENT AN E XPECTATION IN THE C LASSROOM ? Domain I: Active, Successful Participation in the Learning Process 1.Students are actively engaged in the learning process. 2.Students are successful in learning. Domain II: Learner-Centered Instruction 4.Instructional strategies include motivational techniques to successfully and actively engage students in the learning process.

Domain V: Professional Communication 6.The teacher’s interactions are supportive, courteous, and respectful with students, parents, staff, community members, and other professionals. Domain VII: Compliance with Policies, Operating Procedures and Requirements 3.Apart from classroom responsibilities, the teacher generally contributes to making the whole school safe and orderly, and a stimulating learning environment for all students.

R EFLECTION Who was my most engaging teacher? Who is the most engaging teacher I know now?

A MASTER CAN TELL YOU WHAT HE EXPECTS OF YOU. A TEACHER, THOUGH, AWAKENS YOUR OWN EXPECTATIONS. Patricia Neal – Oscar winning actress

H OW DO I BECOME A MORE ENGAGING TEACHER ? OR H OW DO I HELP MY TEACHERS BECOME MORE ENGAGING ? Question??

D O I: Believe that intelligence is not static and all students can learn and all teachers improve? Have high expectations for myself (and/or my teachers) for continually improving and delivering quality teaching and learning? Demand that I (and/or my teachers) think logically, analyze and compare, and question and evaluate our teaching practices? Utilize research-based instructional practices in my classroom or my school? Contribute to a positive learning community in the classroom and for the campus as a whole?

E NGAGING T EACHERS : T HE R ESEARCH – W HAT W E K NOW

N ATIONAL C OUNCIL FOR S OCIAL S TUDIES Change the environment of the classroom Use culturally relevant instruction Use a variety of lesson formats Use a range of materials in every lesson

N ATIONAL A SSOCIATION OF S ECONDARY S CHOOL P RINCIPALS – L EADING S CHOOLS Communicate explicitly and with clarity Engage students in learning Question, probe, and facilitate discussion Provide feedback to students Use a variety of grouping structures

A SSOCIATION FOR S UPERVISION & C URRICULUM D EVELOPMENT The teacher as a person Classroom management & organization Planning and organizing for instruction Implementing instruction Monitoring student progress & potential Professionalism

“B OREDOM E QUALS M ISBEHAVIOR ” M ICHAEL L INSIN, E DUCATOR & A UTHOR Engage and keep student attention through: Adventure Laughter Challenge Fascination Teaching to the heart

R EFLECTION Based on research, how engaging am I? What will I do to be a more engaging teacher?

“T HERE ARE THREE THINGS TO KNOW WHEN TEACHING : KNOW YOUR STUFF ; KNOW WHOM YOU ARE STUFFING ; AND THEN STUFF THEM ELEGANTLY.” Lola May – former math educator

E NGAGING T EACHERS = E NGAGED S TUDENTS