1. Megan Lotti and Lisa Scott, Rincon Vista Middle School
The Art of Juggling Fire: Engagement Strategies for the Secondary Clasroom
Megan Lotti and Lisa Scott, Rincon Vista Middle School

2. Bell Work
Think about what engagement strategies have worked best for you and which ones do not.
Share with your shoulder partner.

3. Which teacher do you hope you are?
Classroom #1
Classroom #2

4. The Tools You Need Classroom culture to support student engagement
Engagement strategies for the secondary classroom
Higher level questioning techniques

5. “Magic” Foldable
Take the yellow paper and weave the blue pieces into the cut areas.
You can use this foldable to take notes throughout the presentation.

6. Tool 1: Classroom Culture
“We need to eliminate school and classroom cultures based on fear, where students experience threats, embarrassment and/or violence and where learning is secondary to safety,” Barkley said. “However, when students exhibit characteristics of boredom, teachers need to raise the anxiety level by increasing requirements through additional rigor or depth of learning.”
-Steve Barkley
The Sweet Spot of Engagement Boosts Student Learning, Barkleypd.com
Tool 1:
Classroom Culture

7. Comfort Level Where do you think engaged learning happens?
We are shooting for behavioral engagement:
“when students exhibit on-task behaviors, including persistence with challenging tasks, asking questions and requesting help”

8. Classroom Culture
Classroom Norms - how do you want students to interact with one another and with you?
Courteous - please and thank you
Avoid put-downs - “just kidding”
Mutual Respect - listen and be listened to
Feedback - timely and positive
Positive Learning Environment - create a nurturing environment where students aren’t afraid of taking risks.

9. Ideas for Classroom Culture
Get To Know Your Students:
“Family Meeting”
Daily Greeting
Listen to their needs
Questioning:
“Share with your neighbor before sharing with me” -relieves anxiety and builds confidence
“Phone a friend” - allows students to get help without pressure
Prompting - help student get to the answer

10. Tool 2: Engagement Strategies
“Much of your success as an educator has to do with your attitude towards teaching and towards your kids. The rest of your success if based on your willingness to relentlessly search in the classroom and then having the guts to do it.”
-Dave Burgess
“ Teach Like a Pirate”
Tool 2: Engagement Strategies

11. Engagement from Day One
Introduce yourself
Family
Interests
Favorite Things

12. Who is Mrs. Lotti?
My family

13. Engagement from Day One
Have students introduce themselves to you
Who Am I collage or poem, letter, selfie portrait
Give a subject specific assignment
Friendly letter- English
Create a classroom community- Social Studies
Experiment- Science
Survey and Number Graph- Math

14. Setting the Stage
Four Word Build
Carousel

15. Four Word Build On your paper, write four words that answer-
What is engagement?

16. Explaining/Learning
Partner Response
Written Response

17. Checking for Understanding
Whiteboards

18. Checking for Understanding

19. Closure
Purpose: Closure allows students to summarize main ideas, evaluate class processes, answer questions posed at the beginning of the lesson, and link to both the past and the future.
A Great Resource: “40 Ways to Leave a Lesson”

20. Closure Ideas: Exit Pass Quick Write/Doodle Whip Around Ball Pass
3, 2, 1 Statements
Element of Surprise
One Word Summary**

22. Tool 3: Questioning Techniques
“Effective questioning brings insight, which fuels curiosity, which cultivates wisdom.”
-Chip Bell
Tool 3: Questioning Techniques

23. Promoting Learning through Questioning

24. Encouraging Questions
Question Stems
Ask for Clarification- Will you explain that again? I have a question
Disagreeing- I do not agree with you because...
Affirming
Key Point: Don’t stop calling on students just because someone said the right answer!!

25. Elaborate Answers
Holding the Floor- What I was trying to say…., If I could finish my thought...
Expressing Polite Disagreement-My idea is slightly different, I don’t entirely agree
Fat Question- Answer in no less than 15 words, use particular phrases

26. Closure- Outcome Statements
Complete two of the following statements in detail:
I now understand how to…
I can see connections between…
I would like help with...

27. Contact Information
Megan Lotti
Lisa Scott

28. Sources
Active Engagement Strategies for Each Direct Instruction Component
Effective Questioning and Classroom Talk
Student Engagement Strategies for High School Teachers
The Sweet Spot of Engagement
40 Ways to Leave a Lesson