1. Increasing Student Involvement & Active Participation
Jill Moses
EDU 582

2. Objectives By the end of today’s session, you will be able to:
Describe the benefits of active participation and feedback in the classroom
Identify ways to increase student engagement & build interpersonal skills
Demonstrate examples of positive verbal and non-verbal communication with kids
Plan opportunities for academic communication through formative assessments, goal setting and conferencing

3. Think, Pair & Share How do you know students are learning?
What opportunities have you created for them to communicate their understanding?
In what ways are your students active participants in their own learning process?
How do you create opportunities for open, positive communication (verbal and non-verbal) with your students?
How often are they able to develop and practice interpersonal skills in the classroom?

4. Getting Kids Actively Involved
Benefits of a Student-Centered Classroom
Kids develop ownership over their learning
Increased motivation, participation, and engagement
Opportunities to check in & adjust course
Positive interpersonal relationships among peers & with teacher
Students learn to work with others & communicate effectively

5. The Pitfalls of a Passive Classroom
One-Dimensional Classroom
Teacher lectures, students memorize
Decreased engagement and motivation
Low levels of attention
Basic, surface level understanding &
limited communication
Students feel disconnected & bored

6. Student Conferencing One-on-One Conversations
Opportunity to communicate fully & effectively with each child
Ongoing qualitative data
Positive rapport & trust built
Student can reflect on academic & behavioral progress

7. Tracking Scores & Grades
Show Progress Throughout the Year
Students track their test scores, grades, assignments, etc.
Visual evidence of growth (i.e. bar graph)
Excellent communication tool with parents & during student conferences
Increases student ownership & self efficacy
Opportunity for continued reflection on progress

8. Student Goal Setting Academic Goals
Gives students the power to plan and steer their
own path
Opportunity to practice effective speaking,
academic language & writing
Teaches students real world lessons
Long-term planning
Reflection of strengths and weaknesses
Creating tangible action steps

9. Assessing Formatively
Checks for Understanding
Opportunity for student to reflect on their own comprehension
Concrete evidence of learning
Formative assessments = communication tools
Can be used during conferences
Communicates strengths, weaknesses, and holes in understanding

10. Students Create Their Own Meaning
Increasing Communication Through Collaboration
Create opportunities for kids to build their own unique understanding & work together
Teacher = facilitator
Group work, peer discussions & collaboration
Active involvement  high-level critical thinking and building interpersonal skills

11. Engagement Strategies
QuickWrite
Think/Pair/Share
Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down
Fishbowl
Popsicle Sticks
Cold Call
Jigsaw
4 Corners

12. More Ideas for Active Participation
Stations Around
the Room
Chalkboard Splash
Act It Out
Exit Ticket
Individual
White Boards
Hot Seat
Round Robin

13. Differentiation Identify students’ needs  adjust instruction
Flexible groupings
Give choices in authentic assessments
“How do you want to demonstrate your understanding?”
“What interests and motivates you?”
“Through what channels can you communicate what you’ve learned?”

14. Verbal Communication with Students
Tips to Maintain Positive Daily Interactions
Calm, level tone of voice
Kind encouragement & praise
Purposeful word choice
Ask questions to show interest & build rapport

15. Questioning / Prompting Reflecting / Paraphrasing
Response Styles
Questioning / Prompting
Reflecting / Paraphrasing
Give reassurance, support & encouragement
Listen actively to the student speaking
Ask open-ended questions to open up discussion
Reinforce what he/she is saying with head nods and smiles
Seek to understand & send & receive messages effectively
Restate what you heard them say or can observe

16. Non-Verbal Communication Tips
Sending The Right Message Without Words
Smile!
Open, relaxed body language
Appropriate distance / personal space
Consistent eye contact
Silent signals of encouragement  thumbs up, high five, etc.

17. Technology as a Communication Tool
ClassDojo
App created to communicate student behavior, class rewards and directly message with families
Newsletters
Send news home regularly to share classroom updates
Open up line of communication with students and their families
Class Wikis, Blogs, and apps like Remind101
Digital scores & other data
Share achievements & milestones, demonstrate growth

18. Reflect & Share Engage more fully? Take charge of their own learning?
How can you create opportunities in your own classroom for students to…
Learn to communicate
their needs, strengths,
and weaknesses?
Engage more fully?
Take charge of their
own learning?