STUDENT ENGAGEMENT PART 2 At a recent conference I attended, some of the most popular sessions with standing room only crowds, were those addressing the issue of Student Engagement. Keeping students motivated and engaged throughout the class period is challenging. Today’s students are used to action packed video games, the Read more…
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT What is student engagement? Many teachers, experienced and novice teachers alike, are puzzled by this question. It seems obvious, doesn’t it? Student engagement means that students are “engaged”; that they are active and participating in the lesson. Isn’t that obvious? Or, is it? Student engagement means much more Read more…
PARENT COMMUNICATION Have you made three positive contacts with parents? Parents or caregivers are your greatest advocate. Make the effort to contact the parents or caregiver of your students. Show them that you care about their child and that you have their child’s best interest at heart. When writing a Read more…
GOT STRESS? Are you feeling like you’re on information overload? Attending too many meetings, trainings, etc.? Are you feeling overwhelmed with all that’s on your plate? And, on top of all that, you’re expected to come to school prepared, energetic and ready to teach. Is the reality of teaching anything Read more…
PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE! Effective teachers treat all of their students with dignity and respect and focus on the positive. It’s only human nature to zero in on what’s wrong and to correct our students. We must remember, however, whether through negative behavior or positive behavior, students want your (the teacher’s) Read more…
POINT OUT THE POSITIVE! Want to increase your teaching time and spend less time correcting students? Then, point out the positive! Taking time to develop and practice positive reinforcement will create a culture for learning. When teachers focus on and reward positive behavior, students respond eagerly. Here are some thoughts: Read more…
BRAIN BREAKS Brain breaks have become a recent trend in education. The rationale behind this trend is that the breaks are refreshing to both teachers as well as to students. Some educators say that the efficiency of students goes up when brain breaks are incorporated into the school day. Brain Read more…
ESTABLISHING RULES Many teachers choose to develop classroom rules with their students. Some teachers choose to develop their rules before the school year begins and then explain and teach the rules on the first day. The key is to do what is most comfortable for you. Either way, when discussing Read more…