I started teaching high school history in 2007, back when “engagement” still meant hoping the overhead projector bulb didn’t burn out mid-lecture. Over 1,700 students later and in the midst of the current student apathy crisis, I’ve learned that student engagement best practices aren’t something you master and file away. They’re something you live, adjust, … Read more
The phrase “classroom management” often makes high school teachers, especially new teachers, cringe, conjuring images of rigid control and constant discipline battles. However, the reality is that effective classroom management is the cornerstone of a positive learning environment where student learning and academic achievement can flourish. High school students are young adults with diverse individual … Read more
Walking into a middle school is like stepping into a whirlwind of energy, growth, and discovery. For students, these years are a profound journey from childhood into young adulthood, a time of exhilarating and often confusing change. For the teachers who guide them, the challenge is both immense and deeply rewarding: how to harness that … Read more
One of the most frequent and pressing questions I hear from educators, from elementary school to higher education institutions, is for strategies for increasing student engagement. We’ve all faced the quiet room, the glazed eyes, and yes, the challenge of that “one kid” who seems impervious to our best efforts. While no method is a … Read more
The 2020-2021 school year irrevocably altered the educational landscape. A primary casualty of this period was the term “blended learning,” which, for many, became synonymous with the stressful, chaotic remote learning plans of pandemic-era school buildings. In countless districts, it described a frantic hybrid environment…some students virtual, others in-person…that led to educator exhaustion and inconsistent … Read more
As a teacher, you know how magical it is when all of a sudden you realize that every student in your classroom is actively participating in the lesson you have crafted. You know that on that day, you won the battle, and the information is sticking as you watch the class engagement all around you. … Read more
Designing effective group learning activities is a delicate balance. It is remarkably easy for these exercises to devolve into a scenario where one team member assumes all the responsibility while another manages to skate by with minimal contribution. This dynamic can undermine the common goal and hinder the development of crucial decision-making skills and creative … Read more
When March 2020 arrived, schools around the world closed their doors. Learning from a computer screen became the sudden norm. Teachers worked hard to provide instruction during a time of great uncertainty. They used digital tools to reach students. This period created a major misunderstanding. Many people called this “virtual learning” or “blended learning.” In … Read more
Have you ever noticed that when something goes wrong, a communication breakdown is often at the root? This underscores why, as educators, it is essential to establish clear, reliable methods for fostering effective classroom communication. Whether between students, colleagues, families, or between teacher and student, good communication in the classroom is foundational to a positive … Read more
What school has looked like has changed substantially over the decades that public education has been in existence. What started as a way to mold citizens into good factory workers is now the gateway to the entrepreneurial systems we are living with today. As society changes, education needs to ebb and flow with the needs … Read more
I’ll be honest with you…when I first heard about student engagement surveys years ago, I rolled my eyes so hard I nearly strained something. Another thing to add to the plate? Another data point to track? I was already drowning in grading, lesson planning, and trying to remember if I’d eaten lunch before my sixth-period … Read more
Creating a dynamic and effective learning environment hinges on a teacher’s ability to foster genuine student engagement. This concept of student engagement is multifaceted, encompassing behavioral engagement (actions and active participation), cognitive engagement (critical thinking and the struggle for a correct answer), and emotional engagement (investment and connection to the subject matter). A well-considered plan … Read more