Podcast

I still remember the exact moment I realized how badly I had misread a student’s disengagement. It was my third year in the classroom, and a 10th grader sat in the back row of my World History class, hoodie up, head down, contributing absolutely nothing. I assumed he didn’t care about the material, that he … Read more

I was standing in front of my period-four U.S. History class, midway through the second semester, when I realized not a single student was looking at me. I had a meticulously crafted lesson on muckrakers and trust-busting, complete with primary source photographs and what I thought was a compelling discussion prompt about corporate power. A … Read more

Click above to listen to the Student-Centered World podcast, Episode 17: Student Engagement Strategies. In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, the challenge of fostering student engagement in classrooms—from elementary and middle school through high school and beyond—has become a critical focus for educators. This concern stems from the unique characteristics of Generation Z and Generation … Read more

We currently have Generation Z in our upper classrooms, and this comes with a new set of characteristics that teachers need to understand in order to engage them effectively. But what exactly does it mean to be part of Generation Z? Broadly speaking, this generation consists of those born between the late 1990s and the … Read more

Teaching is a rewarding profession, but it can also be incredibly challenging, especially when faced with reluctant learners. Many educators, particularly secondary teachers with decades of experience or those new to the profession, encounter students who lack motivation. The key to overcoming this challenge lies in understanding and implementing strategies that enhance students’ engagement. Here … Read more

If there’s one question I’ve gotten more now than ever, it’s simply “How do you handle uninterested students?” In today’s classroom, that’s an extremely valid question. Addressing the profound issue of student apathy in our classrooms requires a multifaceted approach, given that this challenge has developed over an extended period. The perception that the COVID-19 … Read more

A student-centered curriculum is built on the belief that students should have both the choice and the responsibility to determine their learning needs and how to address them. This approach encourages students to dive deeper into content, engaging more thoroughly than they would in a traditional teacher-centered model. Enhanced Knowledge and Engagement In a student-centered … Read more

As educators, one of the biggest challenges we face is engaging students effectively in the classroom. The question “What does student engagement look like?” often arises, and the answer can be complex, as it varies across school districts, grade levels, and even individual classrooms. Let’s explore the different ways to understand and foster student engagement, … Read more