Search Results for: classroom management

I started teaching high school history in 2007, back when “engagement measurement” meant scanning the room during a lecture and hoping the kids in the back weren’t passing notes. I taught in two vastly different worlds over my time in the classroom…first at a nationally ranked academic school where students stressed over tenths of a … Read more

Ask any educator what keeps them up at night, and somewhere in the answer, you’ll find the struggle to create meaningful connections. After almost a decade of observing schools across every level, from rural elementary schools to urban community colleges to elite research universities, one pattern emerges clearly: student engagement event ideas aren’t about what … Read more

I started teaching in 2007, right before the slide began in education to **waves hand around** whatever this mess is.  At the time, I was convinced I knew what good teaching looked like. Students would read, we’d discuss, they’d write essays, and I’d grade them. Simple. Predictable. Control. Almost two decades later, I’ve learned that … Read more

I walked into my first classroom in 2007, and if there’s one piece of advice I now give to new teachers during their first week of professional development, it’s this: your classroom walls are not your décor; they are your co-teacher. For a long time, I fell into the trap of treating my bulletin boards … Read more

Though we know our administrators constantly mention its importance, there are often gaping holes in their explanations regarding the importance of child-centered education. There is a multitude of reasons why this teaching methodology is not only important but extremely effective. However, often the importance of child-centered education is overlooked as soon as a teacher tries … Read more

Here’s what I know about student engagement goals after almost 20 years in various classrooms: they’re almost always too small. We set goals like “increase participation” or “get through the curriculum without losing them.” But I’ve watched too many teachers, myself included, confuse compliance with connection. A quiet room isn’t necessarily a learning room. Raised … 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

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

When I first started exploring student engagement tools years ago, I thought the technology itself would solve my problems. Find the right platform, download the right app, and suddenly, students will care. It took failing in front of real classrooms to learn the truth: engagement isn’t about the tool…it’s about what the tool unlocks in … Read more

Click above to listen to Podcast Episode 56: “How to Spot Behavioral Engagement in the Classroom“ Student engagement stands as one of the most critical, yet complex, constructs in the field of education today. It is a multidimensional construct widely recognized as the cornerstone of effective learning and a primary driver of academic success. For … Read more

As another vacation slips away from us, it is hard to realize that we are already at the point to welcome to back to school all our students for another year of learning and fun. I hope all of you had a good, safe summer with plenty of time to relax, enjoy friends and loved … Read more