Strategies For Engaging Students

Engagement strategies in the classroom are key to the functioning and success of your class. Because the class I am observing has many challenges involving learning delays, the teacher must have a variety of methods to actively engage all of her students. During center time the students are divided into groups. Generally speaking the groups consist of the same students, rarely changing. The groups were identified by grouping students with similar strengths, weaknesses, and reading levels. As the students rotate through the centers, they will find some that are independent working centers, but others may be completing the activity together. The rotating through centers allows the students to change activities frequently and to participate in a variety of work that engages all types of learners. A classroom where there isn't engaged learning can be frustrating and discouraging for the teacher and it is less than desirable or productive for the students.

A teacher must be proactive in creating a classroom that has an atmosphere conducive to active engagement. This is where creating an emotionally and intellectually safe classroom are important. Students need to feel safe and comfortable with their learning environment. When they feel safe they are more likely to engage in the learning process. Encouraging students to use positive feedback rather than things like shut up or laughing at another students response will help to create this safe learning environment. Teachers need to be aware of what their students are doing and how they are responding to different learning strategies. They will observe how their students respond and then adapt the environment accordingly. Every class is going to be different and a teacher must be willing to be flexible.