Engaging Students in Learning
Have a meeting with your mentor to discuss your goals.
Morning Meetings-Daily check ins to build meaningful relationships.
Practice a parent conversation with your mentor
Discuss school procedures with your grade level team or mentor.
Discuss with your grade level team or mentor how to collect and analyze data and information about your students.
Ask your mentor to help you create an emergency sub plan or template.
Videos
Edutopia: Student Engagement Resource Roundup: Keeping students captivated and ready to learn is no small task. This list of articles, videos, and other resources offers strategies and advice that can help.
Teaching Channel videos on Engagement 200 videos on engagement.
Teacher Tool Kit: Engaging Techniques for Effective Teaching For every tool you'll find: An explanation of how and when to use it, and a template students can use to implement the tool.
Google Hangouts Video (2:43) from Teaching Channel about using technology to build communication skills.
Using Tech Tools for Formative Assessment Video (2:36) from Teaching Channel about using technology to engage and assess.
Gamification in Education Article from Edutopia with multiple links and a video (1:01:35)
Cooperative Learning Structures A google doc with links to cooperative learning structure videos
Conver-Stations: A Discussion Strategy Video (3:20) from Teaching Channel demonstrating how to Move students during small group discussions to deepen conversations. Applicable for all levels and subjects.
Chat Stations Article with demonstration video (5:32) a great strategy for those times when you haven’t been able to prepare a “real” station.
Using Technology to Build Communication Skills Video (2:43)from Teaching Channel demonstrating using Google Hangouts. Applicable for all levels and subjects.
Pinwheel Discussions Video (7:48) from Teaching Channel demonstrating facilitating effective literary discussions. Secondary.
Encouraging Student Debate Video (3:22) from Teaching Channel demonstrating how to encourage students to share and respond to each other. Applicable for all levels and subjects.
Socratic Seminar Video (7:09) modeling a Socratic Seminar in a high school class.
Fishbowl Youtube video (3:56) explaining how to run a great fishbowl discussion.
Talk Moves in Academic Discussion Video (2:35) from Teaching Channel modeling teaching students to listen to others and respond appropriately. Applicable for all levels and subjects.
Philosophical Chairs Video (6:53) from Teaching Channel from the Reading Like a Historian series about getting kinesthetic learners up and engaged. Upper elementary or secondary.
Participation Protocol for Academic Discussion Video (2:48) from Teaching Channel about encouraging students to actively participate in academic
Blogs and Articles
16 Ideas for Student Projects Using Google Docs, Slides and Forms Article. Google offers some incredibly powerful tools if we know how to use them. New ideas to put into your students hands!
Getting Critical about Critical Thinking Article with suggestions for teaching critical thinking.
12 solid strategies for teaching critical thinking skills Article with techniques for teaching critical thinking in every lesson and subject.
Engaging Critical Thinking Skills with Learners of the Special Populations Article. In this classroom portrait on critical thinking with special populations, the author describes the importance of teaching all students to pose good questions and to learn how to make meaning from complex ideas. Through Socratic dialogue, project-based learning, and other methods designed to engage all students deeply in the learning process, this teacher helps all learners to be engaged
Why are Academic Discussions so Important for our ELLs? Article from Teaching Channel from ELLs and Academic Discussions series; includes How Do We Make Sure Our ELLs are Fully Engaged in and Benefiting from Academic Discussions?
Small Group Discussion Protocols 20 examples of small group discussion activities. Each includes a description, estimate of time, and online equivalent.
Librarian Approved: 30 Ed-Tech Apps to Inspire Creativity and Creation A collection of Apps explained by tech-savvy librarians who have curated a list for educators looking to hone in on just the right tech tool.
12 Ways To Support English Learners in a Mainstream Classroom
Creating a Welcoming Classroom for Special Education Students