Embedded Files
Reflecting on Engagement.pdfI want to be actively involved.
I want to be actively involved.
Engagement is evolution’s reward for learning. Engagement can happen through play and laughter, but humans also derive pleasure from active cognitive processes such as creating, problem-solving, reasoning, decision-making, and evaluation.
This Hooray for Monday blog post by Aleta Margolis explores the importance of engagement.
You can fill out the reflection sheet below and be emailed a copy of your responses, or you can download this printable version to write on by hand.
4 Ways to Increase Engagement
4 Ways to Increase Engagement
Take 10 minutes out of class this week to do something engaging with your students - like playing wordle, sharing TV recommendations, or having an impromptu dance party. Notice how you feel and what happens to students' attention after this experience.
Choose a podcast to listen to on the way to work that is on a topic you find fascinating but that has nothing to do with teaching. Notice what happens to your attention when you are listening.
Talk to your students about engagement and ask them to assign three things you've done together over the past several days a score from 0 to 5 (least to most) engaging. See what you learn from the results.
Keep a mental count of how many times you engaged your own curiosity today. If you feel the number is low, what might you do to increase it tomorrow?
In this Washington Post article, Aleta outlines 8 specific things you will see taking place in a classroom where the level of engagement of high:
Independent problem-solving
Students struggling and persevering
Physical movement and serious play
Students imagining creative approaches to challenges
Real-world connections
Wide variety of student work and types of assessment
Student-led discussions
Social-emotional skills and empathy
Page updated
Report abuse