Engaging Students

Indicators

As teachers develop, they may ask, “How do I…” or “Why do I…”:

• Help students to see the connections between what they already know and the subject matter?
• Help students connect classroom learning to their life experiences and cultural understanding?
• Support all students to use first and second language skills to achieve learning goals?
• Open a lesson or unit to capture student attention and interest?
• Build on students’ comments and questions during a lesson to extend their understanding?
• Make “on the spot” changes in my teaching based on students’ interests and questions?

Descriptions

Examples may include, but are not limited to:

• Providing students with multiple ways of interacting with content and ideas through opportunities to see, read, listen, speak, and engage in hands-on experiences
• Using a variety of resources such as primary documents, articles, essays, art, music, drama, etc., when appropriate
• Capitalizing on unplanned events to create learning opportunities that are relevant and timely

Problems of Practice

Challenges with this element frequently include:

• Presenting content as a series of facts and information
• Continuing with the lesson as planned despite limited student responses to questions posed and/or other indications of confusion
• Using one's own preferred teaching and learning style as the dominant mode of instruction
• Addressing diverse learning styles is understood to mean that the teacher is expected to create a different learning experience for each student in the class