Engagement+Strategies

=**Engagement** =

**//__Introduction__//** Engagement Learning Strategies involves students defining their own learning goals. These Students are problem solvers, and creative thinkers. Engaged learning also means being collaborative and having the skills to work together. It means the student is committed to a task and understands the value of in what he or she is being asked to do, allowing the student to complete the task with enthusiasm and diligence. Also capturing the students attention by using more complex and meaningful learning activities. With this strategy of learning the teacher often takes a step back and the role of "primary" teaching turns to co-learning with the students.

"When kids let their minds drift off they are losing valuable Learning time." ( Tristan De Fondeville ) __//**Learning Styles**//__

There is still much debate over the existence of //learning styles//. It is said that with the combination of audio and visual learning tools a classroom has proven to increase its student engagement. Some examples of these tools are, videos, message boards, and learning games. Group interaction can also be a "tool" used to keep students engaged. These students are looking at different concepts or problems and are learning from all different angles.

It is important that Educators today develop teaching strategies that keep students engaged. Students can easily become bored and disruptive. Active learning allows children to participate in class, allow for new materials to be applied, and allow them to use their critical thinking skills. Here are some different examples of student engagement.
 * Peer Teaching - Students enjoy working in groups and learning from each other. Allow for a task and a solution then present their solution to the class.
 * Incorporating Technology - The use of new technology will engage students and keep then interested in the project they are doing. Use power point presentations instead of just lecturing. Use computer lessons instead of textbooks. Allow the students to conduct research on the internet for a project.
 * Games - Use educational games to enhance your lesson. Use games to test the students knowledge and allow for them to be competitive with their peers.

__//**Examples**//__ This is a great example of using technology to engage your students. A starboard is being used in this classroom..

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//__**Teaching Engagement**__ //

Student engagement happens when a teacher carefully plans a lesson and uses specific strategies. There are four questions developed (Marzano, 2010) for busy teachers to carry out their instruction using student engagement. 1) How do I feel? 2) Am I interested? 3) Is this important? 4) Can I do this? The first question, " How do I feel?" relates to affective learning. This is the relationship a teacher has with her students. This relationship needs to be accepting and supportive. The next question, " Am I interested?" This revolves around classroom activities that need to be intriguing to students.This is where the teacher needs to capture the students attention it and hold onto it. Question three, "Is this important?" One of the most important questions asked. If the students see the classroom goals as being important, they are most likely going to remain engaged. There needs to be a connection between classroom content and personal short and long term goals. The last question, " Can I do this?" The focus in on engagement itself. The students have to use their sense of self-efficiency in the classroom. Using these four questions, teachers need to look for ways to raise the emotional atmosphere of the classroom and grab students attention, and look for ways the students can recognize the importance of the content being taught.

**//__Teachers creating a foundation for Student Engagement__//**

Today Students prior experiences, attitudes, and perceptions make it either more difficult or easier to create a highly engaged classroom. Some may observe a students body language by the way they are sitting or slouched in a chair, or not listening and offering to participate in a classroom discussion, making these students //disengaged//. Educators can examine the characteristics of engaged instruction and can determine the elements behind them. For instance a students background, or the influence of their family and friends. The classroom practices also determine being engaged or not. Teachers today need to make changes to improve student engagement. These changes need to include creating learning relationships, having that ideal classroom environment, maybe introducing rewards or incentives. These students must have the fundamental skills needed to participate in class and do their work. The focus needs to be on active learning strategies in the classroom, more hands-on tasks. With these changes we can get these students more engaged and focused on success.


 * __//Conclusion//__**

Each teacher has a different style of teaching, however, a report from the national survey of student engagement - this provided comparative data on student experiences- found that engagement techniques are on the rise in our classrooms. This suggests that engaged students perform better. Students that are engaged are excited to learn, these students are making a physiological investment in what they are leaning. Therefore these students are going to succeed if they are engaging themselves in their classroom work**.**