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Increasing student engagement

  • 1.  Increasing student engagement

    Posted 01-15-2023 09:37 AM
    I have teachers that are struggling with student engagement (special education preschool) - I have had individual conversations, let them observe in other classrooms, and we've done PLC groups on what student engagement should look like.  It seems there is too much unstructured play time - adults are not interacting/engaging with students to the maximum extent possible - and students struggle with knowing how to play appropriately.

    Any ideas on next steps?  Or an approach I could present at a PLC to help teachers understand how to structure their classrooms to increase student engagement?

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    Amanda Jackson
    Principal
    Studebaker Center
    Niles MI
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  • 2.  RE: Increasing student engagement

    Posted 01-16-2023 07:31 AM
    Hi Amanda,
    I wonder if the teachers are concerned about this or is it something you've observed? If teachers are concerned then deep dive could be in order. As a new teacher at a Reggio Inspired center it took me a while to develop my practice of knowing how and when to jump into the play scenario, scaffold in a relevant moment, and plan for scaffolding and/or facilitated experiences. I knew that uninterrupted play is crucial to healthy brain development, but I didn't feel confident yet inserting myself into the children's world. A textbook that helped me get clear on this, and that I now use in its second edition for the Curriculum in ECE course that I teach is Learning Together with Young Children, by Curtis and Carter. Our director provided a copy to everyone, some floating teacher coverage to do some reading, and we spent professional days discussing what we read and using it to plan curriculum. This was a great fit for me at the time because I wanted to learn these skills. I also had colleagues who had not been looking to develop these skills, but because it was a community approach to learning they moved forward with us. The book explains a Curriculum Framework. There are chapters about how to choose materials, how to plan for children to use active bodies as part of the curriculum, "Bring Yourself to the Teaching and Learning Process", "Dig Deeper to Learn with Children". If your school uses a specific curriculum they even have a chapter "Adapt the Curriculum Framework for Different Settings". 
    Something else that might be helpful is providing some coaches for at least one team or a teacher from each room. That person would not be a supervisor or a teacher on the same team. They would meet with teachers to build a relationship and establish goals, then observe in the classroom and provide feedback according to the goals. At least four months, and ideally nine months, of coaching are necessary to develop a teaching practice in a way that feels supportive to teachers. Teachers get used to being observed, the children get used to another adult in the room and act like themselves again, and most importantly there is time for trust-building. If the supervisor has a great relationship with teachers then it is possible for them to play this role, but it is much more relaxed for teachers when it's not the supervisor. I learned that I needed to be proactively clear with the teachers I supervised when I was wearing a coach hat rather than a supervisor hat because if I didn't specify they assumed it was supervisor.
    If the challenges are from your observation rather than teacher's expression then I recommend being transparent and clear about your vision for the program - not by pointing out what you think is wrong with the teaching, but by finding a pedagogical framework or local examples that are the inspiration and sharing that with the teachers. Also, consider that if they don't think it's a problem, it might not be. In that case they may need help explaining their teaching style and what/how children are learning.
    I hope that's helpful!
    Sincerely,
    Lauren

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    Lauren Stauble
    Consultant/Faculty
    Boston, MA
    feelthinkconnect.com
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  • 3.  RE: Increasing student engagement

    Posted 01-21-2023 07:23 AM
    Thank you for your incredibly insightful response!  You touched on a lot of different perspectives and really gave me a lot to think about.  I ordered the book you recommended and will be reading through that this weekend.  I appreciate your honest and relative feedback!  Thank you!

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    Amanda Jackson
    Principal
    Studebaker Center
    Niles MI
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  • 4.  RE: Increasing student engagement

    Posted 01-16-2023 09:07 AM
    This is an important question that is not unique to your program. Universal Design for Learning approach can provide useful answers to your question. Sometimes it helps for teachers to get some new ideas outside of their school community to get a fresh perspective. UDL provides specific steps to reach individual children and encourage their learning and expressions of learning.  Two NAEYC authors have provided lots of strategies and resources in their new book, Universal Design for Learning in the Early Childhood Classroom, 2nd edition. This book also contains questions and information for self-reflection and group discussions.

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    Karen Nemeth
    Author/consultant/keynotes
    Language Castle LLC
    Allentown PA
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  • 5.  RE: Increasing student engagement

    Posted 01-21-2023 07:24 AM
    Thanks for making me feel like I'm not alone!  :)

    I got the book you recommended and will be working through that.

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    Amanda Jackson
    Principal
    Studebaker Center
    Niles MI
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  • 6.  RE: Increasing student engagement

    Posted 01-16-2023 10:45 AM
    Greetings Amanda - 

    When you say the teachers are not engaging with the students and playtime becomes and unstructured --- are the teachers scared? Are they fearful of being close to their students?  I'm wondering if this why they don't engage - but then are they engaging during class time.  

    Perhaps an old-school playtime starting process could be:
    Follow the teacher in a wide circle as she/he makes train or song sounds.
    The teacher can set how wide their circle is to create distance between students.
    The circle can become a parameter and useful instruction of next steps with "Simon Says/Teacher Says" okay - this is how we play, then lead them one at a time through next steps moving in and out of the line.

    I realize this seems...to simple - but they can't do what they don't know and have never seen.
    Once this method is developed teachers can expand.
    CM  


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    M. McKenzie
    President
    Focused Intent Foundation
    Dearborn MI
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  • 7.  RE: Increasing student engagement

    Posted 01-21-2023 07:25 AM
    Thanks for your thoughts!

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    Amanda Jackson
    Principal
    Studebaker Center
    Niles MI
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  • 8.  RE: Increasing student engagement

    Posted 01-16-2023 01:31 PM
    Hi Amanda,

    Young children learn through play however to address learning outcomes and IEP goals that play needs to be facilitated by a skilled interventionist (ECSE teacher or paraprofessional).   Your observation that children who have disabilities may not know how to play is spot-on, which is why it is extra important for the adults to learn strategies and skills to engage the children and maintain their engagement. 
    There is an approach to ECSE known as Activity Based Intervention which is how I train  my ECSE candidates . The emphasis is on embedding individual child goals into planned, routine and child initiated activities. 
    I hope this information is helpful and feel free to reach out with questions.



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    Suzanne Yockelson
    Associate Professor
    University of Massachusetts Global

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  • 9.  RE: Increasing student engagement

    Posted 01-21-2023 07:26 AM
    Great recommendations!  This nails on exactly what I'm envisioning that I'd like to see in all of our classrooms - I have plans to share this with teachers as well.  Thank you!

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    Amanda Jackson
    Principal
    Studebaker Center
    Niles MI
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  • 10.  RE: Increasing student engagement

    Posted 01-16-2023 01:57 PM
    I suggest reading Chapter 5 in the 4th edition of Developmentally Appropriate Practice. Chapter 5: The Power of Playful Learning in the Early Childhood Setting.

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    Cathy McAuliffe, PhD
    *Children's Coalition of Aransas County Executive Board Vice-President
    *Coast Bend Chapter of TXAEYC Leader
    *NorthWest Arkansas Community College Adjunct Professor
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  • 11.  RE: Increasing student engagement

    Posted 01-21-2023 07:29 AM
    Thank you for your response.  I got the book and will be reviewing chapter 5.

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    Amanda Jackson
    Principal
    Studebaker Center
    Niles MI
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: Increasing student engagement

    Posted 01-17-2023 11:42 AM
    I know coaching has worked well for us. With teachers permission you can tape a segment in class and have them watch it and then ask what could you try or do differently. Sometimes actually seeing themselves helps them come up with new ideas.

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    Elisa Schleig
    Education Manager
    SCCAA Head Start
    Massillon OH
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  • 13.  RE: Increasing student engagement

    Posted 01-17-2023 12:02 PM
    Elisa,
    I remember the first video I saw of myself teaching - it was both terrifying and enlightening! It was so clear what I wanted to work on after that. For this reason I assign my practicum students to record themselves teaching each semester, watch it three times, and then write a journal reflection. It's so easy to be hypercritical with self-evaluation so I have them start with their strengths. Here are the journal prompts:
    • If someone is about to watch the video of you teaching what is important for them to know ahead of time? 
    • What did you see yourself doing that are you most proud of? What skills were involved? What aspects of your personality?
    • What did you see yourself doing that inspired you to make a change or learn more about? Explain what you will change or take steps to learn more about.
    • What was it like to see a video of yourself? How has this looking at a video of yourself in the classroom and reflecting about it impacted your teaching?
    These questions might work in this circumstance, especially if teachers are primed before video recording day with an article, example of teaching, or other resource that illustrates the style of education that the school/center uses or wants to use. Peer observation can also be helpful after a resource is shared. Here's a peer observation tool that my students use to observe each other that a colleague of mine designed, called Observing Your Teammates
    Sincerely,
    Lauren

    ------------------------------
    Lauren Stauble
    Consultant/Faculty
    Boston, MA
    feelthinkconnect.com
    ------------------------------



  • 14.  RE: Increasing student engagement

    Posted 01-21-2023 07:36 AM
    This is all fabulous information.  I can't thank you enough for your insight and replies!  Thank you!!

    I also remember seeing a video tape of some of my teachings, and you're right, it is very eye opening.  Thanks for sharing that form.  That is a great guided reflection sheet for observing.  I also love the idea you mentioned of peer or coach or mentor time and work together.  I think it does help to achieve the goals and outcomes while eliminating some of the stress if a supervisor was the one in there trying to coach - just gives a different kind of outlet to serve the same purpose.

    You have definitely given me a direction on where to go from here!  Thank you!

    ------------------------------
    Amanda Jackson
    Principal
    Studebaker Center
    Niles MI
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  • 15.  RE: Increasing student engagement

    Posted 01-21-2023 07:37 AM
    Great idea!  I completely agree!

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    Amanda Jackson
    Principal
    Studebaker Center
    Niles MI
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  • 16.  RE: Increasing student engagement

    Posted 01-17-2023 12:36 PM
    If you have a budget for buying books (you would only need one to go through and share ideas from them), I highly recommend Play: the Pathway form Theory to Practice (Heidemann and Hewitt) https://www.redleafpress.org/Play-The-Pathway-from-Theory-to-Practice-P2375.aspx with some very practical tools (and not too costly at $30) and the companion workbook When Play Isn't Easy: Helping Children Enter and Sustain Play (414.95) https://www.redleafpress.org/When-Play-Isnt-Easy-Helping-Children-Enter-and-Sustain-Play-P1068.aspx

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    Beth Menninga
    St. Paul, MN
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  • 17.  RE: Increasing student engagement

    Posted 01-21-2023 07:19 AM
    Thank you for the book recommendations.  I will check them out!

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    Amanda Jackson
    Principal
    Studebaker Center
    Niles MI
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