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Here are 3 steps (out of 10) to better student engagement according to math teacher and mentor Tristan De Frondeville. (His article originally posted on Edutopia: http://www.edutopia.org/project-learning-teaching-strategies.) Create an Emotionally Safe Classroom Students who have been shamed or belittled by the teacher or another student will not effectively engage in challenging tasks. Consider having a rule such as "We do not put others downs, tell others to shut up, or laugh at people." Apply it to yourself as well as your students. This is the foundation of a supportive, collaborative learning environment. To learn and grow, one must take risks, but most people will not take risks in an emotionally unsafe environment. Create a Culture of Explanation Instead of a Culture of the Right Answer You know you have created a rich learning event when all students are engaged in arguing about the best approach to the assignment. When you use questions and problems that allow for m...

Here's some more insight into "flow" and what it means to be in that creative, imaginative place both individually and within a small group. How could making "optimal learning" the priority in classrooms and schools make a difference? The short term effects are evident at the Key Learning Community School in Indianapolis. But, what about long term effects? What about mentoring students through "optimal learning" so that their interests and gifts match a future career? Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Ph.D., a psychologist and author of the book, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, was recently interviewed by Edutopia about "optimal learning experiences," and about the Key Learning Community school. Here is an excerpt: What kinds of school activities are most (or least) likely to promote flow? If you think of where kids have most flow in school, it's mostly in extracurricular activities like band, music, athletics, newspaper. In addition,...

As a very good friend of mine says "good lessons merge meaningful content with engaging lessons." Can you remember a recent time when you were experiencing what Elena Aguilar calls "flow?" -- Working creatively with no concern for time passing? When was the last time we experienced this with our students? Aguilar challenges us to do just that and that doing so would transform our classrooms. What are your ideas about "flow?" Beyond Student Engagement: Achieving a State of Flow 239 Share on email 16 BY  ELENA AGUILAR 3/27/12 A former teacher and instructional coach, Elena Aguilar is now a transformational leadership coach in the Oakland Unified School District . Think about a time when you were really engaged in something, the kind of engagement where you lose track of time and experience feelings of joy and satisfaction. You may have felt acutely focused, physically, mentally, and emotionally absorbed in a task. I've felt this most often while writing,...

One of the latest buzz words in the education arena is "student engagement." Heather Wolpert-Gawron, an 8th grade teacher and a California regional Teacher of the Year, surveyed all 220 of her students and came up with a top ten. Here's what her students had to say about what student engagement means to them: 1. Working with their peers "Middle-school students are growing learners who require and want interaction with other people to fully attain their potential." "Teens find it most interesting and exciting when there is a little bit of talking involved. Discussions help clear the tense atmosphere in a classroom and allow students to participate in their own learning." 2. Working with technology "I believe that when students participate in "learning by doing" it helps them focus more. Technology helps them to do that. Students will always be extremely excited when using technology." "We have entered a digital age of vide...