Cognitive Student Engagement in 2023

Suzanne RogersBlog, Classroom Management, Lesson Planning, Student Engagement, Teach Happier

TL;DR: Explore the evolution of student engagement in the post-COVID-19 educational landscape. Do this with a focus on aligning education with student needs and passions. Gain insights from John Dewey’s philosophy and John Hattie’s research on empowering students in their learning. Learn strategies to enhance student engagement, including building personal connections, setting high expectations, differentiating grading, and giving students control … Read More

The Heart of Education: Taking Risks

Jennifer WaldvogelBlog, Classroom Management, Differentiation, Innovation, Lesson Planning, Personalized Learning, Reflect Better, Student Engagement, Teach Further, Teach Happier

TL;DR: Taking risks makes teaching more exciting and fulfilling. Start small with change to accomplish more in the long run. Risk-taking is easier for students when we build them a safety net. Failure is natural. Show students it’s okay to fail as long as we try again. Growing up, we’re taught to be careful: to wear helmets and knee pads … Read More

Want a Better Classroom? Get to Know Your Students

Dan ThomasBlog, Student Engagement

TL;DR: Educators face growing challenges engaging a generation with abundant distractions and information. Building meaningful connections with students is essential for their success. Strategies for connecting with students include greeting them warmly, establishing classroom expectations, looking for shared interests, incorporating playfulness, communicating with parents, and attending extracurricular events. Prioritize kindness, respect, and building connections over strict curriculum adherence to foster … Read More

Meaningful Lessons: Scientific Wisdom vs. Scientific Facts

Tim StephensonBlog, Lesson Planning, Reflect Better, Student Engagement

TL;DR: There is a need for more relevant science education in the 21st century. This post emphasizes the importance of teaching wisdom and context alongside facts. Teachers should engage students by making lessons meaningful and applicable. Ok, let’s hit the reset button on my podcast, Science360, for a moment.  Let’s talk about why I bring the type of episodes that … Read More