I currently teach 5th grade at Pelican Rapids Elementary School. I am one of three 5th grade teachers at my school. This year I am teaching reading, language arts and math to my homeroom. Science, Social and Writing are taught in 35 minute blocks to each section, I teach the writing portion. This is my third year teaching 5th grade. Before that I was a long term substitute for a year in 5th and also in 3rd grade in addition I worked as a Title 1 teacher for 10 years.
Our school has a total of 477 students, k-6th grade. Out of our 477 students, percent of our students are on “free and reduced lunches.” The student population is broken down as follows: 30.1 percent Hispanic, 2.9 percent Asian/Pacific Islander, 1 percent American Indian/Alaskan Native, 57.5 percent White, not of Hispanic origin, and 8.4 percent Black, not of Hispanic origin. this year we have 70 students in fifth grade.
In my review of literature I will be looking at student engagement articles, which include information on the different types of engagement, the impact of teachers on engagement and what students find most engaging. I chose this topic because I am always trying to come up with new ideas and strategies that will engage my students and improve their academic achievement.
Most educators believe engaging disengaged pupils is one of the biggest challenges facing educators. Between 25% and over 65% of students are considered to be disengaged (Taylor & Parsons, 2011). Since engagement is a predictor of academic achievement it is vital that educators are watching for early identifiers that cause graduation incompletion. Another impact on student engagement is the teacher/student connection. Teachers need to provide not only a high qualit...
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...ork area of student engagement from focusing upon disengaged students, who are not learning, to engaged learners , who are learning. Current work is focusing on revising schools to fit the needs of students instead of attempting to reshape disengaged students back into the fold of learning (Taylor & Parsons, 2011). Balfanz, Herzog, & Mac Iver (2007) state two clear reasons for disengagement in school. The first is grounded in behavioral reactions to the school environment, such as, misbehavior in school or a demonstrated aversion to attending school, and second, academic struggle and failure. The main risk factor depends on when it occurs in their lifetime, for example, “retention in any grade but most importantly in middle school, suspension due to a single behavioral episode, poor final grade, being a special education student, and an English Language learner
Engagement in classroom discussions influences positive engagement in the workplace by allowing the individual to be more social and attentive when put in the environment, and to also makes the environment a great place to work. The first thing everyone learns is listening and acknowledging what you have learned which is used in any setting. Classroom engagement can help develop someone’s communication skills, time management and self awareness. Being in the classroom teaches you how to communicate with people, and speak to people positively. This type of
It is obvious that education, whether classroom instruction or practical drill, advice or entreaty, must ensure that students are positively involved, that they at least listen and pay attention to the words, actions, and the thoughts of their educators, instead of drifting off or doing something else, or simply leaving to try to learn what they need on their own (Prange 74).
...ssional growth.” (Cunningham, 2009). If the research is showing us that students are more motivated and learn best in environments that are rich in autonomy, mastery, and purpose, then I, as a school principal, will need to be an advocate for that to happen in my school. Students who are offered a chance to connect with others in self-directed, meaningful, and rigorous activities are going to be more motivated to be here to learn. Teachers who provide students with this type of learning environment will be more happier and more satisfied, as well. Why? Because it works.
“Motivation is a complex part of human psychology and behavior that influences how individuals choose to invest their time, how much energy they exert in any given task, how they think and feel about the task, and how long they persist at the task” (Urdan & Schoenfelder, 2006). The biggest question educators face in today’s classroom is what motivates a student to do something and why? Virtually all students are motivated in one way or another. Research of student motivation suggests a theory that emphasizes a social-cognitive perspective. The cognition of students regarding academic work are influenced by social factors, such as messages from the teacher about the difficulty of the task, the perceived abilities of classmates, and the information about the importance of learning the material (Urdan & Schoenfelder, 2006). In this paper the focus will primarily be on those elements within the classroom that influence student motivation and engagement.
Hispanics will represent more than one-quarter of school-age children in the United States by 2025. These children are more likely than others to be educationally and economically disadvantaged. Presently, 36 percent of Hispanic students live in families whose income is below the poverty line. As a result, Hispanic students are concentrated in high-poverty, largely racially isolated schools, and they often have limited access to the resources needed for academic success, such as highly qualified teachers, small classes, 21st century technology, and modern school buildings.
6. Knesting, Kimberly. "Students At Risk For School Dropout: Supporting Their Persistence." Preventing School Failure 52.4 (2008): 3-10. ERIC. Web. 30 Aug. 2013.
...her ups, and then once their ideas of education update, so can school systems, then teachers themselves. Maiers “Keys to Student Engagement” shows the raw potential that school systems already have. It also shows that students need the drive and ambition to succeed. Tristan’s article on edutopia provides ideas that are already in motion. His ideas and tips have already started to work in public high school in his community. With the guidance and vision of these three authors public school issues could cease to exist. Even though there’s a lot involved getting administrators (and some teachers) on board, it is possible, and in the near future, a reality.
The desire to learn new things means that both sides, students and teachers, must have an engaged pedagogy. According to hooks, an engaged pedagogy is both sides are willing to learn and grow. Not only the students are empowered and are encourage sharing things about themselves and learning new things but teachers are also meant to do these things (21). This is a barrier because if students and teachers are not willing to learn and grow democratic citizens cannot be created. This is so because people will not be educated of differences and others react and deal with different things in society. This goes along with the importance of self-actualization of teachers in the class...
Wilson, G. (2011, March 1). Parental Engagement- Oxford School Improvement. Retrieved March 20, 2012, from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqxYooapk6k
Many family factors may predispose adolescents to risk classifying themselves into one of those three categories listed above that influence dropping out. Certainly, students who drop out of high school generally come from homes with a weaker educational support system, in which there are low expectations regarding the schooling of their children, a lack of supervision, and a careless parenting style (Strom & Boster, 2007).
Strategies to support inclusive student participation and engagement in learning allow the teacher to help students who struggle to become involved in class and who struggle to engage in the learning material. Finally, organisation of the classroom and providing directions to learners managing challenging behaviour is highly important to create a positive and creative workspace that allows students to want to learn and to reduce bullying in the class.
The causes are almost certainly many and consistent. What seems inescapable is the conclusion that dropping out of school is one of the important factors related to the difficulties of people. The causes of dropping out reveal families in trouble. All too often, families with areas of high pressure are characterized by single parents, lack of parenting skills, and substance abuse. The most common causes of dropping out are money, family, and time management.
These negative effects include cuts in funding for art programs and sports that have little popularity. The reason this is important is due to a students ' ability to create a social structure outside the classroom. Going through high school, counselors always say to participate in school, both in the classroom and out as it will help with the students ' grade. But due to these program cuts, students ' have fewer choices in after-school programs which correlate back to their grade. The reason for this is closely related to why many people exercise to relieve stress. An archive from John Holloway states that when a student does participate more outside of school, their grade point average goes up. Holloway gathered research from other sources stating, "adolescents who participated in structured activities supervised by positive adult role models were more likely to make personal investments in their schooling that might, in turn, motivate them to excel academically" (Holloway par. 9). It gives the students a reason to get up and go
Another major reason that students responded is that they had too much freedom and not enough rules. In other words, they feel that they were able to do whatever they wanted. Therefore, they missed class whenever they pleased because they taught it was not important and that nobody would care. Teachers and school administrators need to be strict regarding to attendance. Students need to see that it is really important to attend school everyday so that they attend in a regular basis. The last major reason that students drop out school is that they fail in school and they give up. According to the report, students said that no one would help them when they were having trouble with something. They did not get any support from most of their teachers so they give up and drop out of school. I think that students who are failing a class are the ones that need more support since they tend to frustrate when they do not understand something. Tutoring sessions and help from the teacher it is very important to help students who are struggling with the material. In this way, students will find the material a little bit