We cannot reach those students whose minds we don’t engage. Who are the students in your classroom or school that remain frequently disengaged? What efforts in your classroom or school are consistently made to engage these learners?
The students I find at the school in which I frequently disengage are the older students. These students are not able to see me often and when they do, I am not a concern because I am not a part of their immediate education. Our school provides time in the morning during breakfast and duties are given in which I have been able to engage with older and younger students than those I teach because I am in the mix of the circulation that takes place during those times. In my classroom, I question my students about their relatives who attend our school to receive another avenue to get to know the students I am not working directly with. I work with many teachers inclusively at least twice a week which lends the opportunity to make my presence known among the peers of the students I teach. I work with the afterschool program, but again I work with the grade in which I teach and do not get much time to work with the students who are older. I think it is important for me to know as many students, both younger and older than the ones I currently instruct, because I could very well have these students as my own one day. Establishing a good rapport will build trust with the students and I can then move onto teaching instead of explaining who I am to the students.
Having a rapport with students is a key ingredient to engaging them in lessons. What do you do when students you are working with are not engaged? What do you do in a co-teaching situation when students do not appear to be involved in the lesson? Lee Ann
ReplyDeleteThe students I find the most difficult are the students who are apathetic to learning. We have students who just don't seem to care about their work. There is no personal pride in their work. I am always trying to encourage them to do their best and take ownership in what they do. Building a relationship with these students is critical in getting them to achieve success. When they see you care about what they do, maybe they will care too. Environmental issues also play a part in the kids who are disengaged in their learning. If education is stressed at home, the students tend to care.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Aleicia that older students can be more difficult to reach than the younger students. When a student does not seem to be involved in the lesson, I try to engage them in conversation, standing by them or adjusting activity to get them actively involved. That may involve partner or group work. Kids get bored so easily that you need to keep them moving to keep their attention. I also like to reward students who are actively engaged. sometimes that encourages others to follow suit.
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ReplyDeleteWe cannot reach those students whose minds we don't engage. Who are the students in your classroom or school that remain frequently disengaged? What efforts in your classroom or school are consistently made to engage these learners?
There are so many students that seemed to be disengaged at school and all for very different reasons. I guess the hardest are the ones that don't seem to care. They don't care what their grades are even when there are consequences at home for their grades. Then there are the ones that nobody seems to care what they are doing in school. I think the key is building a relationship with students . I think between
Bobby and myself we are able to utilize our strengths as a team to build relationships with these students, much as a "father and mother" unit. Just the other day I felt as if both of us had given up on Khalil. Nothing is working with him. I finally made the decision to stop giving up on a 10 year old! Yikes!!!! Even though our conversation gave no aswers as to why he was the way he was, I did see an attempt and even "C' work instead of failing work. Baby steps!
Lee Ann, I do think that co-teaching is the ultimate opportunity for those students who are disengaged to become engaged. There are times when I have worked with students and gotten no where, and then all of a sudden my co-teacher Katie or Carrie was suddenly able to make the connection. The truth is that you have to be willing to say to yourself that it is ok if they don't get it from you! There needs to be no pride, only a willingness to give others opportunity to teach in "your classroom."
ReplyDeleteMichele,
ReplyDeleteI have always felt that the person who learns how to motivate the learned helpless child will create a tell all book and make millions. That is one of the tricks of education. Some students are easier to either build a relationship with or see the importance of their academics, but there are those few who could care less. I think it stems from home. Either pressures in their environment or lack of support stands in the way of the student learning to their fullest potential or just throwing in the towel. One thing I am glad we do not do is give into those students and work them until they are tired of hearing our pleas and do what is required. €€Aleicia
You are all right…it is so hard to fight apathy! However, you never know what comment or activity may spark a student. Last week, an intervention specialist at Timken was talking about how a student, interested in nothing, is now part of the video gaming program (creating video games). He is doing amazing things because the opportunity presented itself. Just like Dennine said, you need to remember to never give up. You may be the only positive aspect of a child’s life! Lee Ann
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