7 proven strategies that WILL help you engage your students...

1.  Don't just care...really care!

It is so easy to get wrapped up in our own little worlds, but we have got to remember that whatever is going on in our world, is 100 times simpler and less complicated than that of our students.  If a student is having a bad day, or if a student is having a great day, give them the opportunity to tell you about it.  Be interested and actually listen to their stories, because if you can show the students you care, they will trust you, and when they trust you, magical things can happen in an educational setting.  Take an interest in their music, their hobbies, their triumphs and struggles, and use that information to help them.  IF THE STUDENTS DON'T THINK YOU CARE, YOU WILL NEVER MAKE A MEANINGFUL CONNECTION WITH THEM!!

2.  Speak to every student at least once every class period - the more the better!

Try very hard to make sure this is common practice in your classroom.  Even if it is a simple "hello" or "how are you doing?" it can mean a ton to the student.  Additionally, making that early connection in the class period allows that student to feel more comfortable, which as we all know, students must be comfortable for learning to take place.  STUDENTS DON'T LEARN WHEN THEY ARE STRESSED AND UNCOMFORTABLE!!

3.  Meet your students where they are; not where they are supposed to be, or where you want them to be...

This strategy can be really difficult, but if you can master it, it can pay huge dividends in the long run.  Every year you start with new students, with different ability levels, different learning styles, and different attitudes toward education.  We have to meet each student on their level.  Their level means their ability, their learning style, and their attitude toward education.  If we treat every student the same, we CANNOT expect the same results!  Just as a doctor evaluates all of a patient's symptoms and treats the patient accordingly, we must evaluate each student and approach the learning process in a manner which is best suited for that individual student.  FORGET ABOUT USING ONE STRATEGY TO TEACH ALL OF YOUR STUDENTS!!

4.  Have high expectations, and expect the best from every single student every single day!

This is probably one of the toughest in terms of increasing student engagement.  I have found that when you push the students and they know you are pushing them, they engage themselves and respond at a much higher level than if you were giving them review work over and over.  Human nature is to enjoy a challenge and a task that requires more than the minimum.  If your students are disengaged and non-attentive, perhaps they are bored, and they need a challenge to get them going.  Let your students know you have high expectations for yourself, and consequently you expect the best from them too.  NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A CHALLENGE WHEN IT COMES TO STUDENT ENGAGEMENT!! 

5.  Do whatever it takes to get your students out of their desks, and give them every opportunity to be actively moving ! 

Organized chaos is how we should describe our classrooms.  Students need to move, and sitting for 7 hours a day is frankly torture.  Would you want to sit for 7 hours a day and listen to people talk at you...no, I think not.  Try to get your students up and moving every single day.  I am talking about relay races, group work, activities that require building things with their hands, an activity where unused fly swatters are used, and lastly skits and reenactments that make everybody laugh.  THE HUMAN BODY WAS NOT DESIGNED TO SIT ALL DAY!!  

6.  Focus on the three R's - rigor, relationships, and relevance... 

I already talked about rigor (4) and relationships (1), but I wanted to keep all three Rs together.  If the students see no relevance and value in education, then how can we expect them to learn?  We have got to make sure what they are doing in school is practical and relevant, because if we don't we have no shot at engaging them.  Show students the connections to what they are learning and the world in which they live.  Also, use resources to make what they are learning applicable in their current lives, and show them ways to use what they've learned in class.  IF THEY SEE NO VALUE, THEY WILL NEVER BE TRULY ENGAGED!!     

7.  Most importantly...give your students a voice and involve them in the educational process!

Unfortunately, this is one of the most difficult things to do in an educational setting, and because it is one of the most difficult, it is one of the most important.  The students know how they learn, they know what they like and dislike, and they hold the key to getting them interested and engaged.  Every day is an opportunity to learn from your students how to do your job more effectively and efficiently.  Students are a free resource that most educators ignore.  Include them in making assignments, teaching lessons, designing rubrics and designing assessments.  What do you have to lose?  They will provide you with a wealth of knowledge, and most importantly, they will be engaged because they are a part of the process.  They now have a voice in how they are educated, as well as how they are assessed...STUDENT INVOLVEMENT = AWESOME!!

Please respond with any additional strategies you use to engage your students.  I would love to add to this list and compile a much larger list to use with new and experienced teachers, as well as teacher growth and development programs.  Thank you in advance for your help!

Increasing student engagement

If you've worked in education for more than 5 minutes, you've probably had a conversation about ways and strategies to increase student engagement. For the record, I applaud all efforts and all initiatives that assist our schools in becoming more engaging. I think it's also safe to say that increases in student engagement are directly related to a more relevant and more purposeful learning environment for our students.

Perhaps I'm wrong and totally going in the wrong direction here, but I feel we aren't making nearly as much progress as we could be...

What I mean by this is that I think we have too many varying definitions of what 'engagement' actually looks like. I also think we are too varied in our beliefs about what 'relevant' and 'purposeful' really mean in the classroom setting.

via +John Spencer (@edrethink)

I have no doubt that educators are all committed to doing what's best for our students. My only concern is that since we all have varying and different definitions of what engaging, purposeful, and relevant mean, we are having difficulty moving forward with these initiatives and at times are spinning our wheels.

Now, one of the beauties of education is all the varying backgrounds and experiences that educators have that ultimately enrich and strengthen learning opportunities for students. We all bring a certain 'flavor' to the classroom and it's because of that unique flavor and perspective, we avoid possibly being replaced by robots!

So, when we sit down to talk about increasing student engagement, when we talk about making education more purposeful, and when we talk about making education more relevant, we first need to discuss what we as educators mean by engagement, purpose, and relevance.

We need to actually describe what we believe student engagement looks like in a classroom. We need to agree upon what a purposeful education actually means for students in the 21st century. Lastly, we need to come to some kind of a consensus of what is relevant for our students when it comes to preparing them for a successful life.

So, before we talk about strategies to increase engagement, strategies to make education more purposeful, and strategies to make education more relevant, we all need to agree upon what we believe they mean and what we believe they will ultimately look like.

Agree upon a mutual meaning and definition and then begin the strategies discussion... if we don't all agree upon a meaning, then the strategies aren't going to have much meaning and they will have a very inconsistent impact on student engagement.

  

My thoughts on homework...

I recently wrote a blog post titled "5 conversations to improve your school right now!" The 5 topics I recommend each school to discuss are:

1) - Homework in schools
2) - Cell phones and technology in schools
3) - School public relations
4) - Teacher and administrator relationships
5) - Meetings

http://goo.gl/PhCqr

John Spencer (@johntspencer) is an Educator I have a lot of respect for, and after reading my post he challenged me to share what I really believe about homework. I have some very strong feelings about homework, and I honestly believe each and every school should take the time to evaluate their homework policy, as well as the way students are assessed. Here are my thoughts:

- More times than not homework adds little value when it comes to student learning...

- There is pressure from society to continue giving homework because that is the way it has always been done...

- Assigned homework rarely has any true relevancy or purpose for students, thus completion rates are negatively affected...

- When a student receives a zero for not completing homework, he/she is NOT learning about responsibility and "the real world."

- Grading homework on completion typically inflates grades and ultimately distorts overall content mastery...

- Homework should be an extension of the learning environment that provides students the opportunity to explore and discover...

- Homework can be a valuable tool in schools, but I believe too often homework is misused and ultimately detracts from the learning environment.

- More homework does NOT equal more learning...

- Students should not spend all night every night doing homework... I don't know many Educators who work 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.... why should students be subjected to that...?

- The natural love and curiosity of learning are destroyed by too much irrelevant and unproductive homework...

- A school without homework and grades would be a school where student learning and success increased...

- Not enough Educators are having this difficult conversation about the role of homework in schools...

What are your thoughts...? Let's keep this conversation going in an effort to move the homework discussion forward.

Building relationships is all that matters...10 effective strategies

1 - Listen to what others are saying...
Being able to speak is important...being able to listen is more important.  If you can truly listen to what others are saying, you will be able to establish an unlimited amount of strong and long lasting relationships.  Your ability or inability to listen, will most definitely affect the success, and the number of relationships you will have in life.     

2 - Watch what others are doing...
We have all heard "actions speak louder than words," and when establishing relationships with others it is crucial we are aware of what others are doing.  If you find yourself in a relationship and you have no idea where it is headed, it is time to take a step back and visually observe the direction in which it is headed.  Your eyes can provide you a great insight into the strength and longevity of your relationships. 

3 - Embrace the opinions and beliefs of others...
This strategy can be extremely difficult at times, however the importance of embracing the opinions and beliefs of others can be the determining factor of whether a relationship survives or not.  You might not always agree with somebody with whom you have a relationship, but you should respect their beliefs and opinions, and unequivocally expect the same in return.  A relationship where differences in beliefs and opinions are not allowed to have a negative effect on the overall relationship has the ability to be strong and enduring.

4 - Put yourself in their shoes...
Before passing judgment or placing blame, please put yourself in the shoes of another.  If you can utilize this strategy to understand something before reaching a conclusion, you will be much more likely to be accurate in your assumptions, as well as avoid potential irreversible damages to your relationships.  Your compassion and understanding will always trump assumptions and judgments...even if they prove to be accurate. 

5 - Share the successes and failures of others...
Relationships are all about teams and groups and working together.  As such, you should share in the successes and failures of your relationships.  When you celebrate and console the people in your relationships, you gain a deeper appreciation and understanding into what makes your relationships tick.  Relationships will also inherently grow stronger with every success and failure; if and only if you shoulder the successes and failures together.

6 - By giving you gain...
Every time you give in a relationship you are strengthening your bond.  Once a relationship has been established, it must continue to grow, or it will eventually dissolve.  One of the best ways to continue to grow a relationship...is to give.  The more you give and sacrifice in a relationship, the more you will ultimately get in return.  The beauty of having strong and stable relationships is that when you give and sacrifice, you are really not sacrificing because the value of the relationship greatly out weights any amount of sacrifice. 

7 - Respect the desires and needs of others...
One of the most important pieces to any strong relationship is your ability to add and bring value to the relationship.  In order for you to be able to add and bring value, you need to acknowledge and respect the goals and desires of others.  Once you become a contributing piece to the goals and needs of others, your relationships will only be stronger and more plentiful.

8 - Be positive, optimistic, and give others the benefit of the doubt...
I believe human nature is to be positive and optimistic.  As such, it is only fitting that we give others the benefit of the doubt.  You should trust the people with whom you work, live and coexist.  If as humans, we are unable to be positive and optimistic toward the people with whom we surround ourselves, then we have very little chance of establishing strong and beneficial relationships.  Your optimism and trust will undoubtedly be returned to you when you least expect it, and when you most need it...

9 - No matter what...be thankful and praise the helping hand of others...
There is nothing more powerful than a simple "thank you," or "I really appreciate your help."  More times than we realize, we are using and asking for the help of others.  No matter how small or how trivial the help or advice may be, it is crucial that you express your gratitude and thankfulness for the help of others.  Think how good it felt the last time somebody thanked you or recognized you for your help...try to replicate this feeling for others as much as possible.    

10 - Remember...the most important relationship is with yourself...
Lastly, many people view a relationship as a one sided entity.  As with many things in life, there are fortunately two sides to every relationship.  For you to have the best, strongest, and longest lasting relationships, you must recognize your own impact on the overall relationship.  If you have not established a strong working relationship with yourself, then it is going to be extremely difficult to connect with others in a productive and useful way.  You must build a strong and solid foundation with yourself before you can get the most out your relationships.    

I hope this list is helpful as you continue to establish and build relationships.  "Winning with People," by John Maxwell, is a book we read last year in book club.  This is a fabulous book about relationships and how to effectively manage the many intricacies of relationships.  If you have any additional strategies to help others to establish and build relationships please leave a comment.  Thank you.

It all starts with you...

On any given day, educators experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.  How an educator reacts and responds to these highs and lows can often dictate the overall mood of the day.  In my short 6 years as an educator, I have learned several things as it pertains to remaining positive, as well as keeping things in perspective when it comes to my professional and personal life.  Educators have an extremely difficult and mentally draining job, but yet at the same time, educators also have one of the most rewarding jobs.  The most difficult and rewarding jobs require a certain kind of mental strength and stamina...the strength and stamina to look in the mirror, and take control of the power...

Something most educators fail to realize is that they have the power and the control to dictate how well, or not well a day goes.  Sure, of course, we all have days that are better than others, but we are ultimately in control of whether we have good or bad days.  We have all done it, and we are all guilty of letting somebody or something take control of our day.  When we allow others to control the outcome of our life, we are relinquishing control of our very existence.  I have made this mistake many times before.  It is my new goal to take the power back, and regain control of my life.  The best thing about taking control of one's life, is the fact that when you take control of your life, you give somebody else the opportunity to take control of their life.  Empower others by empowering yourself...perhaps the most underrated and underutilized method to professional and personal growth. 

Reflect on your existence, and evaluate how you approach both your professional and personal life.  Do you believe in yourself?  Does your happiness and positivity rely on the actions of others?  Do you feel proud of your accomplishments and doings?  Can you walk with your head held high?  Do you feel in control of your life?

Take this opportunity to look in the mirror and realize the potential and power of you.  Do not fear the power you possess.  This power gives you the ability to control your life and the outcomes of your experiences.  Be positive and give yourself the benefit of the doubt.  Work hard, prepare, encourage, and motivate yourself to take responsibility of controlling your life.  Oh, and if you are looking for people with whom to surround yourself...seek out those who believe in themselves, and in due time you will see they not only believe in themselves, they believe in you too.  When one believer believes in another, the ripple effect is inevitable...Are you ready to make the first wave...?

Finding...and taking the road less traveled

I was inspired to write this post after speaking with a friend and colleague. Over the course of a lifetime and career we all experience the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows. So much of what we do in our lives comes back to our goals, expectations, hopes and dreams. The biggest difference between those who accomplish their goals and those who do not...are the paths they choose while developing their vision.

As humans we all crave and need a certain kind of energy that fuels us toward our next task. I have no doubt that most humans have goals and dreams, what I am concerned with is their fortitude and their level of persistence to allow these dreams to come to fruition. For every goal and dream their is a path, and the larger the goal and dream the more difficult and complex the path. The most difficult part of any journey is making sure we have the perseverance, dedication, and focus to see the journey through...

Just like many things in life, it sounds pretty simple...but I can assure you, it is easier said than done. How can we make sure we have the required perseverance, dedication, and focus to reach our goals and dreams?  Through my own experiences and by talking with others I have come to the conclusion that it requires a vision. Each person must develop and refine his/her own vision, and if one is growing and developing, the vision will be in a constant state of flux and change. Since the vision will always be in a constant state of change, it continually provides us the needed fuel and drive to push on toward our goals and dreams. It is because of this pattern of growth and change that we are able to maintain a certain level of focus to keep us on target.

For me, I have concentrated on developing my philosophies of education (yes plural). While doing this I have constantly found myself searching and reaching into areas unknown to me. This has fueled my curiosity and dedication to improving as an educator, while giving me the opportunity to share and collaborate, thus refining my instructional leadership skills. By working to improve, refine, develop, share, and strengthen my vision, I have enabled myself to maintain the level of energy required to accomplish some of my initial goals and dreams. It is a long journey, however with a vision and the desire to grow alongside your vision, you too, can travel the road less traveled toward your goals and dreams. The road less traveled is not less traveled because people choose not to take it; it is less traveled because most people never reach it...

** Develop a vision...and go where others were unable **

Why YOU matter much more than you think...

Educators are constantly using their energy and resources on others.  Their students are their number one priority, and consequently educators are always filling the buckets of others.  Educators dedicate their lives to the development and growth of others...but wait, who fills the buckets of educators?  Who is there to tell the educators they are doing a great job, and if they need anything somebody will always be there to help?  That is where I come in...I want to remind all educators how important they are, and why what they do is so much more important than they might think.
 
- You are a role model... Educators spend 7 hours a day being a role model by exhibiting a professional demeanor that oozes responsibility and accountability.  Always acting ethically and morally, educators by default have a huge impact on student character and development.  Everything we do throughout the course of the day is under the microscope, and because of that we have the power to be a positive, influential and everlasting role model impacting the lives of children...

- You are a leader... Educators very rarely see themselves as leaders, but I can not think of many other professions that put somebody in a leadership position on a daily basis with such a large diverse group of people.  The 100 or more students you see every day are looking for a leader, and every day you have the opportunity to be that leader for them...

- You teach organizational skills... Educators teach students to be prepared for class, to take responsibility for turning in assignments, and to complete an assortment of tasks.  As a result, educators are constantly teaching students about organization.  Organizational skills are perhaps one of the most important skills we help students develop...

- You can ruin their day, or make their day... By your positive attitude and by caring you hold the key to making a student's day a good day, or a bad day.  There are so many things that happen during the course of the school day, but by being respectful and caring you can help make every day a good day...

- You spend more time with them than some parents... This is another part of education most educators don't realize.  Because of sports and jobs there are students who spend very little time with their parents during the week, consequently we have a much greater influence and impact on our students than we think.  Be aware of this, and use it to your advantage to provide the necessary structure in life that a student needs...

- You help them understand who they are... Over the course of a school year educators and students experience a lot of different situations.  Every situation in which a student is involved, helps to shape his/her understanding of his/herself.  By being an educator and by being a part of that experience, we naturally play an important role in helping students understand who they are...

- You can motivate and inspire, or deflate and discourage... Your passion and love for education can ignite a fire in your students.  In contrast, your lack of passion and boredom toward education can extinguish any fire way before you even have a chance to motivate or inspire your students.  I am an educator because of my former German teacher, Matt Maier.  Inspiring and motivating is something you do, just by doing your job...    

- You don't just teach them, you educate them... Teaching is one thing, educating is something completely different.  Anybody can teach somebody something, but it takes a special person to educate somebody. Teaching is temporary and contained, while educating is forever and limitless.  You have the ability and power to not just teach your students, but rather educate your students and prepare them to be self-sufficient, responsible, lifelong learners who were impacted and influenced by YOU!!

Do you recognize the many pieces to the puzzle?

Over the last several weeks I have had the opportunity to speak with several different people who are the leaders/coordinators/directors/supervisors in their respective departments within my school district.  This opportunity has given me a new found appreciation for the many intricacies of a large suburban school district.  
As a current classroom teacher I plan my lessons, go to school, teach students, grade assignments and do it all over again.  Unfortunately, many educators including myself, take for granted the many things that need to happen before we can truly do our jobs. 

Before I even wake up on a given morning: there are people working to make sure the buses are safe to transport students, there are people doing repairs all throughout the district, there are people coordinating before school programs, there are people arranging subs for sick teachers, and there are people preparing food to feed our students upon arrival to school.  My point is simple; as a teacher I would not be able to do my job if these "forgotten and under appreciated people" were not doing their jobs.  When you work for a school district everybody is working toward the same goal.  We are here to create a safe, positive and encouraging environment, that promotes lifelong learners who are prepared to be successful democratic citizens. 

So, the next time you use your empty trash can in your classroom, you enjoy the nice air conditioned school in which you work, you spend money from your checking account, and you teach students who arrived at school on time, please remember the people who are responsible for making this happen.  A school district is a complex and delicate structure that requires the expertise of several different people to run efficiently and effectively.  Be aware, be thankful, and be appreciative to those who help us do our jobs, by doing theirs...

What's my job?

Do you ever wake up in the morning before work and think to yourself, "I need to find a new job." If you are human the most likely answer is "yes." Should you feel guilty about this feeling? Should you focus on the negative parts of your job, and totally ignore any of the positive parts? I would answer "no" to both of these questions.

As educators we have the luxury of facing a litany of setbacks and struggles. Yes, I said "luxury," and in my honest opinion I would much rather have a job that challenges, pushes, and demands the best of me, than a job that does not test my abilities or my resolve. Every day we get the opportunity to affect and impact the lives of children. This is arguably the most important and crucial piece to our free democratic society. Of course, there will be down days and days we wish we had chosen a different profession. For your sake, for our sake, for the children's sake, do not ignore the struggles associated with education, but rather accept them as a challenge that motivates and pushes you to your limits.

I created this video to motivate and inspire educators at my high school's back to school faculty meeting. I hope it reminds you of why you entered the education profession, as well as the power you hold over the lives you have impacted, and the lives you will impact.

Teachers...it is time for you to step up...

Educators in America and around the world face a daunting task. Educators are asked to teach every student regardless of their ability, their desire to learn, and their family or socioeconomic situation. As I am sure you are aware, education can also be one of the most rewarding careers in the world. However, in order to be a great educator you must accept the responsibility of affecting the lives of children. Last year I read Mark Sanborn's most well known book The Fred Factor. I was immediately hooked on Mark's message about having a positive impact and influence on those around you. Most importantly, Mark also firmly believes in living your life in a manner where you should "fear nothing but to waste the present moment."

After the huge success and popularity of The Fred Factor, I searched for additional books written by Mark Sanborn. The book You Don't Need a Title to be a Leader immediately caught my interest purely because the title was very intriguing. Upon completion of the book, I began to think more about how every educator truly has the opportunity to be a leader in his/her own right. This is such a powerful idea when you wrap your mind around how many teachers we have in America and around the world. If every teacher truly and honestly believed they were a leader; can you imagine the worldwide impact we would have on our students?

Genuine leadership as an educator is imperative, and as educators it is our duty to make sure we are always...

- acting with purpose rather than getting bogged down by mindless activities
- caring about and listening to others
- looking for ways to encourage the contributions and development of others rather than focusing solely on personal achievements
- creating a legacy of accomplishment and contribution in everything we do

"Genuine leadership is not conferred by a title, or limited to the executive suite. Rather, it is shown through our everyday actions, and the way we influence the lives of those around us."

Please take time to reflect and think about how you live your life. Are you living a life that inspires and motivates others to reflect and think about their lives? In 1, 5 or 20 years will you regret the life you lived? Will you accept the challenge and responsibility of never wasting a moment (especially somebody else's moment)? Teachers, business men or women, nurses or any other profession...will you rise to the occasion and assume your new role as a leader?

-If you are looking for another book about every individual taking a leadership role please read Tribes by Seth Godin. As part of the book club I lead at my high school, I plan on half the group reading You Don't Need a Title to be a Leader, and the other half reading Tribes to compare the two books and their differences and similarities on leadership.