Clik here to view.
Bill Ferriter started this blog off by asking a great question, that many teachers may not want to answer. “How engaged are your students?” He cited a Gallup poll taken this year to show how students’ engagement drops every year. In elementary school, 8 of 10 students are engaged, in middle school 6 of 10, and in high school the number drops to 4 of 10. This is one of the main reasons I want to teach the little kiddos, they actually still care about school and learning! Of course, a bad teacher could just as easily lose a class of excited 3rd graders as a class of stoned high school seniors, so in the end it’s up to us as teachers. When kids are engaged in the material, they are more likely to not only remember it, but to use it and apply it and add new skills and knowledge to their mental toolboxes. So don’t be afraid to wear that silly hat, break out a crazy science experiment, or act the fool just a little bit. Find a hook that will engage your class, and then teach them while they are actually paying you their full attention.
