Question+1


 * On the topic of:**

//Strategies to increase student engagement//

1) What did we hear and in what ways is this current practice at GBS? 2) If this became an instructional tool as part of the RtI process,

a. How could that look at GBS? b. How would this engage more students in class? c. What kind of potential obstacles do you anticipate?

__**Group 1**__ SLANT - we don't use this now. - Not sure this would be an effective strategy at the secondary school level. Public Question vs. Private Question

Being explicit - we do this somewhat, but not as much as we could

We don't have a systematic practice school-wide We don't have a systematic professional develop. Further exploration on student engagement strategies would be appropriate

We could have an internal university course to coordinate this.

We need to identify what these skills are, we need coordinated training, we need the resources to do this - offer Glenbrook credit for teachers to get this.

Have the building leadership team Lunch-n-learns Build in weekly opportunities for training similar to what Lisa Sly does--but do this for student engagement and not just technology

One strategy to address engagement in HW might be parent sessions, teaching kids how to do homework and have a structure in place Train the mentors of new teachers to help them.

We could have discussions on a building or district wide level re: our philosophy around homework. Perhaps focusing on engagement rather than the task or time on the task, would help us. We would be better off with morning trainings. Our programs that engage students in meaningful relationships, typically ahve highest levels of engagement. Love the idea of using kids first names... Do each of the students get personally addressed in each of their classes? More assistants and assistance in class will increase engagement
 * //__Group 6__//**

Group 5 - Seating chart, syllabus, grading, skill instruction, and other strategies are all ways to help engage students. We learned many tools that increase student enfranchisement, which would will also increase engagement. Relates to Question 6 - we would need to be in agreement as a staff for some school-wide expectations in order to make environment and expectations explicit and consistent.

Some notes on Shim's comments:

· Use seating charts to engage students · Well researched strategies · Kevin Feldman is the best staff developer for strategies to increase engagement – Homewood Flossmor consultant on coaching now. · Increase tools in the tool box. · Explicit vocabulary instruction – how many of us have been taught these strategies? It should be in everyone’s toolbox. Best at this is science and worst is English departments on average. Remember to aim at the low kid…benefits all. · All teachers need a transportable signal to gain everyone’s attention. · Nothing new in the last 30 years. · Check in-Check Out, Check in Connect, etc. Can be done in the guidance and dean’s office or with SPED teachers. However, Ron noted that one hole we have is that teachers now see that discipline as the things “they” (guidance and dean’s office) do, not that we do. · To roll this out in the fall of 2011, what training do we need? · Must be cohesive and coherent. · Showed SLANT – //S//it Up, //L//isten, //A//sk (remember public question and raise hand – define as define a word: private question = go to bathroom…cover their heart) & //A//nswer, //N//od your head when you are getting it, //T//racking (track where you are at all times). · Provide opportunities for the low hanging fruit (for the reluctant student)…then “tell me more” (for the gifted student). · It is amazing how quickly teachers adopt good tools – they just need someone to show them more. · Every solution to a problem causes other problems. There is a finite number of solutions.