Student engaging in K-6 setting. Is the lesson, school, teacher, etc... engaging?

1. Student Engagement
Fourth Grade
What does it look like??

2. Student Engagement is, but not limited to….

3. What does engagement look like in the K-6 setting?
• Engagement is an important issue in teaching because it effects how much
students learn on a daily basis. Engage students because the quality learning
depends greatly on a student’s interest and a teacher’s ability to create a
motivating environment.
• In the fourth grade classroom the teacher appeared to have the entire class
engaged with the writing project. I saw three major factors of student
engagement being covered, Behavioral engagement: rule following, adherence to
norms, participation, attention, and persistence. Cognitive engagement: a
student’s investment in learning, learning goals and self-regulation. Emotional
engagement: reactions in the classroom such as interest, anxiety, and boredom.
• The teacher gave the class guidelines and rules to follow as they created their tall
tale. The students were excited to complete their story because they had to the
choice to write about anything they wanted as long as it was a tall tale that
included a super power, a conflict, and a resolution. The real life connection was
basic but the teacher gave the students the option to write about themselves
with a super power (most did), and the teacher connected the assignment back
to the material covered the day before.
This could vary depending on teachers opinion on engagement…

4. • Is the learning environment engaging for students?
The entrance to the classroom gave me the impression that the class was going to be
inviting. There is a saying on the door. “Give your very best! Today is going to be
amazing!” Even a saying as simple as that made me want to enter the classroom. It is
in my opinion that student engagement can start at the door.
Next, as I entered the class, there were lots of bright posters and many bulletin
boards with student work posted on them. Exhibit 1, The Tweet board, is where
students Tweet about what they have learned the previous week. I have noticed that
the board is constantly being updated. Almost like a Twitter Account would be. This
activity ties in technology and the social aspects into the lesson. The board portrays a
type of “I have” instead of “I can” statements. With the class being bright with
neutral lighting from outside, colorful up-to-date bulletin boards, and the goals
posted, it is in my opinion that the classroom was well on its way to be engaging for
students, guardians, and other staff members.
Exhibit 2 is their focus wall for lesson 5. This included the curriculum goals, essential
question, academic vocabulary, skills, and strategies to be met. This is a good poster
to include in the classroom because it helps the students understand what is
expected of them during the lesson. Also, this poster is based on Common Core. The
teacher changes the poster after every lesson is completed.

5. • Is the learning environment engaging for students? Continued…
• On the white board, the teacher had their daily, “To do list,” and the daily schedule
posted (Exhibit 3 and 4). This is an important part of student engagement because
every subject has the day’s activity posted by it. This can be helpful incase students
do not understand what is being done. Having each subject listed with the time
beside it will help students stay on task and complete the assignment in the allowed
amount of time.
• The reading area, Exhibit 5, was about what I usually see in most classrooms. I think
that there should’ve been more reading materials to choose from. But, with the
pillows, the students wanted to be there. This area was comfortable which is
essential to student engagement. But, in my opinion, the reading material was over
used and needed to be refreshed. The only other reading material I really noticed in
the class were the rules, academic vocabulary, multiple bulletin boards, and a map
(see complete class walk through).
• As for assessments, I saw an area for exit tickets (Exhibit 6). However, I did not notice
any tickets in there and I was not observing the whole day so, if the assessment was
done, I did not see it. Seeing this board gave me the impression that the teacher
required an exit ticket to leave class. If this is incorporated daily, this assessment will
keep students engaged because they know that they have to turn it in at the end of
the day.

6. • Is the teacher engaged?
• The teacher promoted a “hands-on,” approach in a realistic
environment. She also provided opportunities for children to use their
creativity in their work and reflect on their learning.
• The teacher was enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the content
of what she was assigning and this showed the students that the
assignment could be enjoyable. She was also flexible for the students
and allowed them to think outside the box. Yet, she proceeded to
teach the required curriculum.
• In my opinion, how the teacher presented the assignment helped
both her and the class become engaged. The teacher used prosody
and hand motions when explaining it and the directions. Any teacher
that does not talk monotone is on their way to engaging students.

7. • Are the students engaged?
• During the assignment that I was present in, the students appeared to
be fully engaged. The class had to write a tall tale. The students were
excited to complete their story because they had to the choice to
write about anything they wanted as long as it was a tall tale that
included a super power, a conflict, and a resolution. I saw this
assignment as engaging because the teacher allowed the students to
write just about anything they wanted.
• The class was allowed to create the story however they wanted as
long as it followed the teacher’s guidelines. When it was completed,
the class was allowed to share their stories.
• The students were given the option to write about themselves with a
super power (most did) or they could write about any fictional
character, and the teacher connected the assignment back to the
material covered the day before.

8. • Are the learning strategies engaging for learners?
• The strategy the teacher used was to write a tall tale with
a super power. I believe this was engaging because it
allowed the students to think outside the box. However,
the strategy was implemented by way of worksheet. The
worksheet was to help students with the sections of a
paragraph. The paper was labeled with the following:
characters, super power, a conflict, and a resolution. I
think the activity itself was engaging but a worksheet
keeps the lesson from being completely engaging.

9. Classroom Was Inviting.
The “Hook” that caught my attention from the beginning.

10. Is the learning environment engaging for students?
Exhibit 1
Tweet Board
Exhibit 2:
Lesson Goals
The Tweet board, is where students Tweet about what they have learned the
previous week. The board is constantly being updated, like a Twitter account.
This ties in technology and the social aspects into the lesson and goals
(exhibit 2). The board portrays a type of “I have” instead of “I can”
statements.

11. Is the learning environment engaging for students?
• Exhibit 3: To Do List; every subject has the
day’s activity posted by it.
Exhibit 3:To do list Exhibit 4: Daily Subject schedule
Exhibit 4: Daily Subject Schedule; has the subjects and
the time duration spent on each one.

12. Is the learning environment engaging for students?
Exhibit 5:
Reading Area
• The reading area was about what I
usually see in most classrooms. I
think that there should’ve been
more reading materials to choose
from. But, with the pillows, the
students wanted to be there. This
area was comfortable which is
essential to student engagement.
But, in my opinion, the reading
material was over used and needed
to be refreshed.

13. Is the learning environment engaging for students?
Exhibit 6: The Exit Ticket
Engaging to keep students on
task and allows teachers to
assess their daily learning.

14. Classroom Walk Through
• The “Extra” reading material I noticed…
Pull Down Map
Multiplication &
Punctuation Rules
Up to date calendar!

15. Classroom Walk through
Different…
Types of…
Strategies and…
Classroom Rules

16. The procedure about bullying…
• There isn’t an actual policy on bullying.
• Bullying is to be recorded and reported
• Further action might be taken if necessary.