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 students interest and a teachers 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 students 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 days 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 shouldve 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 teachers 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 days 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 shouldve 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 isnt an actual policy on bullying. Bullying is to be recorded and reported Further action might be taken if necessary.