Comments on: How Do I Keep My Students Engaged? http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/how-do-you-keep-them-engaged/ Providing HOPE for educators since 2007 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:59:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Anitahttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/how-do-you-keep-them-engaged/#comment-7350 Anita Wed, 13 Oct 2010 09:05:04 +0000 http://teaching.digitalarchitech.com/2007/06/08/questions-that-will-save-your-career-question-2/#comment-7350 I have been looking for different ways to keep my students engaged all year round. I will try these strategies immediately. I know I can talk less and listen more to my students. I think that alone will make a big difference because it will allow the students more time to explore their own thoughts with other students and I will be there to move them in the right direction with their thinking. I have been looking for different ways to keep my students engaged all year round. I will try these strategies immediately. I know I can talk less and listen more to my students. I think that alone will make a big difference because it will allow the students more time to explore their own thoughts with other students and I will be there to move them in the right direction with their thinking.

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]]> By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/how-do-you-keep-them-engaged/#comment-3658 Joel Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:54:03 +0000 http://teaching.digitalarchitech.com/2007/06/08/questions-that-will-save-your-career-question-2/#comment-3658 Wow, thanks for joining us here. :) Wow, thanks for joining us here. :)

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]]> By: Philhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/how-do-you-keep-them-engaged/#comment-3591 Phil Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:16:04 +0000 http://teaching.digitalarchitech.com/2007/06/08/questions-that-will-save-your-career-question-2/#comment-3591 I love it, I love it!! Thanks to all of you for writing such awesome stuff... This is the teacher's lounge I've been waiting for ;-) Keep the good stuff coming! I love it, I love it!! Thanks to all of you for writing such awesome stuff… This is the teacher’s lounge I’ve been waiting for ;-) Keep the good stuff coming!

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]]> By: Emilyhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/how-do-you-keep-them-engaged/#comment-3429 Emily Sun, 01 Feb 2009 05:14:41 +0000 http://teaching.digitalarchitech.com/2007/06/08/questions-that-will-save-your-career-question-2/#comment-3429 I think I've discovered what's really going to work in our school's situation. It took a year and a half to figure that out, but it's finally starting to come around and not seem like such a deal for most. The after school rehearsal is something that I mentioned in a "BTW" kinda way, and everyone showed up! It really shows me who's in it and who's not. This is also a great way to have all levels of band working together for a common goal and strengthening what we do have and not protesting what we don't. Lessons are tough to learn but hey, if it works, do it! I think I’ve discovered what’s really going to work in our school’s situation. It took a year and a half to figure that out, but it’s finally starting to come around and not seem like such a deal for most. The after school rehearsal is something that I mentioned in a “BTW” kinda way, and everyone showed up! It really shows me who’s in it and who’s not. This is also a great way to have all levels of band working together for a common goal and strengthening what we do have and not protesting what we don’t. Lessons are tough to learn but hey, if it works, do it!

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]]> By: Emilyhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/how-do-you-keep-them-engaged/#comment-3428 Emily Sun, 01 Feb 2009 05:14:22 +0000 http://teaching.digitalarchitech.com/2007/06/08/questions-that-will-save-your-career-question-2/#comment-3428 I think I've discovered what's really going to work in our school's situation. It took a year and a half to figure that out, but it's finally starting to come around and not seem like such a deal for most. The after school rehearsal is something that I mentioned in a "BTW" kinda way, and everyone showed up! It really shows me who's in it and who's not. This is also a great way to have all levels of band working together for a common goal and strengthing what we do have and not protesting what we don't. Lessons are tough to learn but hey, if it works, do it! I think I’ve discovered what’s really going to work in our school’s situation. It took a year and a half to figure that out, but it’s finally starting to come around and not seem like such a deal for most. The after school rehearsal is something that I mentioned in a “BTW” kinda way, and everyone showed up! It really shows me who’s in it and who’s not. This is also a great way to have all levels of band working together for a common goal and strengthing what we do have and not protesting what we don’t. Lessons are tough to learn but hey, if it works, do it!

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]]> By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/how-do-you-keep-them-engaged/#comment-3424 Joel Sun, 01 Feb 2009 05:06:22 +0000 http://teaching.digitalarchitech.com/2007/06/08/questions-that-will-save-your-career-question-2/#comment-3424 Oh how cool! Sounds like you're starting to get a family-type atmosphere set up in your band now. Good for you! :) Oh how cool! Sounds like you’re starting to get a family-type atmosphere set up in your band now. Good for you! :)

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]]> By: Emilyhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/how-do-you-keep-them-engaged/#comment-3415 Emily Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:53:50 +0000 http://teaching.digitalarchitech.com/2007/06/08/questions-that-will-save-your-career-question-2/#comment-3415 Every Friday, we play "Music-o" for Band Bucks and prizes. It not only is fun but keeps the students current in their theory. Sometimes we also hold an impromptu rehearsal after school that anyone can attend from any group and play some fun band music. So far, the turnouts have been 25-30 kids in all sections making for a big band that is well balanced and a point of interest for everyone involved. Every Friday, we play “Music-o” for Band Bucks and prizes. It not only is fun but keeps the students current in their theory. Sometimes we also hold an impromptu rehearsal after school that anyone can attend from any group and play some fun band music. So far, the turnouts have been 25-30 kids in all sections making for a big band that is well balanced and a point of interest for everyone involved.

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]]> By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/how-do-you-keep-them-engaged/#comment-3413 Joel Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:46:53 +0000 http://teaching.digitalarchitech.com/2007/06/08/questions-that-will-save-your-career-question-2/#comment-3413 When I was teaching private lessons, a 6th grader told me that "A tie makes two notes into one note." It's exactly right, yet it covers the whole concept that we try to teach in such a simple way. Our words often overcomplicate things. When I was teaching private lessons, a 6th grader told me that “A tie makes two notes into one note.” It’s exactly right, yet it covers the whole concept that we try to teach in such a simple way.

Our words often overcomplicate things.

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]]> By: Emilyhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/how-do-you-keep-them-engaged/#comment-3240 Emily Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:57:26 +0000 http://teaching.digitalarchitech.com/2007/06/08/questions-that-will-save-your-career-question-2/#comment-3240 I have proof that talking LESS actually works. If I spend the period talking, unless it's a really good story, chances are, the kids arebn't paying attention. However, this morning, for example, my second graders shocked me when I explained the Time Signature concept iusing simple math and fractions. When I finished explainging it briefly, one student put her hand up and re-explained it in her own words. I was very impressed. They were THINKING about what I had said and had time to process it before going on to the next topic. I've learned that most students you've got to talk long enough to expain it then give them time to process in their own way. Sometimes they come up with a better explaination than you gave. I have used students' ideas when teaching other classes. The few in this music class who didn't fully understand Time Signatures when entered certainly had no trouble with them when we left. It was a good class. I have proof that talking LESS actually works. If I spend the period talking, unless it’s a really good story, chances are, the kids arebn’t paying attention. However, this morning, for example, my second graders shocked me when I explained the Time Signature concept iusing simple math and fractions. When I finished explainging it briefly, one student put her hand up and re-explained it in her own words. I was very impressed. They were THINKING about what I had said and had time to process it before going on to the next topic. I’ve learned that most students you’ve got to talk long enough to expain it then give them time to process in their own way. Sometimes they come up with a better explaination than you gave. I have used students’ ideas when teaching other classes. The few in this music class who didn’t fully understand Time Signatures when entered certainly had no trouble with them when we left. It was a good class.

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]]> By: Sunnyhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/how-do-you-keep-them-engaged/#comment-3173 Sunny Thu, 25 Dec 2008 09:00:32 +0000 http://teaching.digitalarchitech.com/2007/06/08/questions-that-will-save-your-career-question-2/#comment-3173 I love the idea of talking less. You ar right on that the less you talk the more work the kids do. When I was a prinicpal, I went into many classrooms where the teacher was talking and the kids WEREN'T listening. Engagement is so very important and having the students doing the work is what should happen. Now that I am back in the classroom, I try to remember this daily. Thanks for posting. I love the idea of talking less. You ar right on that the less you talk the more work the kids do. When I was a prinicpal, I went into many classrooms where the teacher was talking and the kids WEREN’T listening. Engagement is so very important and having the students doing the work is what should happen. Now that I am back in the classroom, I try to remember this daily.

Thanks for posting.

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