Classroom Engagement

After thoroughly reading Dr. Robert Marzano’s “The Art and Science of Teaching,” Storer staff members conducted a professional development session where we analyzed each chapter and provided each other with examples on how we can use this information throughout the school building. After this session, each staff member attempted to utilize these engagement strategies at their individual grade levels with varying success. Teachers shared their progress with each other during weekly collaboration and monthly data and staff meetings. During these meetings teachers would share ideas and determine what worked and, more importantly, what didn’t work in their classrooms. Over time, we have incorporated these strategies along with what we had already been doing to great success. We have increased academic achievement, increased positive behavior, decreased formal discipline referrals, increased rapport with our students and increased staff morale.

Challenges or Obstacles:

• The largest hurdle we have faced has been building our knowledge of engagement strategies. By building this toolbox of strategies we are able to meet the needs of every unique classroom. No two classrooms are the same. Having a large number of strategies to draw upon has increased our success in keeping students actively engaged. 
• Consistency throughout K-5 has also been a challenge. Making sure all staff members are attempting to use the engagement strategies on a regular basis was difficult at first. Fortunately, this issue worked itself out as we worked together as a staff to demonstrate the effectiveness of these strategies

Benefits and Successes:

• Over time, we have incorporated engagement strategies along with what we had already been doing to great success.
• We have increased academic achievement, increased positive behavior, decreased formal discipline referrals, increased rapport with our students and increased staff morale.

Submitted by: Corey Gilman, Storer Elementary School