Welcome to a new year, and a new decade! I just came across this blog, from Nicole Beard, and it got me thinking. While written for health courses, her strategies for student engagement can be applied across content areas. Further, the new year can serve as a marker for self-reflection, and a reminder that our teaching practices and classroom environment can always be enhanced and improved and that each new group of students offers a unique opportunity for personal and professional growth. The quick tips from Ms. Beard put the “active” in active learning – both for cognitive and physical engagement with content. Let’s all use this time as a chance to make changes – small or large – to recommit ourselves to effectively educating the next generation! (insert cheer here)
7 Best Practices to Keep Students Engaged in Health Class
- Movement
- Flexible seating
- Student choice
- Student focus
- Teacher flexibility
- [Effective timing and] transitions
- [Class discussion]
