Students are here to learn, not to be entertained. I taught it, they didn’t learn it. I get paid if students learn or if they don’t. Have you heard these statements from educators at some point?
These may not have been the exact words, but some version of this has been uttered at one time or another in our schools. More than likely spoken from a teacher that has reached a high level of frustration. You may even be guilty yourself of making such statements. What could be the possible root of the issue?
According to the Harris Poll of Discovery Education forty-six percent of teachers say that student engagement has decreased since 2019. Eighty-three percent of students say that there are not enough opportunities for them to be curious. Forty-nine percent of high school students say that they are curious at school compared with seventy-six percent of elementary students. Let that information soak in for a minute.
A Gallup survey of 2,317 K-12 students found that 25-54% of students say that they do not have engaging experiences in school. They do not feel that what they are learning is important or interesting. 49% of students say that their schoolwork positively challenges them or aligns to what they do best. If you are an educator or a parent, this should be alarming.
The level of excitement about school changes for students throughout the years. There are even huge differences from Kindergarten to fifth grade. I don’t think that there’s a simple explanation for the change. The human condition is complicated. Home environment, hormonal change, school experience, academic struggles, mental health struggles, and various traumas can affect student performance.
In early elementary classrooms I’ve observed a high level of engagement. Students are eager for what is to happen that day. There is a small number of students that struggle and are not going along with what is happening in the classroom. Moving into upper elementary classrooms, you begin to see a shift in student attitudes towards learning. There are still a lot of students engaged but the number of students that are not increases.
I feel this is where we need to do a better job. Interventions to catch those students that are not progressing are critical. Tier one instruction also should be at a level where no matter the students academic performance, they can get something from the lesson. A difficult task, I know, but not impossible.
There are some classes that naturally lend themselves to be more engaging than others. Music, Art, Technical Education, Physical Education, and Science are classes that students usually are excited to go to. Why is that? Probably because these classes include a lot of hands on activity, communication with peers, physical activity, and exploration. Shouldn’t these be elements of every classroom and core subject taught in our schools?
I strongly encourage teachers to teach the curriculum. I’m also a proponent for creativity in the classroom. If a teacher can find ways to increase student engagement and still teach what is required, that’s a win for everyone. I want teachers that will step out of their comfort zone to improve the instructional experience for students and will support them in any way that I can.
Sometimes teachers are looking for permission to do something out of the norm. They should be provided with opportunities for professional development and a chance to observe their peers to gain new knowledge to take back to their own classrooms. If the teachers believe in what they’re doing it instills confidence in students.
There are so many resources that can be used to help teachers build student engagement into their classroom. I would hope that they would receive backing from campus leaders on such endeavors. There’s nothing to lose from doing what’s best for students.
There’s enough blame to be shared for lack of student engagement on many fronts; teachers, students, campus administrators, district administrators, parents, and state education officials. The question is what can be done to make schools a more enjoyable place for students?
Think back to a time when you were forced to sit through professional development you had no interest in. What were you thinking during the training? How did you respond to the presenter and others around you? I can guarantee that this was not a good feeling and that felt it was a waste of your time. Think about how our students feel. They are forced to come to school day in and day out to the same routines and instruction. Why not shake it up and give them a reason to be happy to be in the classroom?
I realize that I am sharing a general opinion on what’s happening in classrooms. I have observed many classrooms in my six years as an administrator and the level of engagement could definitely be higher. I also know that there are many teachers across our country that do their best to make sure that students get the very best education possible. I also know that some of our students lack the intrinsic motivation to do their best in school. Let’s make it a goal to make this coming school year the best one ever for students, parents, and teachers.
My Life In Education… 