Breaking the Silence

To transform a muted classroom into an actively engaged one, you must first understand the barriers that prevent students from participating. Fear and anxiety are on the top of the list for both boys and girls followed by self-esteem and seating position, says a 2018 study on the Factors Behind Classroom Participation. Many students are afraid to speak up in fear of being judged by their peers, while for others, past negative experiences like responding with incorrect answers may affect their self-esteem.

Additionally, the classroom layout, particularly when students sit in the back of the class, has been associated with students being less engaged and less focused in class. Understanding these barriers is important to foster a more inclusive, engaged classroom environment.

Strategies for Boosting Student Participation

Creating an environment where students feel comfortable and confident enough to participate in classroom activities and discussions requires intentional strategies. The most widely used strategies use the active learning approach. This involves engaging students in activities requiring them to actively process and apply knowledge rather than just passively listening to an instructor. By involving students in the process, active learning can boost participation and engagement. Here are a few methods to try to help solicit student participation.

Student-directed Discussions

This approach has students taking the lead to drive the classroom discussion. This can be done in large groups, small groups, or individually. Students lead the discussion on a specific topic of their choosing, where they will pose questions and engage with their classmates. Taking the role of facilitator encourages deeper engagement, which can be empowering for students.

Utilizing Interactive Technology Tools

Digital platforms such as Kahoot, Flip, and Google Classroom can make classroom participation more engaging and fun. These tech tools allow students to respond to questions, participate in online discussions, and complete quizzes and projects right from their devices. These interactive digital platforms also cater to students’ unique learning styles and interests making it more appealing for students to participate.

Implementing Cooperative Learning

Cooperative learning strategies such as the Think-Pair-Share and Jigsaw method are two great choices to boost student participation. The Think-Pair-Share method involves posing a question, giving students a moment to think about their response, and then pairing up with a peer to discuss their thoughts before sharing with a larger group.

This approach reduces anxiety in students by allowing them to think about their response, and then share it with their classmates before having to discuss it in a whole group setting. The jigsaw method is another collaborative technique that allows students to become an expert on a topic before teaching it to their peers. After each student in the group researches their part, they teach it to their group members. This approach ensures active participation by giving each student a specific role.

Gallery Walks

Gallery walks are an active learning experience where students move around the classroom to engage with different “galleries.” These “galleries” are learning stations displaying specific topics, student projects, or questions students must answer. The way they work is you set up different stations around the classroom, each dedicated to a specific topic or question. Students then rotate through the stations in small groups, interacting and discussing the material within their group. This approach is a great way to get students up and moving while actively engaging with content interactively.

Fishbowl Discussion

This approach involves a small group of students discussing a topic while the rest of the class watches and listens. A small group of students known as “the fish” sit in the center of the classroom to discuss a specific topic or question while the rest of the class or “the bowl” observes them. After a specific amount of time, students who are in “the bowl” can ask questions or make comments. This is a great setup to encourage students to participate as well as engage the listeners actively.

Why Student Participation Matters for Us and Them

The advantages of student engagement go much further than just day-to-day classroom activities. For educators, student involvement means valuable insight into student understanding allowing them to adjust their teaching methods accordingly. Once educators can understand individual student challenges, they can personalize instruction to meet that student’s needs. Additionally, when students are more engaged, it makes for a more enjoyable learning environment, which can increase job satisfaction and give teachers a sense of accomplishment.

For students, active engagement helps to deepen their understanding of subject matter, which leads to better retention. It also enhances their critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical thinking skills. Through regular classroom participation, students develop stronger communication skills which can boost their confidence and self-esteem, all contributing to a more positive learning environment.

Unleashing the power of student participation requires time, a little creativity, and a lot of dedication. By understanding the barriers that may prevent students from participating, as well as implementing strategies to encourage engagement, educators can transform their students’ learning environment into an immersive, engaged experience.

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Learning Management Systems

Google Classroom, Schoology, and Moodle are all learning management systems that offer a centralized hub for both students and teachers. This is a place to manage coursework, share resources, and participate in discussions. Many LMS’s offer productivity tools within their platforms. For example, Google Classroom which is a widely favored LMS tech tool, integrates other Google tools such as Google Meet, Docs, Gmail, etc. into their LMS platform.

This makes it easy for students and teachers to interact, collaborate, and gain access to information all in one place. This streamlined educational experience is a game-changer for teachers because of all the time they are saving having everything all in one place. Students love it too because of its user-friendly interface and simplified learning experience.

Assessment Tools

Several edtech tools are designed to help teachers evaluate students’ progress and performance. Kahoot is one of the most popular tools because it’s a game-based learning platform that engages students through interactive games. Teachers create a fun learning game or access one from the library then add videos, images, or diagrams to engage students further. Student’s answers are saved, and teachers can use this information to gain insight into student knowledge or to help plan future lessons.

Another favorite edtech assessment tool is Quizizz, which is similar to Kahoot. This tech tool turns quizzes into games, provides instant feedback to students in real time, and gives teachers a detailed report on individual students and the overall class performance. One of its standout features, besides real-time analytics, is how it accommodates diverse learning styles so students can work at their own pace.

Short-form Video Content

Attention spans today are much shorter than they used to be, which is why many educators are choosing short-form videos to help explain the content or illustrate ideas to cater to these short attention spans. Flip (formally Flipgrid) is one of the most popular video discussion platforms.

The way it works is that the teacher creates a discussion prompt by using short video clips, then students respond with their own short video about the given topic. It’s a beneficial tool for less sociable students, too, because they can share their thoughts privately without the stress of speaking in front of others.

Another widely used platform is Edpuzzle, which allows teachers to customize video clips with interactive elements like questions, quizzes, voice notes, and audio notes to help actively engage students. It also provides real-time feedback which is beneficial for both students and teachers. Furthermore, it offers detailed analytics on student performance, making it a great edtech assessment tool. Both edtech tools cater to short-from video content and greatly enhance students’ learning experience.

Artificial Intelligence

AI can be a powerful tech tool in the classroom and is gaining popularity by the day because of its ability to personalize students’ learning experiences. One notable AI edtech tool is ChatGPT, which says it’s “shaping the future of technology.” Educators are utilizing this tool to assist in the development of their lesson planning by helping to create or refine their plans to be tailored to each student’s specific needs and abilities.

Meanwhile, students use this tool to clarify topics or provide supplementary information. Additionally, the platform’s new ability to see, hear, and speak is helping students learn new information in an instant making it the most frequently used app.

Other AI tools that have gained popularity are Magicschool.AI, a well-liked lesson plan assistant, and Gradscope, a favored AI-assisted grading tool. Both of these edtech tools are making it easier for teachers to do their job so they can focus more on their students.

Collaboration Tools

Collaboration is an essential component in every classroom and can help empower students and deepen learning. One collaborative platform that should be added to your teacher toolkit is the widely favored Google Classroom. Google Classroom isn’t just one of the best learning management systems because of its centralized hub, it’s also highly popular because of its collaborative platform.

Some key collaborative features include the real-time sharing of documents, discussion boards where students can share thoughts and ask questions, announcements and notifications, collaborative grading, an integrated calendar, and parental involvement where parents receive updates.

Another reputable collaborative platform is Microsoft Education, specifically Microsoft Teams which is a central hub for communication and collaboration among teachers and students. This is where both students and teachers can communicate through chat or virtual meetings. Additionally, Microsoft Office applications are integrated (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) enabling multiple users to collaborate on the same document and work together on assignments in real-time. Both Google and Microsoft offer an interactive, collaborative work environment that makes it easy to communicate.

The integration of Edtech tools in the classroom has become an integral part of education. From learning management systems to collaborative tools to using artificial intelligence, today’s technology is constantly evolving and adapting to cater to the needs of both teachers and students. Embracing these new technologies opens up endless possibilities for future generations.  

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Employing innovative strategies to reignite students’ interest is essential to address this challenge. Here we’ll explore a few key areas to help you make science class more appealing so your older students will get excited about science class again.

Igniting Curiosity: Reframing Science as Relevant and Real

An effective way to ignite curiosity in science class is to connect science to everyday life, current events that are happening right now, and potential career opportunities that they may want to pursue in the future. By showcasing real-world relevance, you are making the subject more relatable and interesting.

Connecting Science to Careers

To help pique the interest and inspire older students, you can discuss the various career opportunities science has to offer. Guest speakers can share their experiences and offer insight into the field of science. Hearing directly from these professionals makes having a career in science more tangible.

Assigning career-themed projects is another way to make a real-world connection to science. For example, a physics engineering challenge like designing a machine or device can help demonstrate the application of physics in engineering. Additionally, arranging a field trip to a science-related workplace like a technology company can help students understand and appreciate how professionals apply their knowledge in real-world settings.

Science in the News

Discussing current scientific events, such as scientific breakthroughs or medical advances, can help demonstrate science’s relevance to the world. When students see that these scientific discoveries impact society, it will help to make the connection between what they are learning in the classroom and the outside world. By incorporating these real-world events you are making science more intriguing and relevant.

Hands-on Engagement: Beyond the Textbook and Lecture

To captivate the attention of older students it’s essential to look beyond traditional teaching methods like textbooks and lectures. Hands-on, interactive activities can engage students and make science class more exciting.

Hands-on Experiments

Conducting more hands-on experiments is a great way to make science class more fun, and it will help reinforce science concepts as well as help students develop essential skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration. For example, try connecting chemistry to real life by simply demonstrating the reaction of baking soda and vinegar, which produces carbon dioxide, causing a volcano eruption. This experiment will help make science more relatable and foster a deeper understanding of chemical reactions in everyday life.

Project-Based Learning

Project-based learning involves actively involving students in real-world scenarios and challenges. Having students choose a science project that requires research and experimentation empowers them to take ownership of their learning. For example, students may create an eco-friendly greenhouse requiring research, design, prototype, analysis, reflection, and so on. This type of project fosters student’s creativity and curiosity all while getting them excited about science.

Bringing Science to Life: Creative and Immersive Experiences

Creating more captivating learning experiences will make your science class more interesting and enjoyable. You can do this by incorporating technology. Here are a few ideas.

Virtual Lab Simulations

Virtual Lab simulations that offer interactive experiments allow students to explore science concepts digitally. Websites such as Labster, Gizmos, and LabXchange, allow students to interact with lab materials in a virtual lab without the constraints of physical equipment they may not have access to in the classroom. For example, students can learn how to fly an airplane through a computer simulation. These simulations can help to enhance a student’s learning experience.

Augmented Reality

AR technology can enhance student learning by providing them with an immersive learning experience. What augmented reality apps do is enhance real-world objects by adding an interactive layer to what you are already seeing. For example, science teachers can use an AR app like Brainapse to explore human anatomy or use an AR app like Plant ID to help identify plants. This can help improve student’s learning experience and understanding of complex concepts by applying knowledge to a real-world experience.

Science-Related Podcasts

Podcasts are increasingly popular among older students mostly because they provide a hands-free way to listen, so students can multitask. Since podcasts are easily accessible and offer a diverse range of topics, you can have students listen to podcasts that explore a wide range of science topics. Some engaging podcasts that may resonate with older students are, “Science for the People” by Desiree Schell, “Brains On!” by American Public Media, and “Science Vs” by Wendy Zukerman.

3D Printing

3D printing technology enhances hands-on learning and can help students better understand abstract ideas. It offers an innovative way to engage students in a variety of science topics. Whether it’s exploring a multi-layer cell, building a DNA model, or constructing a geological formation, 3D printing is a great way to boost students’ understanding and learning.

Virtual Guest Lectures

Arrange video conferences with experts in the field of science. This will help students gain insight with professionals in specific scientific fields. For example, Skype a Scientist is a popular platform that connects you with thousands of scientists from across the globe. This allows students to have a virtual Q and A session and get their answers straight from an expert.

Getting older students excited about science class can be achieved with a little forethought. By incorporating innovative, hands-on experiences that are both relevant and engaging, you will captivate learners and foster a lifelong love for science. Connecting science to current events and potential careers and utilizing technology will help sustain student interest and equip students with the knowledge and skills they need for the future.

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Understanding Sensory Processing and Regulation

Sensory processing refers to how your nervous system responds to the things you see, hear, smell, or touch. For some children, it can affect all of their senses, and for others, it may only affect one. For children with autism, sensory processing typically means they’re overly sensitive to something other people are not. For example, they don’t like the feeling of a tag on their clothes, they may be sensitive to loud sounds, or a smell bothers them more than it should.

This can result in sensory overload where they will show a certain behavior when they are experiencing a sensory issue, like refusing to wear certain clothes, covering their ears when they hear a loud noise, or flapping their hands or rocking back and forth when they are experiencing a sensory issue, says Autism Speaks.

Accommodating or regulating these sensory issues can help ease discomfort and help children with autism manage their emotions. Since the environment influences sensory needs, sensory rooms can be designed to control these sensory experiences. These rooms are designed to help students feel calm and accommodate students who have hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity.

For example, they may include earplugs, headphones, fidget toys, weighted blankets, soft textures, light covers, sunglasses, or other sensory tools. They may also include soft lighting, calming paint colors, and an open floor plan with adjustable seating.

How Sensory Rooms Can Be Extremely Beneficial to Students With Autism

Sensory rooms can offer numerous benefits for students with autism. Here are a few of the advantages of having one in your school.

Promotes Self-Regulation 

Multi-sensory environments or sensory rooms were found to be an effective way for students with autism to control their emotions better, which can lead to improved control over their emotions, according to a 2021 study. Since sensory rooms are tailored to address the unique sensory needs of each individual, students can engage in sensory experiences that are comfortable for them, promoting a sense of autonomy or feeling of independence which gives them a sense of control.

Reduces Anxiety

Oftentimes, children with autism who have sensory processing issues feel powerless, so being able to escape to a sensory room can help reduce their anxiety. The calming elements of the room can make them feel safe and allow them to de-stress and cope with their sensory challenges in a low-stress environment.

Develops Social Skills

Sensory rooms can have a positive impact on students with autism’s communication skills. Group activities like games that encourage taking turns foster interaction and cooperation among students in a low-stress learning environment, which in turn helps to develop students’ social skills.

Improves Concentration

Sensory rooms are associated with increased focus and improved attention among children. According to a 2022 paper, research has found that sensory rooms have had a positive impact on students’ performance, increasing their focus and their ability to stay on task and follow directions. A well-designed sensory room can help students focus and sharpen their concentration.

Addresses Difficult Behaviors

Sensory rooms can help manage challenging behaviors by providing a supportive and calming environment that is tailored to children living with autism spectrum disorder. If a student shows a certain behavior when experiencing a sensory issue such as a meltdown, redirecting them by going to a sensory room can help them feel a sense of calm. This sense of calm can quickly reduce their behavior, allowing them to refocus their attention and energy on whatever they were doing before they felt a sensory overload.

What to Include in Your Sensory Room

Creating a well-designed sensory room for autistic children involves carefully selecting materials that can cater to a range of students’ unique sensory needs. Here are a few suggestions for creating a calming space.

Lighting and Sound

Soft, warm, dimmable lighting, as well as battery-operated candles, twinkling lights, and lava lamps, can create a soothing atmosphere. Sound insulation can help prevent distractions as well as earplugs, headphones, and working in a space with a closed door.

Tactile Materials

A variety of tangible materials, such as soft blankets or fuzzy pillows, can be soothing and comforting to touch. Textured balls and fabrics can offer tactile stimulation while beads, kinetic sand, and squishy toys can be a satisfying option to help calm some children.

Auditory and Visual Elements

Soothing sounds like white noise machines, sounds of nature, chimes, or soft music can be relaxing for students. Consider including visual elements like panels or textured walls, light displays, bubble tubes, or projectors that change shapes or colors can promote a relaxing visual experience for autistic students.

Calming Colors

Neutral colors create a sense of warmth, while soft blues and greens are known for their soothing effects on the nervous system. These colors can help reduce stress and promote relaxation to help sensory regulation.

A multi-sensory space is a designated space within the school that can help autistic students regulate their sensory experiences in a controlled and safe atmosphere. Since each student responds to sensory experiences differently, sensory rooms need to be flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of all students. By addressing these processing differences, sensory rooms can help students with sensory overload regulate their emotions and reduce their anxiety.

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Routines provide a framework for structure and consistency and offer students a classroom environment where they can learn and thrive. Here we’ll take a closer look at why classroom routines are so vital, what types of routines are common in classrooms, as well as give you ideas on how you can establish a routine in your classroom.

Why Routines are Essential

Classroom routines are rituals or actions that are repeated time and time again. These routines that are repeated regularly provide students with a sense of security because they know what is expected of them. This predictable schedule makes it easy for students to navigate their learning environment. Additionally, it helps with time management by establishing a seamless flow and reducing disruptions during transitions when students are aware of the typical duration of an activity or task. The consistency of a routine can also reduce disruptive behavior because students know what is expected of them at all times of the day.

Routines teach important life skills such as responsibility and independence. Once students become familiar with the expectations of the procedure, they will take ownership of their responsibilities. Ultimately, students will spend more time learning instead of asking what they need to do next, all because a routine was set in place.

Types of Routines

Classroom routines don’t have to be limited to the beginning or end of the school day. They can be used for transitions, to get students’ attention, or in many other ways. Here are a few common ways classroom routines can be used throughout the day.

Entry and Exit Routine

Younger students can learn a procedure on how to enter and exit the classroom, while older students can learn what materials to grab to get started or how to put materials away before exiting the classroom.

Transition Routine

Students will move through transitions many times throughout the day. Learning a routine while moving from one activity or subject to another will make the transition smoother. Many teachers like to use signals or cues like a bell or timer to help the transition move along.

Student/Teacher Attention Routine

Establishing a routine to gain student’s attention or using a signal so students know how to get the teachers attention can prevent classroom disruptions or distractions.

Groupwork Routine

Establishing expectations and teaching students how to form groups will help to prevent classroom chaos. It also established clear expectations on communication, collaboration, and students overall learning experience while in the group.

Homework Routine

Providing a consistent method for submitting homework assignments and or reviewing homework assignments provides structure and contributes to improved academic performance. Not to mention that it will make everyone’s life much easier.

In addition to these routines, you can also have a routine for when students finish work early, how to collect and distribute materials, classroom jobs and responsibilities, using the bathroom, how to work independently, how to use classroom technology, or just about anything you can think of that you do daily and want it to go smoothly.

How to Establish a Routine

If you’re looking to establish and maintain a successful classroom routine, then consider following these steps.

Identify Your Goals

The first thing you want to do is think about how you want your classroom to function. Ask yourself what skills and habits you want your students to develop as well as what tasks and transitions you want to run smoothly. Once you decide upon your goals, this will help guide your choices for a predictable routine that you can set up and teach your students.

Choose Your Routines

You don’t have to choose a routine for every single goal you have in mind, but it also doesn’t hurt. The more routines you have implemented, the easier it will be for students to move about the classroom independently as well as limit the number of disruptions and distractions that are occurring.

Teach Your Routines

Next, it’s time to teach your routines. It’s wise to start with one or two each day because you don’t want to overwhelm your students. First, explain the reason for the routine, then go through each step of the procedure giving examples and non-examples of what it should look like.

Practice Your Routines

Give students plenty of opportunities to practice their routines. Consider hanging visual aids like posters, charts, or checklists in the classroom for students to reference.

Monitor the Routines

Once students have learned the routines, keep an eye on how they are working. If you notice they are not meeting your expectations, then revise or reteach them. You can also ask for assistance or suggestions from your colleagues or ask students how they think the routines are working or if there is anything they would change about the routine.

As you progress through the school year consider revisiting your classroom routines. Some routines may no longer be needed or just aren’t working like they used to. Or you may want to change some of the routines to give students more responsibilities. Remember, consistency is key when it comes to routines. Try and stick to each routine as closely as possible because predictability fosters a sense of security in students, and when they know what to expect each day it will make for a more productive and successful learning environment.

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AI and the Evolving Landscape of Education

Education is evolving. During the pandemic, we’ve seen many changes that have altered our education system, such as the heavy reliance on technology and the adoption of remote and hybrid learning. Then came AI which has increasingly made our education more efficient and effective. It has also made it more accessible and inclusive for students. Using AI in education can provide new approaches to teaching and learning and help teachers streamline their work so they can be more effective teachers. There’s no denying that artificial intelligence is changing the landscape of education and has the power to help educators teach students, and students learn in a way that is engaging and motivating.

Benefits of AI-Powered Lesson Planning

There are countless benefits of AI-powered lesson planning in education. Here are some of the advantages that you and your students will gain from utilizing AI-powered lesson planning tools in the classroom.

It’s Time Saving

As a teacher, you spend a lot of your time doing mundane tasks that keep you from doing the things you really want to do with your students. AI platforms can be a significant timesaving tool because they automate tasks for you, reducing the time you spend on creating lessons or doing administrative work. By using AI lesson planning tools, you can invest more time in getting to know your students and enhancing their learning experience, and less time doing paperwork.

Accessible

One of the significant advantages of using AI tools in the classroom is its accessibility. AI can meet the needs of all students regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities. It can adapt or convert materials, assist non-native English speakers, enable students with disabilities to interact with content, assist students who have speech impairments, as well as tailor content to suit all learner’s needs. Overall, its accessibility features ensure a more inclusive educational experience for all students.

Improves Student Engagement

Trying to figure out how to increase student engagement will be a thing of the past once you use AI-powered lesson planning tools. These tools can easily enhance student engagement by tailoring each student’s learning experience to their individual interests and preferences. Once it learns a little bit about each student it can provide content that will keep students engaged like using gaming elements such as leaderboards or badges to keep students motivated.

Easily Generates Content

A profound benefit of AI tools is the ability to produce educational content that is engaging. Not only can it create quizzes, tests, homework assignments, and helpful resources, but it can also tailor these materials to each student’s needs and preferences as well as stay aligned to your learning objectives and curriculum to ensure it is on par with the course’s goals. Ultimately, it can assist you with customized learning materials that will enhance your student’s education.

Key Features of AI-Powered Lesson Planning Tools

AI-powered lesson planning tools are meant to enhance the way you create and deliver your lessons. They can also help streamline other various aspects of your teaching. Here are a few key features and functionalities you can expect to find when using AI-powered lesson planning tools.

Student-Driven Data

These tools collect student data such as student assessments, progress on assignments, and participation levels and provide you with real-time data that will give you insight into how well your students are performing. This data will help you determine any areas your students may be struggling in so you can address these areas promptly in real time. By understanding each individual’s strengths and weaknesses AI can then recommend specific ways you can support each individual.

Automates Tasks

Task automation is a key feature in AI learning tools because it can easily automate tasks such as creating a schedule, managing attendance records, sending out the weekly newsletter, or even grading assignments or quizzes. By automating these tasks, it will reduce your workload, freeing up time for you to focus more on your students than on spending hours grading papers or partaking in any other redundant administrative tasks.

Personalizes Learning Content

One of the best functions of AI is its ability to tailor lessons to each individual student. It can adapt content and strategies to match a student’s learning style as well as adjust the difficulty level and pace to match the student’s ability. By analyzing student data these tools can create personalized learning to suit each individual’s needs, differentiating lessons in a matter of minutes.

Early Intervention

Early intervention is another key feature of using AI tools because it can detect if a student is at risk of falling behind or if they are struggling with a specific learning difficulty. AI-powered tools will use algorithms to collect data about the student and then provide suggestions on the best way to support the student by recommending specific resources of modifications to ensure the student can overcome their challenges.

AI-powered lesson planning is a technological innovation that can save you time and help you meet the needs of all learners. By using AI tools, you can focus more on your students than on the mundane tasks that make your job less enjoyable. With AI the possibilities are endless and as technology continues to advance, we need to embrace these changes because the possibilities for new effective teaching methods and enhanced learning are endless.

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Formally, students may serve on their school’s student government to influence change within the school. Students may participate in civic engagement through an informal fashion such as volunteering in their communities to improve the environment by cleaning up trash. Such activities are wonderful ways for student activism and to contribute to the betterment of one’s community regardless of the nature of the activity.

Simply stated, civic engagement is an opportunity that allows students (or adults) a chance to understand the world around them and make a positive impact.

Why is Civic Engagement Important for Students?

Encourages Confidence 

Civic engagement requires students to work with others, bring ideas to the table, and promote changes that enhance the wellbeing of others. Furthermore, students build confidence in their abilities and ideas when participating in civic engagement opportunities. To make a difference, students must be somewhat bold and unafraid of adversity, leading to a healthy increase in self-confidence.

Develops Empathy

Students who involve themselves in civic engagement are typically more in tune with the feelings and emotions of others. Volunteering may often require students to serve meals to the homeless, collect food or coats for those in need, or build homes for those without them. All of these activities and so many more allow students an opportunity to see what life is like for others, good or bad, and witness the situations that those in their communities are faced with daily which helps them practice empathy. Students gain a greater understanding of what is valuable in life and a greater appreciation for what they have through assisting those less fortunate.

Promotes Knowledge

Civic engagement (specifically student government activities or volunteering in local government) keeps students current on events happening in the world. Many times, students are not aware of all current news in the nation and world. By running for a student office or interning with a government official, students learn how national actions affect local communities, help enact ideas, and understand all of the things happening in the world around us.

Ways to Promote Civic Engagement

Teachers can help promote civic engagement for their students by implementing some of the following activities into their classrooms:

STEM Activities 

Teachers can present students with a STEM activity that can relate to a community concern. For example, a bridge in a local community needs repair; however, the community leaders are unsure if enough citizens use it to consider spending a large amount of money to repair it.

Students should work in groups to tackle all of the following through this activity:

1. Students must determine if the bridge has enough traffic to be deemed worthy of saving. They may even participate in a class debate arguing why the bridge should or should not be repaired.
2. Students must build their bridge version using classroom materials (toothpicks, putty, etc.)
3. Student groups should present their bridge construction to the class with an explanation of their building method. Through completing this activity, students bring ethical talk and thinking into a STEM activity, making it a classroom imitation of civic engagement.

Classroom Culture

Teachers can promote civic engagement by creating a classroom culture that fosters active engagement, participation, and inclusivity. Teachers should always encourage student learning by participating in classroom activities and discussions. Still, it is equally important that teachers create opportunities for students to share their own ideas with others and explore leadership roles to gain self-confidence and courage.

Teachers should select classroom activities to increase student engagement through real-life simulations, hands-on tasks, and collaboration with others. When these types of tasks occur, students actively participate in opportunities that make learning more meaningful and memorable. Additionally, students develop skills that better serve them in the future.

Math and the Community 

Students could analyze community situations to understand better a community and its economic activity, or analyze health rates in the community. For instance, students can utilize a relevant context in a community such as the COVID-19 pandemic rates and figures in math to teach a particular concept and also spark student interest and engagement by making learning relevant to the community.

Relevant Literature

Students use literature to learn big ideas, themes, and so much more, but teachers can use novels to help students understand current events. Select a book with a storyline or the main character relevant to today’s society; teachers should look to classic literature examples such as The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird, etc. for parallels to issues students are faced with within our current society. Despite these novels being written many years ago, they present students with valuable lessons and insights into the world today.

The post How to Promote Civic Engagement through English and Math appeared first on TeachHUB.

Boddle is an educational math game that targets students in kindergarten through sixth grade. It is tailored to meet student needs individually, providing practice and assessments that target specific areas while integrating gaming into math instruction. Boddle is a great supplemental tool to use during math instruction to provide differentiated instruction, assist in small group work, help in closing learning gaps, and enhance student engagement.

Why is Boddle Effective for Math Instruction?

As educators are in a current battle with the learning loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to identify gaps in learning and provide supports to fill them. Math has taken a significant hit throughout the pandemic, in part due to the lack of in-person instruction and the ability for teachers to check and provide feedback in real time for students.

Boddle provides a Learning Gaps Report that helps identify skills that teachers need to focus on in their lessons which, in turn, makes the lessons more effective. This report can also assist teachers in forming small groups and targeting students that need more support. The report can also help teachers prepare for conferences and have data to show parents about students and their strengths and weaknesses.

Boddle is aligned to state standards, so it is a great tool to supplement in the math classroom. The main concern I hear teachers speak about is time: time to plan, teach, assess, differentiate, provide interventions, etc. With a program that can simplify the differentiation process, it is more likely that teachers will use it, and continue to use it, consistently. This will increase results and have a more positive impact on student achievement.

Ways to Enhance Math Instruction Using Boddle

Small-Group Rotations

Boddle is a great way to enhance small group work in your math classroom. It can be used as a reinforcement tool that will level the work for your students. With all the demands being placed on teachers, it is hard to find work each day that will meet each student’s individual needs, but with a program such as this one, it does the work for you and can target students’ specific learning needs. Boddle is also fun for the students, so it can be the math center they are looking forward to most when doing classroom activities.

Homework

Though homework is being somewhat phased out in different school districts, this can be effective if you keep students motivated about using the program. Students get out what they put into something, so keep your motivated students moving and challenged. This is a great way to keep pushing your students to be the best they can be and provide an effective means to keep the learning going on in any environment.

Remote Learning

As we have students working through quarantine and being sick with the COVID-19 virus, Boddle is a great way to keep students working at home engaged in math. As a teacher, you can give students assignments that provide targeted practice with customized questions. This allows teachers to take into account various situations students face and will help not overwhelm (or underwhelm) them with work which can help to address gaps in learning remotely.

Another great feature of Boddle is the ability to monitor students as they work in remote locations. It shows the students working, the skills being practiced, and the length of time students have worked on each question.

Increase Student Engagement

Many students enjoy video games, so Boddle is a great way to incorporate this into your math lessons. Not only is it a game, but it is also an assessment tool, collecting data as the students use the program. Finding ways to make learning fun can be challenging, and using gaming can be one way to meet that challenge. Keeping students actively interested in learning is a great way to meet their needs better. Students can relate games to real life, so it can feel like less of a chore completing the “fun” math assignments.

Technology Factor

Boddle is a great way to incorporate technology into your classroom. Although we have had quite an experience over the past year and a half with learning using technology, as we transition back into a more traditional learning model, and more “paper and pencil” in math students can look forward to learning through gaming using Boddle.

While the traditional methods can be used to teach whole group and guided instruction, Boddle can supplement and provide interventions, re-teach, and even enrich students on a Chromebook, iPad, etc. Students in grades kindergarten through sixth grade have grown up learning while using technology. As it is used actively in day-to-day activities, jobs, learning, etc., it is a great way to have students focus on being more prepared for the real world.

In all, it has been a wild ride since March 2020 for students, educators, and parents alike. The common goal pre-pandemic and during the pandemic is always to keep students learning, engaged, and motivated. Boddle is a great math program that is appealing to students, but it provides much information to the teachers about how to best meet students’ individual needs. Using it as a supplement to your math instruction can give students an extra push to be their best!

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What is Empathy?

Like the idiom, “walk a mile in someone else’s shoes,” having empathy is the ability to understand what another person is going through. Yet empathy is also more than that. Having empathy means a person can feel what a situation has caused another to feel. It is a deeper understanding of that person’s experiences, challenges, and even their thought process.

What is Sympathy?

Easily put, sympathy is feeling sorrow for someone else. We often associate sympathy with the loss of a loved one or perhaps a terminal diagnosis. It can also mean feeling pity for the misfortune of another person; for instance, if a neighbor’s house has burned down, one might feel sympathy toward their loss.

What is the Difference?

The ending of these two words, “-pathy,” has its origins from the Greek word “pathos” which means to suffer. While these two emotions are similar, there are several differences. Sympathy is a judgmental response. The person feeling sympathy may not fully connect to or understand what the other person’s loss means to them. Empathy is a more profound connection toward the feeling of what someone else is going through as related to one’s own experiences.

Recently, teachers have developed their empathy as they work with students who have suffered losses and family-related stresses due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. A teacher may be sympathetic toward a student who has lost a loved one to the virus but will empathize by providing more time to work on computer-based assignments at school to the student whose parent has lost their job due to extensive quarantining.

Why are these Essential for Students to Have?

Through character-building activities, teachers often share the motto, “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” To teach students to be both sympathetic and empathetic, this often comes through modeling. If students see the teacher respond sympathetically when someone in the room experiences a loss, then students may react in the same manner.

Teaching empathy often requires an educator to think out loud and walk students through why they respond in a caring way toward someone struggling with a new skill or stressor in their life. This modeling will encourage students to think about others before responding without thinking about how the other will feel as a result of their words or actions.

Activities that Promote Empathy and Sympathy

Teaching skills through social-emotional learning takes time and lots of practice on the student’s part. They are not skills that can be taught in isolation but rather should be practiced frequently. As a teacher observes the students interacting, different needs may arise for which the teacher can emphasize.

There are a variety of classroom activities that can be used to promote the development of empathy and sympathy skills.

Videos that Teach Emotional Skills

For younger students, there are lots of short videos appropriate for teaching empathy for others. Some speak directly to the topic, such as All About Empathy and What is Empathy, while others have characters demonstrating empathetic actions toward others. These allow the teacher to stop and discuss and provide modeling for students through trusted characters. There are even TED Talks and other coaching videos for students through high school ages.

Model Empathy and Sympathy

One of the best ways to teach an emotional reaction is to be a good role model. When students see a teacher ask another student how they are doing after returning from a family member’s funeral, they learn how to respond in similar situations appropriately. Likewise, when a teacher talks to students about how an event, such as an illness, made the teacher feel and asks if anyone else has ever felt the same way, the teacher develops a sense of understanding and connecting to others’ feelings.

Discussions about Emotions

For just a few minutes each day, a teacher can open a discussion about potential scenarios and the emotions each brings. These could be turn-and-talk activities in which partners discuss how they felt or might feel if they experienced a particular negative or positive event, such as: when a pet got lost, when they won the race, when they needed a hug but no one was around, when someone told them they had their shirt on backward at the end of the day, when their grandparent brought them an unexpected gift, etc. To extend this activity, have the children make a face that expresses that feeling.

Make it a Guessing Game

Teachers can also help students relate to others’ feelings by reading body language. For this activity, the teacher can display an image of someone making a specific face or showing body language that expresses an emotion. The teacher can then ask students to determine their feelings. To extend this, the students can develop ideas that might explain why this person feels this particular way. This allows students to read body language and connect their own experiences to the situation.

Listening Skills

Teaching children to be good listeners when explaining how they feel can be a challenging task. By nature, children want to interrupt and tell how they feel instead of listening and relating to that person. This skill can be taught, though.

A teacher can read a passage from a story and ask questions like:

• How is the character feeling?
• How can you tell the character is upset/excited/etc.?
• What made the character upset/excited/etc.?

Teachers can extend the activity by asking questions like:

• What would you do to help this character feel better if you were in the story?
• Have you felt this way, and if so, what made you feel this way?

Teaching children to sympathize and empathize with others will help build a culture of respect. Students must be able to see another’s perspective when going through stressful situations, although it is also essential that children understand they don’t have to solve someone else’s problem to be empathetic. By modeling and teaching these emotions, students will learn to give and receive appropriate responses to multiple situations in another’s life.

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As we think about Thanksgiving food, additional questions might come to mind for educators. What is the chemistry of Thanksgiving food, and what activities can teachers plan to help students connect with chemistry and Thanksgiving food?

Turkey and Osmosis

Turkey is a highly favored, traditional Thanksgiving meat that can be really juicy, tasty, or dry. With the proper preparation and a chemical change, the turkey will be most flavorful and juicy. The chef can place the turkey in saltwater for better results. The salt and water move from areas of high concentration, outside the turkey, to regions of lower concentration, inside the turkey, through osmosis. The movement of salt and water causes the turkey to be more flavorful and juicy rather than dry and bland.

Educators can use activities to demonstrate osmosis which may be differentiated based on students’ ability and learning levels. Younger children can create a paper turkey and then draw each stage of osmosis around the paper turkey. Older students with access to a lab or kitchen can place a turkey in saltwater and another in an empty pan. The students can then watch for and document any changes they observe before cooking the turkeys. Finally, if possible, teachers can assist students in cooking the turkeys to note the differences in flavor and tenderness.

Baked Goods and CO₂

Baked goods play a big role in Thanksgiving dinners. Cakes, cookies, danishes, rolls, buns, and other types of bread require ingredients to interact and chemical changes to occur. Without the proper chemical reactions in the baking process, the goods become tasteless or even flat rather than fluffy. Ingredients in the baked goods react with each other. For example, baking soda and milk react to release carbon dioxide bubbles that expand under heat, causing baked goods to rise. Yeast, a living organism and often used in breads, also creates a similar reaction to cause dough to rise.

For Thanksgiving and chemistry connections, educators may engage students with various activities related to baked goods. One activity is to have students mix a given set of ingredients in a no-bake recipe, then observe and document the look, feel, reaction, and taste after mixing ingredients. Students with a lab or access to a kitchen area can mix and bake ingredients and document each stage in the baking process. Older chemistry students can engage in a writing activity to explain the chemical reactions that had to occur during the baking process.

Casseroles and the Maillard Reaction

When I think about casseroles, I immediately think about the crispy onions, breadcrumbs, or cracker crumbs that are toasty on the top. Can you believe that chemistry causes the pieces to be toasty and brown? The chemical reaction called the Maillard reaction is why casseroles have a toasty, brown hue on the top. In the Maillard reaction, sugars and proteins react under high heat and in the absence of water. The molecular mixture that forms gives the food a brown, toasty color.

For educators wanting students to show their understanding of the Maillard reaction, activities using Thanksgiving casseroles can be used. Young students can watch videos that show the browning of casseroles, marshmallows, toast, and more. Then students can create thinking maps that include descriptive words describing various states of the foods before and after experiencing heat. Older students with access to the proper equipment can cook casseroles, brown marshmallows, or toast bread in the oven then write reports on the process, the chemical reactions, and the visual changes in the foods.

Gravy

The word “gravy” can be music to many people’s ears due to the flavor it adds to many types of meat, vegetables, and bread. Have you had gravy that was too runny or gravy that was too thick? There is a science behind the thickening of gravy. Chemical reactions occur to thicken gravy after adding proper starch to the mix. When placed in heated liquid, starch granules absorb the liquid and swell, which causes thickening.

For purposes of connections and demonstration, educators can try it out with students. Teachers can add cornstarch to heated water and allow students to observe and document the reaction through illustrations or writing. Mixing ingredients and applying heat are two initiators of chemistry, including chemical changes and chemical reactions.

This year when you eat your Thanksgiving feast, remember that chemistry is one reason your tasty favorites, traditional foods, new flavors, and scrumptious bites fill your mouth. Who knew chemistry could taste so good?

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