Aligning to Student Needs
At the beginning of a school year, many teachers find themselves overwhelmed with the heavy curriculum requirements and a sea of new faces. There is so much to be taught and so little time, that our first impulse is often to jump right in and start teaching the subject. It is important to stop and remember we don't teach subjects; we teach students. It is essential that we get to know our students as individuals, and ensure that they become comfortable in their learning environment and remain engaged in what they are learning.
Dunleavy and Milton (2008) propose three forms of student engagement that are relevant to school success:
- Social engagement – Participation in school life.
- Academic engagement – Participation in the requirements for school success.
- Intellectual engagement – Serious cognitive psychological investment in learning.
Dunleavy and Milton (2008) conclude, “We know that effective learners take responsibility for their own learning, persist in face of difficulties, and find intrinsic value in the work that they do” (p. 7). The authors suggest that such goals are more easily achieved when schools stress the development of all three forms of engagement.