What Schools Get Wrong About Engagement
Superintendent of Schools, Lake Bluff Elementary School District 65, suggests that most of what we call "student engagement" in schools isn’t actually engagement at all.
Most of what we call "student engagement" in schools isn’t actually engagement at all. It’s compliance: neat tables, quiet voices, eyes on the speaker.
A well-behaved classroom is easy to admire—and easier to manage—but it doesn’t always mean learning is happening. The author reflects on their own experience, stating that they often followed directions and raised their hand, but weren’t always engaged.
The author’s love for learning was often sparked outside of the classroom, where rules were clear-cut and expectations were clearly stated. The author credits their mom, a voracious reader, with starting conversations that encouraged engagement, saying
So, I was reading this article today...
The author has always been an engaged learner for the rest of their life.
Author’s summary: Rethinking student engagement in schools.