8 Student Engagement Lessons Learned From Teaching Veterans

Veteran teachers provide inspiration and direction to first-year teachers in need of guidance, advice and inspiration. It’s for this reason that alternate route candidates are required to conduct classroom observations with teachers who have experience in their desired content area or grade level. Through this process, new teachers are able to discover effective practices to add to their teacher toolkit.

Here are three key lessons that alternate route candidates learned on engaging students from observing teaching veterans.

Nontraditional Formats Deepen Understanding

I found that students gain a deep understanding when they are engaged in hands-on and interactive learning modules and activities. The students in the class I observed were engaged for almost the full 70 minute period, except when they were reviewing homework. I now believe teaching by lecture only leads to memorization rather than a true understanding and interest in knowledge.

Kelly Kulakowski, 8th Grade

I learned how to include students in the lesson plan and classroom management. I learned how to bring and maintain a positive classroom environment. I learned how to engage students in the classroom and how to integrate technology into the session. I learned how to [create a] competitive environment and maintain discipline in class.

Sahithi Mantri, Upper School

What I learned most from my observation is that the children learn more when their teachers are confident. This teacher used her love of music to teach the children basic concepts that might normally be taught in a traditional, mundane way. Although I probably will not sing often in my classroom this teacher encouraged me to be myself and be confident in the style of teaching that suits me best.

Tanya Tozzi, Second Grade

Student-Driven Lessons Empower Taking Charge

I learned how to include students in the lesson plan and classroom management. I learned how to bring and maintain a positive classroom environment. I learned how to engage students in the classroom and how to integrate technology into the session. I learned how to [create a] competitive environment and maintain discipline in class.

Sahithi Mantri- Upper School

Station/Center learning is a great way to get and keep students engaged. They take charge of their own learning, become excited and retain more of their lessons. It also becomes an equalizer because everyone learns at their own pace, never feeling behind.

Abigail Shuhart, Art Grades K-5

It was interesting for me to see how well students could become invested in the topic at hand. By mentioning fun facts about the general concepts that were gone over during the notes presentation in class, students become more involved and invested in the material. I found it important to have several of these points in the back of my head to stimulate additional interest if I notice students becoming bored during class.

Miles Luo, Biology & Environmental Science

Classroom Management Is Essential

I saw the students show up in the classroom on time and put away their cellphones in the phone bag. They followed the classroom rules and were well-behaved. The lesson was very organized and the teaching flow was smooth. The teacher knew what she was going to do next and how to engage the students in the process of learning. The teacher used different activities for students to create their own vocabulary and sentences. Students were always busy with learning and they were always producing verbal or written form in Chinese. All the activities were student-centered. The teacher guided them and helped them only when necessary.

Ching-Yi Lin, Chinese

I learned creating a relaxed environment in the classroom helps students feel at ease while learning and not be nervous to try answering questions. This can be done by playing music gently in the background, or the tone of the teacher.

Samantha Hart, Business

I learned some reward systems that the teacher used. I learned different ways that the teacher engages children's attention. I also learned some ways to deal with challenges in a respectful and tactful way.

Andaleeb Hamad, Kindergarten

Your Turn

What other student engagement lessons have you learned while teaching? Share your observations in the comments!