Why this project was necessary
Student engagement is very important in schools because it refers to the attention, curiosity, and interest students show when they are learning. How the students are engaged plays a huge role in motivation. Staying on task is not only important during one subject in school but in every subject and later grades to come. Implementing engagement strategies in my classroom required students to participate in class, motivated them to practice higher-level critical thinking skills, and provided meaningful learning experiences that went beyond paper and pencil. My other goal was to motivate students to become lifelong learners and create an environment for students to enjoy the learning process.
Both qualitative and quantitative data showed a need to focus on on-task behavior in my classroom. Six of twenty students are on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Additionally, one student is following a specific behavior plan from the Student Assistance Team (SAT). Many of my students have trouble focusing for an extended period of time. They get antsy and get “the wiggles,” especially during math because it is right before specials. Also during instruction, I have noticed that some of my students are easily distracted by others who are “bored.”
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Qualitative Data
​-Through anecdotal notes and daily observation during whole group
math instruction, I noticed students were antsy or bored and overall
disengaged in the lesson.
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-One thing that I noted was that my use of interactive notebooks brought
math problems to life and increased student engagement
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-Initial attitude surveys demonstrated students' lack of confidence about
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their math skills and their dislike for math class
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Quantitative Data
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-According to anecdotal notes, over 50% of the students were off task
during whole group math instruction.
-Many students had difficulty focusing for more than 20 minutes
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-25% of students were unable to finish a topic test with the amount of
time given
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