The new school year is less than 48 hours away. Classrooms are almost ready to receive this year’s roster of students. Meet the teacher night, middle school 6th grade orientation and high school fish camps are completed. Shot records are current, lunch accounts are full, and anticipation of the new year is so electric that their is a buzz in the air.
Many are reflecting on what the most important thing or things are for the start to the year. Many agree it starts with the three “R’s”… rituals, routines and relationships.
A recent diagram was shared on Twitter by fellow colleague @LisaDegnan1:
A powerful image that reminds us that effective learning must have the above components in a balanced approach to learning. I also believe that somewhere in here is the factor of autonomy and self-motivation that drive passionate authentic learning.
While this image shows a balance of several factors, at the beginning of the year, there is a heavy leaning toward relationships. The other factor is meaningfully engaging students from the second the teacher connects with them, no matter the medium (phone, email, social media or face to face).
So how do we meaningfully engage students? I could share my own insights, but I would rather share what I learned about engagement last spring at a “Styx” concert.
Top 10 Things “Styx” taught me about the “Rules of Engagement”:
10. Keep it about the audience. (honor the autonomy and diversity of the students)
9. Value the audience’s investment to be present. (what have students set aside to be with you every day)
8. Make the experience a shared responsibility. (every student has something profound to share and give back, all have a contribution to make, let go of old controlling approaches and respect the self-driven learner just waiting to be coached to self-actualization)
7. Honor the heritage/experience. (students bring unique talents and gifts provide an environment that allows for each individual’s voice to be honored)
6. It is evident that Styx loves their job. (when it is evident to your students that you love what you teach, they love the content too)
5. Never be afraid to be overly expressive to draw in the crowd. (what you express is mirrored back at you; you get what you give)
4. Styx is a cohesive unit focused on the goal at hand. (students should know the whole staff is interested in their success and it is your obligation as an educator to support not just your own students but the students of your teammates and the entire campus; when a kid knows everyone has a genuine interest in him/her his self-worth grows exponentially)
3. Styx mixes it up and gets into the crowd. (get your hands dirty, get down on the floor, admit you don’t know all the answers, be fully present for your students both for learning and life)
2. Styx tells stories and relates to their audience. (share about your life, be honest, transparent, real… let them see you make mistakes, share real life problems and allow them to problem solve with you… invite them into who you are and they in turn will honestly share with you, the result… truly knowing your students and they knowing you)
1. Styx starts with the familiar “sing-along” music and moves to the less familiar. (want to have a high level of meaningful engagement, bring students in with what they love, are passionate about and are driven by; then encourage, push and coach them as they autonomously explore the less familiar)
So as those students come through the doors of the building and into classrooms this week, ask yourself, “Am I following the #rockstar rules of engagement?” as you begin your #BestYearEver.
What are other “Rules of Engagement” essential to the start of the school year? Please comment below your thoughts, reflections and feedback.
The Bulldog Educator 