Classroom Engagement Hacks
Each of the scenarios below contains a potential classroom management issue. After you read the scenario and identify the potential issue(s), write an engagement strategy (hack) to implement in the future when teaching this type of lesson (or one similar) to prevent the same issue.
Scenario 1
In your 4th-grade classroom, you are using base 10 blocks to demonstrate the base 10 system. You have the students divided into groups and give them some base 10 blocks to use to solve a set of ten problems. It does not go well. Some students throw the ones units at other groups. Two groups finish quickly, and three groups are painstakingly completing their problems. In addition, you do not get back all the base 10 blocks at the end of the lesson.
| What is the potential classroom management issue(s)? | What is an engagement strategy (hack) to use in the future? |
Scenario 2
In your 2nd-grade classroom, you have a small group of students gathered at the science table watching you create a cloud in a bottle. Most of the rest of the students are in their seat. You can see children getting up and wandering aimlessly. You have a small line of children waiting to ask you a question. One student needs to use the restroom. The match you are using to make the cloud burns your finger. The students you have at your table are watching the rest of the class and miss seeing the cloud in the bottle.
| What is the potential classroom management issue(s)? | What is an engagement strategy (hack) to use in the future? |
Scenario 3
You are teaching a 5th-grade integrated math and science lesson. You have given pairs of students a small ball and a meter stick. One student bounces the ball and the other uses the meter stick to measure the highest bounce of the ball. They must record measurements for six trials, rounding to the nearest centimeter. Then the partners switch jobs and they repeat the experiment. One student gets hit in the eye with the edge of the meter stick. One student goes to the nurse for a stomachache. As you circulate, three partnerships are arguing, two partnerships are not writing anything down, and one partnership broke the meter stick while arguing about who goes first.
| What is the potential classroom management issue(s)? | What is an engagement strategy (hack) to use in the future? |
Scenario 4
In your 2nd-grade classroom, you have set up four math games and two science centers for your 30 students. You explained each game and center before you let the students choose where to go. You noticed that not all the students were paying attention when you were explaining the games. A big group of students begins to argue around one of the math games. You hear a big “UH OH!” and the crash of glass coming from the observation science center. The intercom beeps and you must send a student home with all her homework for the day.
| What is the potential classroom management issue(s)? | What is an engagement strategy (hack) to use in the future? |
Short Answer Questions
Write a 50- to 75-word response to each of the following questions.
- What are some practices that you have used, observed, or researched for ensuring safety in a science teaching and learning environment?
- How might family involvement in the school or classroom promote positive behavior for students?
- What are some ways you have used, observed, or researched for increasing family involvement and communication?
