Notice teacher behaviors that deter, have no impact and improve one student’s engagement in classroom activities and social connections.

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Video clip setting

A look at two days of interactions with a student where the teacher is trying to motivate focused engagement in learning activities.

Strategies summary 

-Positive verbal reinforcement of accomplishments

-Referential speaking (individual praise shared with others) to positively reinforce engagement in assignments

-Moving to eye level for conversation

-Tone of voice

-Touch and physical proximity

Student behavior

 Off task, not completing assignments, wandering and distracting movements, complaints of physical pain, social isolation

Questions to consider 

1. What was the teacher trying to accomplish?

2. What might be happening that causes this child to loose focus and disengage?

3. What alternative strategies might have worked with him?

4. What do you need/want to know and watch for?

5. What might the teacher do in follow-up?

6. What, if any, cues exist that indicate your contact with home or student services staff?

Classroom background

This classroom of seventeen students is located in an urban setting. The filming was done during the last few weeks of school, a challenging time for all teachers. The student population is African American except for this student. The percentage of free or reduced lunch for this building is 90+%.  The school serves breakfast to all students.

Thank-you to:

The students and teachers of this classroom at Benjamin Carson School, Milwaukee Public Schools