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Engaging Students: Problems & Solutions
On phones/laptops
- If persistent phone checking is a problem, ask if everything is alright - if it is, then
it will shame them into putting it away, if its not, then usually they’ll say something
and you can reschedule.
- Some students use laptops to take notes or pull up readings - assume the best of
them, but if you can tell that they’re playing games or doing their math
homework, simply ask them after class to stop the behavior or mention it in
passing if they’re working in small groups or individually on work. A quiet “that
doesn’t look like X” before moving on to something else will often shame them
into closing it without making a huge deal about it.
Headphones in while talking
- Don’t assume it's intended to be disrespectful, some students with differing
abilities need headphones or multiple foci in order to concentrate or engage. If
you have a sense that they are clearly being rude, just ask them if they need
them, and if not have them put them away.
Daydreamers
- Active conversation with the class or small groups
- Writing activities that are taken up or used for lessons
- Discussing distractions before getting started - a bit of mindfulness before class
or a simple “hey how is everybody” or “what did you do this weekend” rather than
jumping immediately into lessons can be a nice warm up to class and help clear
the cobwebs from sleepy (or hungover) brains.
Unprepared
- Using readings in class so that you can continue with your lessons without
having to shame the whole class or just one student.
- Brief overviews of important content before activities can help refresh memories
or provide context to what they’re doing.
- If in conferences, you can start with what the assignment is or ask them where
they are in the assignment and sort of go from there.
Quiet Ones
- Pair groupings
- Knowing who they are (names, the work they’ve done in class, etc)
- Finding other ways to engage them
- Mapping & Freewriting Activities
Uninterested (Value)
- Writing exists in every discipline - find out what kind of writing their major does or
ask them to tell you - make them think about how to use the class to benefit them
rather than seeing it as a waste of time
- Accept that some kids just aren’t going to value the course - it's not personal.
Lost Cause/“Bad” Writers
- Writing is a skill, not an innate talent (it can be practiced and therefore improved)
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Writing is NOT natural. It is a learned skill (we don’t come out of the womb
already able to write, whereas we do come out of it making sounds for
communication)
Sarah Allen: “The Inspired Writer vs. The Real Writer”