Want to Engage Students' Hearts & Minds? Use a Workshop Structure!

Looking to engage students' hearts & minds? Try using a workshop structure! This episode explores comprehensive education strategies for student engagement, classroom management, and supporting disengaged students through innovative instructional strategies.

Cris Tovani and Sam Bennett share proven approaches for creating inclusive classrooms that address low engagement while building strong home-school connections. Perfect for teachers, education coaches, school administrators, instructional leaders, and teacher mentors seeking effective teaching methods.

Key Topics Covered

• 00:00 - Introduction to Schoolutions with Olivia Wahl
  • Essential teacher support and professional development insights for new teachers and experienced educators alike.
• 01:35 - Educational Inspirations with Cris Tovani and Sam Bennett
  • Inspiring students through culturally responsive teaching and anti-bias teaching approaches that support thriving students and empowered educators.
• 04:26 - Understanding the "Masks" Students Wear
  • Classroom behavior insights for identifying disruptive students and implementing behavior strategies that address the whole child approach to student success.
• 07:28 - The Three Types of Engagement: Behavioral, Emotional, and Cognitive
  • Student motivation framework covering:
  • Behavioral engagement and attention in class
  • Emotional engagement and student participation
  • Cognitive engagement through active learning
• 12:02 - Making Content Worthy and Relevant
  • Lesson planning strategies for innovative teaching that connects curriculum to student lives, supporting equity in education and inclusive teaching practices.
• 13:43 - Long-term Planning with the Six Ts Framework
  • Instructional coaching methodology for classroom control and systematic student discipline approaches that support school improvement.
• 17:33 - Workshop Structure in Secondary Education
  • Teaching tips for implementing workshop models that enhance student engagement and create school culture focused on learning.
• 20:44 - Closing Thoughts

Some of Cris Tovani's books:

1. Do I Really Have to Teach Reading?: Content Comprehension, Grades 6-12 (2003)
2. So, What Do They Really Know? : Assessment That Informs Teaching and Learning (2010)
3. Why Do I Have to Read This?: Literacy Strategies to Engage Our Most Reluctant Students (2020)

Some of Sam Bennett's Books:

1. That Workshop Book: New Systems and Structures for Classrooms That Read, Write and Think (2007)
2. Comprehension Going Forward (2011)  &  Imagine It Better: Visions of What School Might Be (2014)

When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.