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2.12.2026 Polk CLC Growth Mindset and Learning Options

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Empowering Students Polk

Rachael Havey

5/27/25

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Text Rendering Experience | CLEE Protocol Library

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Research tells us when adults collaborate, it leads to increased equitable outcomes in student learning. We can help you build shared leadership within your team and create effective and engaging agendas to make your work together something everyone looks forward to and ultimately moves the needle on student learning.

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Four A’s Text Protocol | CLEE Protocol Library

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Research tells us when adults collaborate, it leads to increased equitable outcomes in student learning. We can help you build shared leadership within your team and create effective and engaging agendas to make your work together something everyone looks forward to and ultimately moves the needle on student learning.

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Empowering Students Participant Guide Polk May 2025

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Edutopia is a free source of information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching in preK-12 education. We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.

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A veteran teacher turned coach shadows 2 students for 2 days - a sobering lesson learned - Authentic Education

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The following account comes from a veteran HS teacher who just became a Coach in her building. Because her experience is so vivid and sobering I have kept her identity anonymous. But nothing she describes is any different than my own experience in sitting in HS classes for long periods of time.

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Productive struggle is important for students to retain what they learn.

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Student engagement is one of those educational buzzwords that seems to have been around forever. Okay, slight exaggeration. The term can be traced back to educational reformer and philosopher John Dewey and the late 1800's.

Although there's a consensus that student engagement is vital to the educational process, how to create engaged students is less clear.
So, let's take a deep dive into student engagement, its role in the learning process, and how to ensure you create truly engaged students.

What is Student Engagement?

According to The Glossary of Education Reform , student engagement " refers to the degree of attention, curiosity, interest, optimism, and passion that students show when they are learning or being taught, which extends to the level of motivation they have to learn and progress in their education."

Yet, it's not just about students. The glossary adds that, " student engagement may also refer to the ways in which school leaders, educators, and other adults might "engage" students more fully in the governance and decision-making processes."

According to the NAIS, student engagement involves three dimensions:

Behavioral engagement: focusing on participation in academic, social, and co-curricular activities

Emotional engagement: focusing on the extent and nature of positive and negative reactions to teachers, classmates, academics, and school

Cognitive engagement: focusing on students' level of investment in learning.

These wide-ranging definitions that involve multiple components are part of the reason why the topic has been discussed and written about so extensively. However, it's the benefits of student engagement that keep it top of mind with educators.

Why Increase Student Engagement or Why Does Student Engagement Matter?

The goal of education can be boiled down to one mission: foster learning and growth in students in order to prepare them to lead productive and meaningful lives. This simple statement is, of course, challenging and extremely difficult to execute.

Studies show that student engagement is a necessary ingredient to fulfill the educational mission.

A 2018 Gallup Study entitled, ' School Engagement Is More Than Just Talk ', found that "Engaged students are 2.5 times more likely to say that they get excellent grades and do well in school, and they are 4.5 times more likely to be hopeful about the future than their actively disengaged peers."

Another Gallup study found that, "Student engagement significantly positively affects student growth."
Compared to schools with low student engagement, those with high student engagement were better preparing students for the future.
Consider these findings:

36% higher rate of students achieving the satisfactory requirement for postsecondary readiness in math.

65% higher rate of students achieving the satisfactory requirement for postsecondary readiness in writing.

129% higher rate of students exceeding progress in all subjects.

Beyond the academic benefits, there are also advantages related to increased attendance and improvement in behavior.

However, recent polls show that many students are disengaged. According to the 2018 Gallup Poll, nearly half of students (47%) are engaged, while 29% are not engaged and 24% are actively disengaged.

The poll also found that students become less engaged as they advance through the education system.

How to Measure Student Engagement

Just as student engagement is hard to define, it's hard to measure as well. Before it can be measured, clarification on what an engaged student does is in order.

One answer comes from educator and author, Ben Johnson , who notes that engaged students are active and do the following: pay attention, take notes, listen, ask questions, respond to questions, participate, and react.
Former classroom teacher and Principal Peter DeWitt cautions in an article that some may see a quiet classroom with students listening and view it as engagement. He distinguishes between compliance and authentic engagement.

"Authentic engagement means that students do more than just answer a question during a session of " ," says DeWitt. "It means that they have dialogue with us and ask questions at the same time they're engaging in giving us an answer. It means that students are talking as much as we are."

Outside observations by administrators can also prove helpful since the classroom teacher will naturally be biased. The observation can also include interviewing students and asking direct questions to determine if students are engaged.

How to to Increase Student Engagement

So, what can teachers do to foster student engagement? What are some strategies to increase student engagement?
Nurture Relationships

According to , the type of engagement that he describes begins with forming caring relationships.

"When students form close and caring relationships with their teachers, they are fulfilling their developmental need for a connection with others and a sense of belonging in society," he says.

Note, these relationships are possible and necessary whether a class is meeting virtually or in person. They are also relevant regardless of the age of the students.

Connections between students and teachers inspire students and create a positive environment. In this sort of environment, students are motivated and encouraged to participate and grow. And in this writer's teaching experience, the relationship between a teacher starts with knowing a student's name and recognizing a student is more than just a body in a classroom.

The power of teacher-student relationships and meaningful engagement becomes more evident if you review the ING Foundation Survey . The survey found that 98% of respondents believe a good teacher can change the course of a student's life. And 88% of respondents said that "they had a teacher growing up who had a 'significant, positive impact' on their life."

Create Meaningful Work
Even the best teacher-student relationship is dependent on the actual work in the classroom. If a student is not reasonably challenged by the work in the classroom or does not find it stimulating, the student will not be engaged.

The article offers a few tips for making a lesson meaningful including connecting it "with students' previous knowledge and experiences, highlighting the value of an assigned activity in personally relevant ways..." and modeling "why an individual activity is worth pursuing, and when and how it is used in real life."

Another way to make meaningful work is to personalize it. When curriculum is personalized, students can more easily recognize the benefits. Personalization can also relate to the pace of learning. The right pace for each student will keep them more engaged as they won't be frustrated, overwhelmed, or bored. Technology can play a helpful role in personalizing learning.

Foster Autonomy
We all long for personal freedom and autonomy and children are no different. This longing extends to the classroom and satisfying it leads to an increase in student engagement.

The benefits cited above occur when a teacher, "creates choices that are robust enough for students to feel that their decision has an impact on their learning,"

When students are empowered to make choices in the classroom and school setting, it fosters a sense of ownership over their learning. Because students have made choices and their voice is heard, the responsibility shifts to them. It is through each student's effort and determination that progress will occur, which demands that they be engaged.

Increase Self-Efficacy and Competency
Everyone faces challenges. Sometimes, challenges can lead to growth, and other times they can overwhelm. As teachers, we want to challenge our students in positive and productive ways to help them learn and grow. Creating a challenging classroom environment also enhances student engagement.

According to , " Researchers have found that effectively performing an activity can positively impact subsequent engagement."
Teachers can put this into practice by ensuring lessons are just beyond students' current knowledge level. Going too far, too fast will encourage students to disengage. After all, if students determine the work is beyond them, they feel a sense of hopelessness and frustration.

However, when teachers check in regularly, give clear feedback, and genuinely accept and answer questions, students are set up to engage and grow.

When students are engaged, they are motivated. and learning happens more easily. Being in a school building and classroom where students are engaged is inspiring for both the students and educators. Therefore, it is imperative for educators to do everything they can to foster student engagement.

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Student Engagement: Why it Matters | Xello

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Discover the importance of student engagement in the classroom and how it enhances the learning process. Learn how to create truly engaged students.

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In education, student engagement refers to the degree of attention, curiosity, interest, optimism, and passion that students show when they are learning or being taught, which extends to the level of motivation they have to learn and progress in their education. Generally speaking, the concept of "student engagement" is predicated on the belief that learning improves when students are inquisitive, interested, or inspired, and that learning tends to suffer when students are bored, dispassionate, disaffected, or otherwise "disengaged." Stronger student engagement or improved student engagement are common instructional objectives expressed by educators.

In many contexts, however, volunteer programs and community-service requirements (engaging students in public service and learning through public service), student organizing (engaging students in advocacy, community organizing, and constructive protest), and any number of potential student-led groups, forums, presentations, and events (engaging students in community leadership, public speaking, and other activities that contribute to " student engagement may also refer to the ways in which school leaders, educators, and other adults might "engage" students more fully in the governance and decision-making processes in school, in the design of programs and learning opportunities, or in the civic life of their community. For example, many schools survey students to determine their views on any number of issues, and then use the survey findings to modify policies or programs in ways that honor or respond to student perspectives and concerns. Students may also create their own questions, survey their peers, and then present the results to school leaders or the school board to advocate for changes in programs or policies. Some schools have created alternative forms of student governance, "student advisory committees," student appointments to the school board, and other formal and informal ways for students to contribute to the governance of a school or advise superintendents, principals, and local policy makers. These broader forms of "student engagement" can take a wide variety of forms-far too many to extensively catalog here. Yet a few illustrative examples include school-supported positive youth development"). For a related discussion, see student voice.

In education, the term student engagement has grown in popularity in recent decades, most likely resulting from an increased understanding of the role that certain intellectual, emotional, behavioral, physical, and social factors play in the learning process and social development. For example, a wide variety of research studies on learning have revealed connections between so-called "non-cognitive factors" or "non-cognitive skills" (e.g., motivation, interest, curiosity, responsibility, determination, perseverance, attitude, work habits, self-regulation, social skills, etc.) and "cognitive" learning results (e.g., improved academic performance, test scores, information recall, skill acquisition, etc.). The concept of student engagement typically arises when educators discuss or prioritize educational strategies and teaching techniques that address the developmental, intellectual, emotional, behavioral, physical, and social factors that either enhance or undermine learning for students.

It should be noted that educators may hold different views on student engagement, and it may be defined or interpreted differently from place to place. For example, in one school observable behaviors such as attending class, listening attentively, participating in discussions, turning in work on time, and following rules and directions may be perceived as forms of "engagement," while in another school the concept of "engagement" may be largely understood in terms of internal states such as enthusiasm, curiosity, optimism, motivation, or interest.

While the concept of student engagement seems straightforward, it can take fairly complex forms in practice. The following examples illustrate a few ways in which student engagement may be discussed or addressed in schools:

Intellectual engagement: To increase student engagement in a course or subject, teachers may create lessons, assignments, or projects that appeal to student interests or that stimulate their curiosity. For example, teachers may give students more choice over the topics they are asked to write about (so students can choose a topic that specifically interests them) or they may let students choose the way they will investigate a topic or demonstrate what they have learned (some students may choose to write a paper, others may produce short video or audio documentary, and still others may create a multimedia presentation). Teachers may also introduce a unit of study with a problem or question that students need to solve. For example, students might be asked to investigate the causes of a local environmental problem, determine the species of an unknown animal from a few short descriptions of its physical characteristics and behaviors, or build a robot that can accomplish a specific task. In these cases, sparking student curiosity can increase "engagement" in the learning process. For related discussions, see authentic learning , community-based learning , differentiation , personalized learning , project-based learning , and .

Emotional engagement: Educators may use a wide variety of strategies to promote positive emotions in students that will facilitate the learning process, minimize negative behaviors, or keep students from dropping out. For example, classrooms and other learning environments may be redesigned to make them more conducive to learning, teachers may make a point of monitoring student moods and asking them how they are feeling, or school programs may provide counseling, peer mentoring, or other services that generally seek to give students the support they need to succeed academically and feel positive, optimistic, or excited about school and learning. Strategies such as advisories , for example, are intended to build stronger relationships between students and adults in a school. The basic theory is that students will be more likely to succeed if at least one adult in the school is meeting with a student regularly, inquiring about academic and non-academic issues, giving her advice, and taking an interest in her out-of-school life, personal passions, future aspirations, and distinct learning challenges and needs.

Behavioral engagement: Teachers may establish classroom routines, use consistent cues, or assign students roles that foster behaviors more conducive to learning. For example, elementary school teachers may use cues or gestures that help young students refocus on a lesson if they get distracted or boisterous. The teacher may clap three times or raise a hand, for example, which signals to students that it's time to stop talking, return to their seats, or begin a new activity. Teachers may also establish consistent routines that help students stay on task or remain engaged during a class. For example, the class may regularly break up into small groups or move their seats into a circle for a group discussion, or the teacher may ask students on a rotating basis to lead certain activities. By introducing variation into a classroom routine, teachers can reduce the monotony and potential disengagement that may occur when students sit in the same seat, doing similar tasks, for extended periods of time. Research on brain-based learning has also provided evidence that variation, novelty, and physical activity can stimulate and improve learning. For a related discussion, see classroom management .

Physical engagement: Teachers may use physical activities or routines to stimulate learning or interest. For example, "kinesthetic learning" refers to the use of physical motions and activities during the learning process. Instead of asking students to answer questions aloud, a teacher might ask students to walk up to the chalkboard and answer the question verbally while also writing the answer on the board (in this case, the theory is that students are more likely to remember information when they are using multiple parts of the brain at the same time-i.e., the various parts dedicated to speaking, writing, physical activity, etc.). Teachers may also introduce short periods of physical activity or quick exercises, particularly during the elementary years, to reduce antsy, fidgety, or distracted behaviors. In addition, more schools throughout the United States are addressing the physical needs of students by, for example, offering all students free breakfasts (because disengagement in learning and poor academic performance have been linked to hunger and malnutrition) or starting school later at a later time (because adolescent sleep patterns and needs differ from those of adults, and adolescents may be better able to learn later in the morning).

Social engagement: Teachers may use a variety of strategies to stimulate engagement through social interactions. For example, students may be paired or grouped to work collaboratively on projects, or teachers may create academic contests that students compete in-e.g., a friendly competition in which teams of students build robots to complete a specific task in the shortest amount of time. Academic and co-curricular activities such as debate teams, robotics clubs, and science fairs also bring together learning experiences and social interactions. In addition, strategies such as demonstrations of learning or capstone projects may require students to give public presentations of their work, often to panels of experts from the local community, while strategies such as community-based learning or service learning (learning through volunteerism) can introduce civic and social issues into the learning process. In these cases, learning about societal problems, or participating actively in social causes, can improve engagement.

Cultural engagement: Schools may take active steps to make students from diverse cultural backgrounds-particularly recently arrived immigrant or refugee students and their families-feel welcomed, accepted, safe, and valued. For example, administrators, teachers, and school staff may provide special orientation sessions for their new-American populations or offer translation services and informational materials translated into multiple languages. Students, families, and local cultural leaders from diverse backgrounds may be asked to speak about their experiences to students and school staff, and teachers may intentionally modify lessons to incorporate the history, literature, arts, and perspectives of the student ethnicities and nationalities represented in their classes. School activities may also incorporate multicultural songs, dances, and performances, while posters, flags, and other educational materials featured throughout the school may reflect the cultural diversity of the students and school community . The general goal of such strategies would be to reduce the feelings of confusion, alienation, disconnection, or exclusion that some students and families may experience, and thereby increase their engagement in academics and school activities. For related discussions, see dual-language education , English-language learner , multicultural education , and .

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In education, student engagement refers to the degree of attention, curiosity, interest, optimism, and passion that students show when they are learning or being taught, which extends to the level of motivation they have to learn and progress in their education. Generally speaking, the concept of "student engagement" is predicated on the belief that learning [...]

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Rachael Havey

Senior Director, Professional Learning

rachael.havey@cognia.org

888.413.3669 ext. 5636

Sarah Decotis

Senior Director, Florida/Southeast Region

sarah.decotis@cognia.org

(678) 347-2580 ext. 9772

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Engaged and disengaged learners: what’s the difference?

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Engaged and disengaged learners: what’s the difference?

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Engaged and disengaged learners: what's the difference? - Winjigo

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Making sure that your students are engaged with learning is fundamental to teaching. the most challenging aspects to achieve.

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This survey aims to gather your beliefs and opinions about Student Engagement regarding teaching and learning at your school. Please read each question carefully and choose the response most closely aligns with your feelings. Your honest responses are appreciated. Rest assured, all responses are completely confidential and anonymous.