Just Ask Us

Heather Wolpert-Gawron is an award-winning middle school teacher. She is a staff blogger for Edutopia.org and shares all things middle school at tweenteacher .com. She has been a proud member of the California Writing Project since 2008. She is the author of the following books: DIY for Project Based Learning for ELA and History, DIY for Project Based Learning for Math and Science, Writing Behind Every Door: Teaching Common Core Writing in the Content Areas and 'Tween Crayons and Curfews: Tips for Middle School Teachers. Heather is passionate about project-based learning and believes the Maker Movement for teachers is in curriculum design. Heather believes curriculum design itself should tell a story, and she helps her students craft the tale. Heather lives with her husband and two boys in Los Angeles where they play Dungeons & Dragons every week, building their cross-over stories and adventures together. Follow Heather on Twitter: @tweenteacher.

Foreword Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction The Importance of Student Engagement Pedagogy Versus Personality An Argument: What Engages Teachers Also Engages Students A Brief Note on Brain Research and Student Engagement The Engagement Survey Process How Is This Book Different From Others? Student Engagement Survey 1. Let Us Work Together Overview Setting Up Group Work for Success Competitive Learning Can Still Be Collaborative Learning An Awesome Byproduct: Stronger Classroom Community What Collaboration Looks Like in the Classroom Engaging Teacher Spotlight Discussion Questions 2. Make Learning More Visual and Utilize Technology Overview This Is Our Brain on Visuals Learning Through Visuals The One Visual Tool to Rule Them All: Technology What Using More Visuals (and Technology) Looks Like in the Classroom Engaging Teacher Spotlight Discussion Questions 3. Connect What We Learn to the Real World Overview PBL Isn't Just About Engagement; It's Also About Achievement Breaking Down the Parts of PBL Finding an Authentic Goal for Your PBL Unit What Meaningful Learning Looks Like in the Classroom Engaging Teacher Spotlight Discussion Questions 4. Let Us Move Around Overview What More Movement Looks Like in the Classroom Engaging Teacher Spotlight Discussion Questions 5. Give Us Choices Overview The Academic Benefits of Student Choice Keeping Structure While Giving Freedom What Giving Student Choice Looks Like in the Classroom Engaging Teacher Spotlight Discussion Questions 6. Show Us You're Human Too Overview Unabashedly Show That You Care About the Content Unabashedly Show That You Care About the Students The Power of Humor in the Classroom Using Personal Stories as a Tool for Engagement Being Fallible to Help Students Understand Learning What Being More Human Looks Like in the Classroom Engaging Teacher Spotlight Discussion Questions 7. Help Us Create Something With What We've Learned Overview Consumption Versus Creation Creating and Making in Every Subject Area Creation and the Role of Technology What Creation Looks Like in the Classroom Engaging Teacher Spotlight Discussion Questions 8. Teach Us Something New in a New Way Overview The Detrimental Practice of Overreviewing Stepping Out of Our Wheelhouse to Model Learning What Opening Eyes to New Concepts Looks Like in the Classroom Engaging Teacher Spotlight Discussion Questions 9. Mix Things Up Overview Learning Styles Versus Multiple Intelligences What Mixing Up Our Implementation Looks Like in the Classroom Engaging Teacher Spotlight Conclusion It's Hard to Be Engaging What to Expect When You Adopt These Strategies References Index

"Just Ask Us: Kids Speak Out on Student Engagement is an outstanding resource manual for teachers to increase student engagement. Each chapter includes extensive quotes from students that support researched-based best practices. Diagrams and photos of student work illustrate how students can effectively work together and use more visually stimulated methods to connect their learning to real world applications." -- Mary Ann Burke, Ed.D., Author, Trainer, and Co-Founder "Heather Wolpert-Gawron meshes her teaching experience with extensive student feedback to offer sage advice and a clear argument as to the importance of increased student engagement in their learning environments. She provides practical application that will help teachers everywhere up their game in providing students the right foundation for deeper connections to their learning." -- Janelle McLaughlin, Educational Consultant "Just Ask Us: Kids Speak Out on Student Engagement is not only a quality read, but also a fresh perspective beyond just providing interesting lessons. It clearly states that student engagement is directly connected to academic content and outcomes." -- Julie Frederick, Nationally Board Certified Kindergarten Teacher "Any teacher who ever wanted to poll students about what works best for them when learning, and really using the data received to help students, should read this book. The research behind WHY the ideas presented work, and the practical strategies suggested are also great bonuses." -- Patrick Pergola, 7th Grade Science Teacher