Loving What They Learn: Research-Based Strategies to Increase Student Engagement (Research-based strategies for increasing student engagement and building self-efficacy) - Softcover

Alexander McNeece

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1949539210 ISBN 13: 9781949539219

Publisher: Solution Tree Press, 2019

Synopsis

Deep learning is possible for all students, regardless of subject, grade, or previous experience. In Loving What They Learn, author Alexander McNeece explains how high engagement nurtures the needs--for competence, autonomy, and content relevance--that students have, provides tools to measure how well those needs are being met in the classroom, and reveals science-based strategies that fill the gap.

See how to increase learner engagement:

• Study the engagement gap's impacts and how to create a lasting culture that bridges that gap, developing a growth mindset in learners.
• Encounter real-world anecdotes about different students, and see the research-based learning strategies in action.
• Become familiar with student needs and the effect their fulfillment has on student engagement and achievement.
• Discover dozens of research-backed teaching strategies that help fulfill students' various cognitive and affective needs, giving them increased autonomy and self-efficacy in the classroom.
• Self-assess how well engagement is cultivated in four domains, and compare those results with student engagement inventory data.

Contents:
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Self-Efficacy Cycle
Chapter 2: Competence
Chapter 3: Autonomy
Chapter 4: Relatedness
Chapter 5: Relevance
Chapter 6: Culture Change
Epilogue: Going Forward
Appendix: Engagement Inventories
References and Resources
Index

About this title

About the Author

Alexander McNeece, PhD, is director of instructional services and state and federal grants for Garden City School District in Garden City, Michigan. He is a children's book author and was an award-winning principal at Douglas Elementary School. Dr. McNeece previously served as a high school football coach, elementary teacher, and middle school English language arts teacher.

Dr. McNeece is an active member of the Metro Bureau's Council of Academic Leadership in Michigan, where he has served as a state-level committee liaison. In 2017, with a team of teachers and principals, he presented to the Michigan State Board of Education, based on the tremendous early literacy growth the district achieved with the professional learning communities framework. As a consultant, Dr. McNeece has worked with districts around the United States and Canada to help close the achievement gap, transform school culture, strengthen the school improvement process, and develop Unstoppable Learning pedagogy.

He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in curriculum and instruction from Michigan State University. In 2017, Dr. McNeece earned a doctor of philosophy degree in educational leadership from Eastern Michigan University with his dissertation, "Michigan's Quantitative School Culture Inventories and Student Achievement."

To learn more about Dr. McNeece's work, follow him at @alexmcneece.

Review

"This book provides a clear argument about the importance of student engagement and its direct link to teacher pedagogy. McNeece's ideas to improve student ownership and participation are both researched-driven and practical. The insights and ideas presented in this book are so compelling that a teacher, at any stage of his or her career, will be inspired to be better." ----Anthony Muhammad, educational consultant and author, Overcoming the Achievement Gap Trap

"Any educator who is looking to boost student engagement and increase achievement in their classroom should begin Alex's book today. Your educational practices will change forever as you embrace the concept that every student can engage. I learned so much from the book and cannot wait to use it with my staff." ----Denise Houghton, literacy facilitator, Stuttgart Public Schools, Arkansas

"All educators will benefit from McNeece's practical strategies and tools in this book. Our school had the opportunity to work with McNeece last year. Our school discipline [issues] decreased by 8 percent. Currently, we have twenty-six fewer discipline referrals than we had at this time last year. I attribute that to our work with McNeece." ----Pam Dean, principal, Park Avenue Elementary, Arkansas

Edition details

• Publisher: Solution Tree Press
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1949539210
• ISBN 13: 9781949539219
• Binding: Perfect Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 248