Enhance Student Engagement with Strategies That Work
Student engagement is more than just participation—it’s about behavioral, cognitive, and emotional investment in learning. When students are engaged, they are more likely to persevere, think deeply, and take ownership of their learning.
Yet, it’s common to see students who appear compliant but are actually disengaged. They may go through the motions without truly connecting to the content. Why? Disengagement often stems from a lack of relevance, limited autonomy, or emotional disconnection.
This professional learning introduces three high-yield strategies that reframe engagement and promote deeper thinking, motivation, and active participation:
Distributed Summarization, Writing to Learn, and Collaborative Pairs.
These research-based strategies work across all grade levels and content areas. Through hands-on activities, you'll learn how to implement them in ways that create dynamic, student-centered classrooms where learners feel challenged, connected, and inspired.
Key Takeaways
Understand that the three dimensions of engagement- behavioral, cognitive, and emotional- are interconnected. Fostering all three leads to meaningful and lasting engagement.
Learn how partner strategies such as Numbered Heads and structured discussions encourage active learning and peer accountability.
Learn to use varied and targeted collaborative pairs and writing strategies. Learn how to choose the most effective strategy for the biggest impact.
Using a structured approach to summarizing throughout a lesson helps reinforce learning and accountability.
Through short and long responses, students process and reflect on their learning, making their thinking visible and meaningful.
These strategies help transform compliant students into curious, confident learners—fully immersed in their own growth.
Let’s close the engagement gap by creating pathways that enrich and elevate teaching and empower students with the skills they need for academic success.
Professional Learning Options
At Your School
Schedule a day of Professional Learning at your school. Onsite training with one of our experts provides opportunities for educators to expand their knowledge, refine teaching techniques, and stay up-to-date with the latest curriculum and instruction innovations. By investing in professional learning, your school can cultivate a culture of continuous learning, enhance teacher effectiveness, and ultimately improve student outcomes.
At Our Training Center
Join us in Asheville, North Carolina, at the Learning-Focused Training Center. With seats limited to 22 attendees, you are guaranteed to have a great experience.
At Your Own Pace
Learning at your own pace allows you to tailor your professional learning journey focused on your unique goals and preferences. This option empowers you to set your own pace with the flexibility and autonomy to master new concepts and refine your skills.
Pathways to Student Engagment Series
Continue the Journey Toward Full Student Engagement
Pathways to Student Engagement is a three-part professional learning series designed to transform classroom engagement from passive compliance to active, empowered learning. Each part builds upon the last to create a comprehensive approach to student engagement.
Part 1 introduces foundational strategies—Distributed Summarization, Writing to Learn, and Collaborative Pairs—to spark thinking, motivation, and participation.
Part 2 deepens engagement through Effective Questioning, Formative Assessment, and Feedback, ensuring clarity, reflection, and responsive instruction.
Part 3 strengthens the start of every lesson with Activating Strategies and Vocabulary Instruction that ignite curiosity and build background knowledge.
Together, these sessions provide a powerful framework for instructional planning and delivery that engages every student—behaviorally, cognitively, and emotionally—every day.
