Captivating Classrooms: Educational Strategies to Enhance Student Engagement

Captivating Classrooms explores the specific role that student engagement plays in education, it argues that there are myriad factors that undergird meaningful student learning and participation—such as motivation, exciting teaching strategies, reinventing literacy instruction, and authentic assessment. This book is an extremely valuable handbook for school leaders, teachers, and support staff, as well as for parents of PK-12 students, aspiring educators, and higher education faculty who prepare pre-service teachers and administrators. This is a must-read for those who are committed to helping all students find their purpose and passion in education.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgement Preface More than Motivation: Finding Points of Passion for all LearnersStudent Leadership: An Invitation for Peers to Join the DiscussionMentoring Practices that Maximize Involvement: Making Marginalized Students MainstreamReinventing Reading: Making Literacy Instruction Come AliveInstructional Practices that Make the Difference: Engaging Students in the ClassroomEnsuring all Students Receive Support: A Spotlight on Special Education, At-Risk and ELL ProgramsReferences About the Authors

About the Author :
Dr. Nicholas D. Young has worked in diverse educational roles for more than 30 years, serving as a principal, special education director, graduate professor, graduate program director, graduate dean, and longtime superintendent of schools. He was named the Massachusetts Superintendent of the Year; and he completed a distinguished Fulbright program focused on the Japanese educational system through the collegiate level. Dr. Young has written numerous books on various topics in education and psychology. Dr. Christine N. Michael is a more than 40-year educational veteran with a variety of professional experiences. She holds degrees from Brown University, Rhode Island College, Union Institute and University, and the University of Connecticut, where she earned a PhD in education, human development, and family relations. Her previous work has included middle and high school teaching, higher education administration, college teaching, and educational consulting. She has also been involved with Head Start, Upward Bound, national non-profits Foundation for Excellent Schools and College for Every Student, and the federal Trio programs and has published widely on topics in education and psychology. Jennifer A. Smolinski received a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Connecticut. She then earned a Masters of Arts in Psychology and Counseling as well as a Masters of Higher Education Student Affairs from Salem State University before completing a Juris Doctor of Law from Massachusetts School of Law. Attorney Smolinski is currently an EdD in Educational Leadership and Supervision candidate at American International College, where she is focusing her research on special education and laws to protect students with disabilities in the classroom.

Review :
Captivating classrooms: Student Engagement at the Heart of School Improvement is an extremely valuable handbook for school leaders, teachers, and support staff, as well as for parents of PK-12 students, aspiring educators, and higher education faculty who prepare pre-service teachers and administrators. This is a must-read for those who are committed to helping all students find their purpose and passion in education. While Captivating Classrooms explores the specific role that student engagement plays in education, it argues that there are myriad factors that undergird meaningful student learning and participation—such as motivation, exciting teaching strategies, reinventing literacy instruction, and authentic assessment. The book is an excellent addition to the field of education in that it emphasizes the roles that teachers, parents, staff and students themselves must play in creating a stimulating and engaging classroom environment. It is rare for a book to hook the reader so completely, yet that is exactly what Captivating classrooms: Student Engagement at the Heart of School Improvement does. Taking a serious look at student engagement, this book covers such important topics as literacy instruction, motivating the student in authentic ways, meaningful assessment, and many other timely topics for teachers, administrators, and higher education faculty who want the best for our next generation of preservice teacher. This book is a must read for anyone serious about student engagement as a means to increase student outcomes. Captivating classrooms: Student Engagement at the Heart of School Improvement is a timely book that examines a number of factors that impact student success in our schools, both academically and socially. The authors demonstrate how critical emotional, social, and relational elements of learning are in an engaged learning environment. The authors illustrate how to create a true learning community in which all students are motivated to contribute and learn. In a time in which we so often hear stories of disengaged students and the struggles they encounter, it is refreshing to read a book that focuses on how to find points of connection for diverse learners and their families. Helping all stakeholders to see themselves as vital participants in the learning process is one of the great strengths of this book. An educators most important work is to ensure students are engaged in learning. Captivating classrooms: Student Engagement at the Heart of School Improvement provides the platform for educators, higher education faculty, preservice teachers, and administrators who wish to improve their practice or learn new skills and approaches to reaching and teaching all students. The book highlights the best engagement strategies to help students of all ability levels and focuses on topics such as mentorship, reading, and instructional leadership. A must-read for all in education, Captivating Classroom is sure to be used again and again as the best resource for student engagement practices that make the difference.