How to Increase Student Learning in the History Class

1. Time On Task How to Increase Student Learning in the History Class Teaching American History B y Hasan Abdul-Malik Vice-Principal Solano Middle School

2. How to Use This PresentationTime-On-Task: How to increase student learning The focus of this presentation is to help department heads, history and social studies teachers teachers improve the quality of content instruction in the classroom. 1. Discussed are several important factors about student learning and off task behavior will be reviewed. 2. Teachers will learn what are some of the common causes of student misbehavior 3. To learn the importance of teacher preparedness and it’s relation to student behavior 4. Awareness of teacher directed behaviors that directly influence student off task behaviors

3. What is Time-On-Task? Group Work - Independent Work - Reading - Writing Time-on-taskis defined as the percentage of classroom time when students are actively engaged in learning. When students areactively engaged in learningthey are: Focused, Listening, Reading Writing, Discussing, and Learning

4. Time-On-Task in the Historyand Social Studies Class? The most content-rich, creative lesson delivered with the latest technology will not mean much for a student staring out the window. Nor will the latest text, hands-on materials, collaborative groupings, or technology have much effect upon kids who are goofing off and socializing.

5. Teacher Preparedness Increases Time-On-Task  One of the first steps towards increasing student time-on-task is teacher preparedness.  Being preparedsounds very obvious and simplistic but good planning will help to avoid many problems with classroom management, time-on-task, and academic achievement.

6. What Can Teachers Do?Elements of Teacher Preparedness 1. Have the assignmentplanned and well thought out. Anticipate and factor unexpected occurrences or events that could impact students time-on-task 2. Have all thenecessary materials available 3. Post the assignmentfor students to see and copy 4. Have the students tobegin working immediately with an assignment 5. Monitorthat the students have begun the assignment

7. How To Increase Student Time On Task  IncorporatePreventive Management teaching strategies that focuses on a range of skills, including alertness, keeping up the pace, establishing routines and procedures  It is the teacher that set the learning climate of the class during the course of instruction and the teacher can take students off task with unnecessary conversations or by causing distractions

8. Teach Students Procedures  A procedure is simply a method or process for how things are to be done in a classroom  There should be a procedures for almost everything the students must do in the classroom  All procedures must be rehearsed until they become routines  A smooth-running class is based on the teacher’s ability to teach students procedures.  A well-managed classroom is a task-oriented and predictable environment. Procedure Start Teach the process Rehearsal Rehearsal Rehearsal Finish Established Routine (Student automatically know what to do)

9. Some Common Causes of Misbehavior •  Research finds the common behavior problems in the • classroom that teachers frequently encounter, include: • Acts of inattention such as being off task; • out of seat, or not doing one’s work • Acts of defiance such as • disrespectful behavior • and disobedience •  Acts of disruption such as • talkingand fidgeting •  These categories accounted for • 79% of all the misbehaviors

10. Lost Classroom Time  About 50% of classroom time is lost due to student misbehavior and being off task.  80% of lost time is due to talking without permission.  19% is lost to daydreaming, out of seat, making noises, etc.  1% is lostto more serious misbehavior.  Teacher effectiveness is important towards preventing lost instructional tie. What is wrong with this picture?

11. Formula for Success` Time On Task Actual Learning Time = % f time students # of instructional *275 minutes = engaged in actual minutes per daylearning *5 periods of instructional time (55 minute per period)

12. Final Thoughts  Think through how well you are prepared as a teacher  In team meetings collaboratively set goals, objectives and discuss ways to improve student and teacher time-on task  Teach students procedures that will become routines and help facilitate academic achievement.  Have a positive and optimistic attitude and it will become a reality

13. Time-On-Task Students are Focused on Learning Completing Work Assignments Think through how well you are prepared as a teacher Expected Student Behavior

14. 5 Types of Student Misbehavior Aggression: physical and verbal attacks by students on the teacher or other students. Immorality: acts such as cheating, lying and stealing. Defiancerefusal, sometimes hostile to do as the of authority: teacher request. Goofing off: fooling around, not doing assigned task, dropping a book and day-dreaming. Class talking loudly, calling out, getting out seat disruptions: and walking around, clowning, tossing objects and the like.