How to Increase Student Learning in the History Class

Teaching American HistoryB y Hasan Abdul-Malik

Vice-Principal Solano Middle School

Time On Task

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 preparednessand it’s relation to student behavior

4. Awareness of teacher directed behaviors that directly influence student off task behaviors

What is Time-On-Task?

Time-on-task is defined as the percentage of classroom time when students are actively engaged in learning.

When students are actively engaged in learning they are:Focused, Listening, ReadingWriting, Discussing, and Learning

Group Work - Independent Work - Reading - Writing

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.

Teacher Preparedness Increases Time-On-Task

One of the first steps towards increasing student time-on-task is teacher preparedness.

Being prepared sounds very obvious and simplistic but good planning will help to avoid many problems with classroom management, time-on-task, and academic achievement.

What Can Teachers Do? Elements of Teacher Preparedness

1. Have the assignment planned and well thought out. Anticipate and factor unexpected occurrences or events that could impact students time-on-task

2. Have all the necessary materials available

3. Post the assignment forstudents to see and copy

4. Have the students to begin

working immediately with an assignment

5. Monitor that the students have begun the assignment

How To Increase Student Time On Task

Incorporate Preventive 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

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-orientedand predictable environment.

ProcedureStart

Finish

Established Routine(Student automatically

know what to do)

Teach the process

Rehearsal

Rehearsal

Rehearsal

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 talking and fidgeting

These categories accounted for79% of all the misbehaviors

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 lost to more serious misbehavior.

Teacher effectiveness is important towardspreventing lost instructional tie. What is wrong with this picture?

Formula for Success `

Time On Task Actual Learning Time = % f time students

# of instructional *275 minutes = engaged in actual

minutes per day learning

*5 periods of instructional time (55 minute per period)

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 facilitateacademic achievement.

Have a positive and optimistic attitudeand it will become a reality

Time-On-Task

Completing Work Assignments

Think through how well you are prepared as a teacher

Students are Focused on Learning

Expected Student Behavior

5 Types of Student MisbehaviorAggression: physical and verbal attacks by students

on the teacher or other students.

Immorality: acts such as cheating, lying and stealing.

Defiance refusal, 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.