Involving students in a meaningful way in classrooms

Getting learners involved and active in a classroom is one of the things teachers struggle with. Learners follow the crowd and I have seen it in my own school and I still see it today. Learners try so hard to fit in and being involved in school of classroom activities are not cool. But what if teachers can change that by simply changing the way we teach. Instead of trying to control a class let leaners be responsible and let them hold each other accountable, have them set the rules.

Learners want to be heard and that is why open communication in a classroom environment will change so much. I will create an environment in my classroom where every learner opinions, thoughts and worries are heard but there still has to be control, we can’t just allow learners to say what they please if it will offend someone. A classroom is a place of learning not just from the teachers but from other learners as well. So how do you create meaningful involvement of students in classroom?

Simply do not try and control them instead create an environment where they don’t feel the need to be loud and uncontrollable, now you are wondering ok then explain how? Wills (2015) wrote about how her learner never listened and walked in moving tables and was loud. She went home and thought about pedagogy. She placed bowls with water on the tables and wrote on the white broad, “Please keep the floor dry” and the learners tried their best. Now I am not suggesting that every teacher has to try this activity, but this activity was effective and learners were calmer when moving tables. She asked them what was different about today and learners mentioned that they were quiet and worked together.

You don’t have to be an out there teacher trying so hard to get learners involved, you just have to listen and think about new ways of creating a new space and get learners involved. Learners can change a classroom and make it meaningful. I would divide my class into groups and once a month a group will teach the class because it will show learners that I want them involved and I do believe that they are capable of teaching and mostly that I trust them. Get learners to bring photo’s or articles that they think are interesting and put them up in your classroom, show the learners how important their involvement in a classroom could be.