Introduction
Every teacher needs to be invested and engaged in the learning of their students. Teacher enjoyment and confidence, along with building positive relationships with one’s students, is of upmost importance in a classroom (Stephens, 2015). Not only will this prove to positively affect the outcome of student learning, but it will also show the students how much their teacher cares about them, which in turn will promote student engagement. Encouraging engagement and relationships with teachers can be associated with emotional, cognitive and behavioral engagement in the classroom (Stephens, 2015). Teachers that are engaged with their students take their commitment to their students very seriously. They understand completely how much their students depend on them, both educationally and emotionally, for support, encouragement, and inspiration (Fulcher, 2017). Because of this understanding, students become more empowered to engage in their own learning and take responsibility for their own actions. This will in turn, help these students to become productive citizens and lifelong learners.
The significance of engagement on both ends will have positive effects on student learning and self-worth. There should be a constant focus on the student in the learning environment. This student-centered approach allows for teaching to promote learning. Teachers would provide ways for all learning modalities to have priority in their classroom community. Learning one way and teaching another, along with game-based learning, gives students the flexibility of being able to learn the way that best suits them. (Staff, 2017). Many times all a student wants to know is that their teacher cares about their well-being, not just their academic performance in the classroom community. The engagement of the teacher with the student will promote positive relationships. Students who are actively engaged in the learning process tend to appreciate the importance of what they are learning along with being able to understand more, learn more, remember more, and enjoy it more (Park, 2013). Educators have the challenge of understanding the best way to get students to participate and engage in the learning process. Student learning is of great importance in the classroom, along with teachers ensuring that positive relationships are built and students are engaged. |
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