How do you motivate a classroom of bored teenagers, self-absorbed tweens, or energetic younger students to learn? In this book, you'll explore what Michael F. Opitz and Michael P. Ford have discovered about planning lessons that engage students and enable them to truly enjoy learning. The authors outline key findings from research on motivation and engagement and offer real-life teaching examples from various grades. They show how to systematically propel students to enjoy using their minds every day-and to view themselves as confident learners ready to take on the challenges of the world. Engaging Minds in the Classroom is a must-read for any educator who understands that developing students' love of learning is the catalyst for achievement at every level.

We decide, every day, whether we are going to turn students on or off to science and mathematics in our classrooms."" Daily decisions about how to incorporate creativity, choice, and autonomy-integral components of engagement-can build students' self-efficacy, keep them motivated, and strengthen their identities as scientists and mathematicians. In this book, Eric Brunsell and Michelle A. Fleming show you how to apply the joyful learning framework introduced in Engaging Minds in the Classroom to instruction in science and mathematics. Acknowledging that many students-particularly girls and students of color-do not see themselves as mathematicians and scientists, the authors provide a series of suggested activities that are aligned with standards and high expectations to engage and motivate all learners. Given the current focus on encouraging students to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) studies, this book is a welcome addition to every teacher's reference collection.

How can we keep students attentive, thoughtful, and inquisitive about learning in language arts? It certainly takes more than new standards and assessments. In this book, Mary Jo Fresch shows how you can use the joyful learning framework introduced in Engaging Minds in the Classroom to better engage students in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and other elements of language arts learning. She provides innovative instructional approaches for diverse students at all grade levels, linking the strategies to the research that demonstrates the effects of motivation and engagement on student success. Educators striving to meet the multiple challenges of standards, assessments, ELL instruction, and achievement gaps have more reasons than ever before to attend to this critical aspect of learning. Engaging Minds in English Language Arts Classrooms will inspire you to make the kinds of changes in your classroom that will truly engage students' minds-by helping them experience joy in learning. Mary Jo Fresch is a professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Ohio State University. She is the author of multiple works on literacy instruction, including The Power of Picture Books (with Peggy Harkins) and Teaching and Assessing Spelling (with Aileen Wheaton).

Political intrigue. Environmental issues. Ethical dilemmas. Critical thinking. Problem solving. Social studies content is directly connected to real life and is filled with built-in hooks to transform tuned-out students into engaged and enthusiastic learners. Experiencing schoolwide elections, researching a cause, and participating in mock court cases are just a few ways to build the joyful self-efficacy and knowledge that students need for college, careers, and civic-minded adulthood. Springing from the insights and research in Engaging Minds in the Classroom: The Surprising Power of Joy, Erekson explains how to integrate the joyful learning approach with social studies standards, including the Common Core, the National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies, and the College, Career, and Civic Life framework. In addition to discussing how to create a student-centered classroom and develop activities that generate authentic products and meaningful outcomes, Erekson provides specific strategies that will enhance your own joy of teaching and learning. This volume completes the set of Engaging Minds, and is a welcome addition to every teacher's reference collection.