Overview
Today’s students are constantly bombarded with images and sounds causing them to feel overwhelmed in a traditional lecture-based classroom. Various strategies are discussed on this site to help engage students which leads to increased student participation and comprehension. This site contains easy practical strategies to help students become actively engaged in any class. These strategies can be implemented tomorrow to help you students.
name tents
One of the fastest and easiest ways to engage students is to learn their names. I am awful with names and have a hard time learning them. The simple use of name tents in my class allow me to call students by their correct name and get them involved in class. Name tents also help students learn their classmates' names as well and helps to create a sense of community.
Creating Name Tents is very quick and easy and should be done on the first day of class. You will need some card stock paper and markers. You will need to ask the students to fold their paper either horizontally or vertically. It doesn't matter which way they fold it, but it helps if all students in your class has their name tents folded in the same direction to help you. Next ask students to place their name LARGE in the middle of the tent. The next part allows you to get to know your students better. In the four corners ask them to answer different questions. These can arrange from basic (hometown, major, favorite color) to something that applies to your class (favorite author, book, or quote) to something personal (what is one thing someone would not expect just by looking at them). Once they have completed ;this they are to face it toward the instructor so that he or she can begin calling them by name. You students will be looking at a blank piece of paper. We often have them right an inspirational quote, attach a picture, or something else that will motivate them to do well in your class.
Creating Name Tents is very quick and easy and should be done on the first day of class. You will need some card stock paper and markers. You will need to ask the students to fold their paper either horizontally or vertically. It doesn't matter which way they fold it, but it helps if all students in your class has their name tents folded in the same direction to help you. Next ask students to place their name LARGE in the middle of the tent. The next part allows you to get to know your students better. In the four corners ask them to answer different questions. These can arrange from basic (hometown, major, favorite color) to something that applies to your class (favorite author, book, or quote) to something personal (what is one thing someone would not expect just by looking at them). Once they have completed ;this they are to face it toward the instructor so that he or she can begin calling them by name. You students will be looking at a blank piece of paper. We often have them right an inspirational quote, attach a picture, or something else that will motivate them to do well in your class.
Bio
I grew up in Rocky Mount, NC and moved back after earning my Master's of English with a Concentration in Rhetoric and Composition from East Carolina University. GO PIRATES!! I am married and we have 3 boys--Luke, Joshua, and Noah. They keep us busy between Boy/Cub Scouts and sports. When I am not teaching or attending an activity for one of the boys, I love to be with my friends, read a good book, and travel to new places. I have had the opportunity to travel to many places in the United States as well as the world. As a family, we are always looking for our next great adventure.
Professionally, I have taught for 15 years in both the high school and the community college setting. I love teaching at the community college level. My students are very diverse and I learn from them as much as I hope they learn from me. Currently, I am teaching 2 different composition classes. ENG 111 is required by all students regardless of their major and ENG 112 is required for those who plan to transfer to a 4-year university or college. In the past I have taught Critical Thinking, American Literature, and Literature-Based Research. All of the classes offer different ways for me to connect and engage students in thinking, reading, and writing.
I have also become very involved in Nash Community College's professional development. I am a site team member for AVID for Higher Education as well as the coordinator for our on-campus Snack and Shares. The Snack and Shares are a great way for our in-house experts to share what strategies they use in their classes to engage student learning. Recently I have taken on the role of True Blue Core Professional Learning Community Coordinator. We are actively engaged in creating an interdisciplinary professional learning community. I have discovered that I truly enjoy talking and interacting with colleagues to discover what are the best strategies to help students learn. With my new roles at Nash Community College, I have recognized that I love helping to develop courses and facilitating professional development. The collaboration with colleagues through professional development and learning communities is priceless. I want to try new things and see what does and does not work to fix it next time. My goal is to continue learning what my profession has to offer and what I can do to make sure students succeed not only in my class, but in all the classes they take at Nash and beyond.
Professionally, I have taught for 15 years in both the high school and the community college setting. I love teaching at the community college level. My students are very diverse and I learn from them as much as I hope they learn from me. Currently, I am teaching 2 different composition classes. ENG 111 is required by all students regardless of their major and ENG 112 is required for those who plan to transfer to a 4-year university or college. In the past I have taught Critical Thinking, American Literature, and Literature-Based Research. All of the classes offer different ways for me to connect and engage students in thinking, reading, and writing.
I have also become very involved in Nash Community College's professional development. I am a site team member for AVID for Higher Education as well as the coordinator for our on-campus Snack and Shares. The Snack and Shares are a great way for our in-house experts to share what strategies they use in their classes to engage student learning. Recently I have taken on the role of True Blue Core Professional Learning Community Coordinator. We are actively engaged in creating an interdisciplinary professional learning community. I have discovered that I truly enjoy talking and interacting with colleagues to discover what are the best strategies to help students learn. With my new roles at Nash Community College, I have recognized that I love helping to develop courses and facilitating professional development. The collaboration with colleagues through professional development and learning communities is priceless. I want to try new things and see what does and does not work to fix it next time. My goal is to continue learning what my profession has to offer and what I can do to make sure students succeed not only in my class, but in all the classes they take at Nash and beyond.
Contact Information
Renee Martinez
Nash Community College 252-451-8373
522 N. Old Carriage Road
Rocky Mount, NC 27803 [email protected]
Nash Community College 252-451-8373
522 N. Old Carriage Road
Rocky Mount, NC 27803 [email protected]