Introduction
When students learn, they must be in a comfortable and motivating environment. Moreover, students’ satisfaction with the classroom environment and atmosphere positively impacts their learning outcomes. In 7th—and 8th-grade science classes, students should use cooperative learning to help them better understand information. This will enhance their analytical and communication skills and teach them teamwork. Therefore, it is essential to identify effective strategies for engagement and motivation and how group learning methods will assist students in their efforts to learn efficiently.
Classroom Environment and Focus
The classroom design needs to be developed for learners to be motivated to learn. Accordingly, groups of three or four students should feel comfortable and have equal access to all subjects in the classroom (Franklin & Harrington, 2019). The teacher should honor each student and support them during difficult exercises.
Thus, each group should be facing the front of the room so the teacher can move between groups. The groups create learning materials, and the group leader can get them for projects or experiments (Washington University in St. Louis, n.d.). This enhances group cooperation and motivates them to complete the task successfully.
Strategies for the Development of the Organization
Meanwhile, students will be more motivated to learn if the classroom space is organized. Accordingly, it is crucial to structure the learning environment, using bookshelves and colored boxes to store materials specific to each group. In addition, each student is assigned a specific job in the classroom, which promotes a sense of ownership and responsibility (Washington University in St. Louis, n.d.). This way of organizing the classroom will motivate students to engage in the tasks while enabling them to learn time management and responsibility.
Advantages of Group Learning Activities
In addition, teaching students in small groups of three or four has many benefits for their learning outcomes. The reason is that they interact as a group and learn to process the information their classmates offer critically. Moreover, they can evaluate problems and learn to solve them as a team (Washington University in St. Louis, n.d.). Furthermore, the distribution of roles in groups helps to develop management skills and encourages teamwork. During group work, students also learn how to choose the best answer and agree on the final answer.
Communicate Effectively with Different Students
Another way to engage students is to pay attention to their needs and create an inclusive classroom. This is especially true for students with language barriers and cultural differences. They need additional support from teachers to engage in group learning (Franklin & Harrington, 2019).
Therefore, it is essential to use special vocabulary common to several languages, such as Internet and peer translators, to establish communication and explain the learning inflection. The special vocabulary will be available in all languages used in the classroom, ensuring that parents’ letters are translated into their native language to ensure communication between parents and teachers (Suskie, 2018). To create more motivation among students, English teachers should support children when explaining tasks and using their language for difficult topics.
Implementation of Strategies in Future Professional Practice
Strategies for motivating and engaging students will be the basis for my future teaching practices. Creating a student-centered, engaging, and organized classroom will help create a positive learning environment where all students have equal access to teacher support (Suskie, 2018). By incorporating group learning activities, I will encourage collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving among students, allowing them to develop academically and socially. In addition, maintaining effective communication with students from various backgrounds will promote inclusivity and ensure that all students feel valued and supported on their learning journey.
Conclusion
In summary, implementing successful methods for encouraging participation and motivation, and the role of group learning in 7th and 8th-grade science classrooms can contribute to students’ academic achievement. Moreover, a favorable classroom environment and space organization will positively affect their willingness to engage in learning activities. Additionally, providing additional support for children with special needs and creating an inclusive environment will contribute to their academic success.
References
Franklin, H., & Harrington, I. (2019). A review into effective classroom management and strategies for student engagement: Teacher and student roles in today’s classrooms. Journal of Education and Training Studies, 7(12), 1-12. Web.
Suskie, L. (2018). Assessing student learning: A common sense guide. John Wiley & Sons.
Washington University in St. Louis. (n.d.). Benefits of group work. Web.
