When Students Don't Play the Game

Jessica Towbin's first instinct when encountering students' widespread disengagement and outright hostility toward her was to try to establish control in the classroom. But this was useless at getting to the root reasons why students were tuning out.

What did help Towbin find out where her students went when they passively or actively withdrew from lessons?

• Shifting from a focus on control to a focus on inquiry.
• Finding out who students are and what's important to them.
• Articulating that learning matters and why it matters.

In "When Students Don't Play the Game," Towbin learns that starting where students are isn't just about diagnosing skill levels; it's about repeatedly asking, "Where are you?" and being prepared to step back and listen.

What helps you reach students who "don't play the game"?