Imagine sitting in class, staring at the clock, waiting for that bell to ring. Now, imagine a different class, where the teacher makes learning exciting and fun. Which class would you prefer?

Mount Carmel teachers know that students learn best when they are involved and engaged in the topic. To receive their full attention, teachers use different strategies such as interactive activities, structured lessons, and group work. This is important because when students are involved, they learn more and stay focused.

All of the teachers at MC have developed effective teaching styles to keep students engaged, but one example stands out in the classroom.

“I try to make sure that my class period is always divided up into three distinct activities if I can,” said English Department Chair and one of this years green jacket finalists, Mr. Dan Haggerty ’11. “I don’t want students to be sitting in one thing for 40 minutes at a time, so I try to break it up into three 10, or 15-minute segments.” 

Mr. Haggerty’s approach to teaching helps his students stay focused because they are always working on a new activity. He also keeps students active and on their feet, by making them act out scenes from a play instead of just reading them. 

“For several of the scenes in Romeo and Juliet, we acted them out so students could understand them better.”  

By doing this, students become part of the lesson instead of just watching it happen or listening to their teacher lecture about it for the entire class.

Another strategy teachers use to keep their students engaged is by providing structured group work. 

“We do a lot of group work,” said English teacher and 2022 green jacket award winner Mr. Brooks Nevrly. “If people do something individually for a long time, they naturally want to share it with others. Allowing students to collaborate makes them more engaged.” 

Group work encourages students to participate and learn from their classmates. “I think group activities are good but it’s only when everyone in the group is pulling their weight because if everyone is actually doing their work it makes things a lot less stressful and a lot easier,” said junior Eddie Roche. 

Structure is also important, especially for students who need clear steps to follow the material that is being covered in class. When students know what comes next, they are more likely to stay focused.

“The style we use involves a lot of call and response,” said Mr. Nevrly. “We’ll take two minutes to write, then talk in pairs, then discuss as a whole group. This keeps students involved because they have a plan to follow and know what to expect.”

When students start losing focus, successful teachers do their best to bring them back into the discussion. 

Mr. Nevrly believes that being present is key. 

“It’s about being present, walking around, [and] making sure students don’t have questions,” he said. “I send out a weekly bulletin to parents about what we’re doing in class.” 

This helps students feel more connected to their work. Mr. Haggerty also keeps students on track with a simple technique. 

“I give my students structure and a routine so they know what to expect,” he said. 

Mr. Haggerty also uses a trademark strategy to keep students engaged. He keeps a tennis ball at the ready and throws it to those who answer questions in class. This simple technique keeps students alert and encourages participation. One never knows when a bright yellow ball will be whizzing by them, so it is best to stay alert and engaged.

Keeping students engaged in class is one of the greatest challenges teachers face. However, by using different activities, group work, and other engaging strategies, teachers do their best to make learning exciting. 

Even though distractions exist, efficient teachers know how to bring the students back and keep them focused. 

MC is proud to have teachers like this, and as Roche puts it, “An engaging teacher helps me learn better because if I’m actually practicing and the teacher is making sure I am practicing, it’s a lot easier for me to learn.” 

When teachers use the right strategies, students aren’t just forced to learn, but they enjoy it.