Choregraphing a Class: Incorporating Movement into the Secondary English Language Arts ClassroomOM

At the high school level, students are expected to remain stationary for nearly eight hours a day, making it difficult for students to pay attention and engage with the material in classes, including English class. Recent research suggests that incorporating movement in the high school English classroom can be beneficial to students’ physical well being as well as their comprehension, retention, and enjoyment of course content. In this qualitative self study of student teaching, I used my background as a dancer to explore how introducing movement can further understanding of course material and increase engagement. Based on field notes, in-class activities, and student feedback, I found that using the traditional classroom space in unconventional ways to encourage mobility engaged students and improved their understanding of course content