How do you keep your students engaged and motivated throughout your lesson? Do you have any special techniques to make keep your students interacting throughout? We know that just calling on one student who raises their hand is not the best way to create learning for everyone. Active engagement is critical.
Below, I have compiled my top five strategies for active engagement throughout a lesson.
(a.k.a. Turn and Tell, or Think Pair Share) Assign thinking partners that students sit next to during group lessons. My group lessons are almost always on our classroom rug. The students know that when they are on the rug, they are sitting next to their partner. In nearly EVERY one of my lessons, I give the students a chance to share their thinking with their partner. For example, during an Interactive Read Aloud – “Is this character likeable, why or why not? Turn and tell your partner what you think”. This way EVERY student in the class is involved rather than just the student you call on when they raise their hand. This totally helps with “blurts” as well.
During a lesson, or after an activity, ask students to choose ONE word, phrase, and sentence to sum it up (or some variation of these three). The students can share this response on piece of paper, a post-it, whiteboard, or with their turn and talk partner. For example, after a science lesson on Aztec homes, ask the students think of one word to describe the homes and share this word on the whiteboard in front of the class. It is actually quite a rigorous activity to find the perfect word!
This strategy can also be used to summarize reading. Ask the student to choose one word, phrase, and sentence that is taken directly from the text that summarizes what they have read. There is not a lot of writing involved, yet a lot of thinking that must go into this activity.
Mirroring is an excellent Whole Brain Teaching technique that is easy to implement and keeps your students engaged. There are much more official methods than what I will describe, but the way I use it is by holding my hands up with palms out, I say “Mirror”. Then I make motions and the students immediately mimic them. This is an great strategy when using manipulatives in math but it can be used across your curriculum. Here is a great example of a teacher using mirroring…
I hope these tips are helpful for  you as you as your classrooms heat up.  My question for you is: How do you engage ALL of your students during your lessons?
Before you go, grab your SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW board (and get access to so much more in my member’s-only freebie library!)
Thanks so much for this. I can always use a friendly reminder to use the simple things to keep them engaged. A lot of times I'm trying to think of amazing lessons to keep them focused when all they really need is a brain/talk break to put what they know into their own words.
Lindsay
For the Love of First Grade
So true! This is actually my first year really delving into making all of my lessons more interactive. I will admit that in the past I have been totally guilty of calling on the one kid raising their hand 🙂
Alyssha
I often use think, pair, share or their thumbs as well.
I have also given them white boards and markers to write their thought down as I'm talking. Or they can draw a smiley face if they get it, sad face if they don't and a face with a straight line if they are in the "so-so" category.
I love the idea of white boards as well! It is kind of a side note but I have not figured out a good way to distribute the mini white boards without it taking at least three minutes. Ugg. I have a total class of WHINERS this year!
Arg, what I was trying to say was that we are SO on the same page – I would LOVE to see you teach. I guess I need a vacation to Spain!! 🙂
Ms. BBZ: Integrated Learning in Second Grade
I love your comment! Wouldn't it be so awesome to see our online bloggy friends in real life!
Alyssha
These were great tips! I really want to read more about Whole Brain Teaching this summer.
-Maria
Everyone deServes to Learn
The good thing is, there are a TON of free resources!
Alyssha
Love them!
Love them!
Alyssha, I love these tips! I use exit slips, but now I think I'll take a page from you and make a Show What You Know board for each class.
Thank you!
Darlene
meatballsinthemiddle
I promise, it is an awesome tool. I use it in EVERY subject and it works out so well for getting a sneak peak. Plus, if you can figure out a way to organize their past post-its, you can gather some great data about their progress!
Alyssha
Love all these ideas! Thanks for sharing!!
Of course! Thanks for stopping by!
Alyssha
Love your summary. I use a few of the same things with my kinders. We do "Turn and Talk" and some of the basic signs– but your "I agree" sign is genius! Totally stealing that.
I also do "Mirror" from WBT and a few of their attention grabbers and they are super!
Karen
Mrs. Jones’s Kindergarten
Loved these ideas. I use "Turn and Talk" daily, as well as the connection gesture. But the "I agree" and "Mirror" techniques were new to me. I can totally see myself trying those out next week. Also, didn't realize that this "Show What You Know" board came from you. I pinned it last week, and had put it on my TO DO list! Thanks so much for these great ideas!
Nicole
Mrs. Rios Teaches Second Grade
I love the word, phrase, sentence activity! I will be using it this week! I also like the agree sign. I already do the thumbs up, to the side, and down quite a lot as well, as turn and talk. Thanks for the great tips!
Alyshha,
I absolutely love this post, and I hope every teacher can read it. Thank you so much for your words of wisdom! You are amazing:)
Emily
Thank you for sharing your ideas! I'm a second year teacher and I've been trying to find ways to keep my students engaged. I'm ready to use this ideas in the classroom tomorrow.