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Teaching and Tapas

| by Alyssha Swanson

Five tips to increase student engagement in your lessons

by alyssha@teachingandtapas.com

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.

My signs are pretty basic, yet very effective:
* Thumbs up = I agree (or I understand). Thumbs down = I disagree (I don’t understand). Thumbs sideways = I am not sure (or I “kind of” get it)
* When students make a “connection” in reading, math, science, or social studies, let them show you with a symbol rather than blurting, or raising a hand and sharing (pretend these are cute, kid hands rather than my wrinkly old lady fingers 🙂
* If a student was going to say something that someone else said, the “I agree” symbol is so perfect! You definitely cut down the blurts if they all get to silently tell you “I was gonna say that!” (ha ha, this pic shows evidence of the whiteboard marker that always seems to be on my hands and arms 🙂

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…

Exit slips are a fast and easy formative assessment, that if you have not yet tried, I definitely recommend you give it a go!
There is very little prep needed and you can get so much information. For example, if you are teaching a lesson on regrouping in subtraction, ask the students to show how they solve 70 minus their student number. At the end of the day, glance at the post-its to see who “got” the lesson and who is showing some confusion.
I have a “show what you know” board hanging in my classroom. It has a space for every student’s name so that I can quickly see who has turned in their post-it. Exit slips can be used in EVERY classroom subject and make a terrific formative assessment.
Would you like to download a free SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW board? If so, click here to get access to my members-only freebie library where you’ll find this goodie in addition to so much more!

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!)

Context Clues FREEBIE!
Interactive Read Aloud in Six Easy Steps…

Comments

  1. Mrs. Griffith says

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    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

    • - Alyssha says

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      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

  2. Second-grade-alicious says

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    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.

    • - Alyssha says

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      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!

  3. Ms. BBZ says

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    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

    • - Alyssha says

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      I love your comment! Wouldn't it be so awesome to see our online bloggy friends in real life!

      Alyssha

  4. Everyone deServes to Learn says

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    These were great tips! I really want to read more about Whole Brain Teaching this summer.

    -Maria
    Everyone deServes to Learn

    • - Alyssha says

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      The good thing is, there are a TON of free resources!

      Alyssha

  5. Robin Harshman-Rogers says

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    Love them!

  6. Robin Harshman-Rogers says

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    Love them!

  7. Darlene Anne says

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    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

    • - Alyssha says

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      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

  8. Mrs. Lynes says

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    Love all these ideas! Thanks for sharing!!

    • - Alyssha says

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      Of course! Thanks for stopping by!

      Alyssha

  9. karen says

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    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

  10. Mrs. Rios says

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    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

  11. mrhein says

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    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!

  12. Emily Liscom says

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    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

  13. Miss Evans says

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    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.

MEET ALYSSHA

I am a reading teacher and traveler at heart. I spent most of my teaching career abroad, teaching in international schools (most recently: Spain). I am now back in the good 'ol USA, helping teachers figure out how to make reading instruction simple and fantastically effective. Take a peek around and contact me if you have questions! Read More…

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