Uses learning styles
When creating lessons that engaged students I use the 3 main learning styles. These are so important when it comes to retention. Using the 3 main learning styles, students are more likely to learn and remember the content that you are teaching. Using learning styles have a magical way of making the content stick. I keep students engaged by adding an element of each learning style into everything I teach, I mean everything!! This allows students to have at least 3 opportunities for their brains to interact with the content. If you like to know more about how I teach other teachers to engage students, check this out.
Get them out of their seats
You know how excited students are when you say stand up, they ask a million question!! Getting students out of their sets is essential to student engagement. Even doing a simple activity will get their attention, and keep them intrigued for the next steps.
Cooperative Learning
Cooperative learning is one of those things that change the environment in your classroom. It makes students responsible for their learning. Students love to work with each other. The best part is because they know they will not be doing the typical type of assignment. I have used cooperative groups for almost as long as I have been teaching. One of the biggest benefits of cooperative groups is engaging students who may be hard to reach.
You are the facilitator
This means students should be doing the majority if they talking with their groups or partner. You listen to their conversations and encourage them if they are on the right track. If you hear a student who is not giving feedback you expect to hear, you talk with them about what you like to hear. Maybe they didn’t understand the question or were confused about the skill they are working on. For example, say in this cooperative learning group students are learning about character analysis. As you walk around you would want to hear them discussing conclusions they have made about the main character such as character traits. If you came to a group that was talking about the setting you would correct them and take a few moments to ensure they understand what they should be doing and keep moving on to the other groups. You can also give them prompts. For example, “How do you think the main charter felt win he lost the race?”
These four processes help me keep my students engaged throughout the lesson. I use learning styles and I get them out of their seats. Cooperative learning makes students responsible for their learning and you facilitate that learning. These are just some of the processes I have used year after year to ensure my students are engaged and learning.
These processes have taken my class from disruptive and unfocused to fully engaged students. For me, as a teacher, it has taken me from defeated and hopeless to empowered and excited to teach my students every single day, and I would be happy to teach you to do it too. You can learn more here.