5 Surprising Hacks That’ll Make Them All Ears
Teaching can sometimes feel like trying to put a square peg in a round hole! Throughout my teaching journey, I’ve had those little ninjas who seemed to just blend into the background. So quiet that sometimes, I’d almost forget to check on them. On the flip side, there were students ready to grab the mic at any given chance. Between the eager beavers and the silent observers, finding balance can be a real challenge. I’ve found some elementary engagement strategies that your students will beg for more of.
These top-notch tactics were inspired by the research conducted by Kimberly D. Tanner titled, “Structure Matters: Twenty-One Teaching Strategies to Promote Student Engagement and Cultivate Classroom Equity” in CBE- Life Sciences Education. Tap the link if you’re itching to delve deeper into her findings. Now, let’s take a look at the most surprising engagement strategies!
1. Less is More, For Real
Early in my teaching days, I thought more was better. Like the time I tried introducing ten text features all in one go. Yep, you can do that math on how that turned out. Keep your mini-lessons mini. When it’s too much, your students will get overwhelmed (you will too), and they often checkout.
Elementary Engagement Strategies – Try It Out Challenge:
For your next lesson, pick one main concept or skill. Dive deep, give examples, and keep it focused. Watch as your students grasp it like never before!
2. Multiple Hands, Multiple Voices
I’m guilty of occasionally calling on the same eager hands. It’s like having everyone on the same boat, but only a few have paddles. But when I started to say, “I want to see at least three hands before I start calling on students to share,” magic happened! Suddenly, hands were shooting up left, right, and center. It felt like I’d taken student engagement to the next level!
Elementary Engagement Strategies – Try It Out Challenge:
Next class, resist the urge to call on the first hand you see. Wait, breathe, and then call on someone unexpected. You might be pleasantly surprised!
3. Vary Active-Learning Techniques:
Using the same technique repeatedly can become stale. Like my beloved think-pair-share in math. It’s my favorite for getting all students to participate in math. To switch things up, I introduced the Post-it strategy. Suddenly, every child had a voice, without the spotlight stress. This was a game-changer for us!
Elementary Engagement Strategies – Try It Out Challenge:
Trade your go-to active-learning technique for something new next week. It could be a jigsaw, mind mapping, interactive notebooks, games, ball toss, etc. See the sparks fly! Share in the comments what you want to try!
4. Use Praise with Caution
It’s not rocket science; we all love a pat on the back. I share about the power of praise all the time like in this post about boosting student confidence.
But one day, after dishing out a generic “Great job!”, I noticed other students almost… deflate. The kids who received that praise developed the reputation of “The Smart Kid,” and most students felt defeated by that.
By keeping my feedback neutral and inclusive when students are responding to class discussions, the vibe shifted, making everyone feel like they could share. It doesn’t mean you can’t praise your students. It just means you shouldn’t overdo it when you’re doing group discussions.
Elementary Engagement Strategies – Try It Out Challenge:
The next time you’re tempted to praise, pause. Opt for a neutral response that encourages continued discussion.
5. Keep the Feedback Coming:
Raise your hand if you’ve waited till test day to gauge understanding. Guilty as charged! But why wait for a summative assessment when formative feedback is easy peasy? I’m talking quick polls using Kahoot, Google Forms, or those clickers the kids love. These are all a hit and have the potential to be your new best friend!
You can also use this Lesson Check for self-evaluation after every single lesson so you’ll always have feedback. Click here to download this free resource!
Try It Out Challenge:
Next time you’re teaching, use a tech tool to gauge understanding in real-time. Your students will love it, and you’ll get instant insights that are pure gold!
By now, you’ve got some fresh ideas to take your engagement game up a notch. And because I can’t help but share the love, here’s a special treat! Dive deeper into engagement with my 15 Strategies for Math FREEBIE.
Leave a Reply