Keeping Students Engaged

Back to the Basics

We all remember creating extensive lesson plans as student teachers. We had to link lessons to standards, detail step-by-step procedures, and add a reflection and follow-up piece; it seemed like it would never end. In addition, it was harder to write these lesson plans knowing that they weren't for use in the real world. However, all of that practice helps you to internalize the steps you need to follow when designing classroom lessons.

When you become a credentialed teacher, you aren't required to identify your goals, list the necessary materials, and identify adaptations and differentiation strategies in a written format, but it's still important to address each of these areas. By designing a complete lesson, you can make sure that you meet the needs of all of your students. After your lesson, you might want to think about what was successful and what didn't work. Were those worksheets useful or necessary? Was that book meaningful? Did you provide accommodations for your English Language Learners? Were your GATE students challenged? Asking yourself these questions can help make your lessons better for next time.

Be Prepared

Nothing is worse than making students wait while their teacher is searching for a stack of handouts or a transparency for an overhead projector. Students begin to lose focus and teachers waste precious time that may affect the outcome of their lesson. With limited time allotted for each lesson, make sure all the materials are ready. Have all your photocopies made, books pulled from the shelves, and materials ready to be distributed. Remember to think about everything you may need, including the worksheets or the scissors and pencils. If you are cutting pieces of paper out, make sure to have a recycle bin handy for scraps of paper. 

If you are planning to separate students into groups, have the groups pre-made or use popsicle sticks to choose at random. This will save time. Planning ahead will make things run smoothly and keep your students engaged.

Classroom Management

Prior to teaching your lesson, try to think of the possible classroom management tools you may need to utilize. Whether you use a marble jar, "Teacher Tokens" for the classroom store, or a timer, keep them close and ready to use at a moment's notice. If you don't have any classroom management tools already in your repertoire, try these:

• Flick the lights on and off to signal that students should freeze.
• Count down from ten. Stop when all your students are quiet and in their seat.
• Clap a rhythm and have your students to repeat it. Continue to clap different rhythms until all students have joined in. 

Motivating Lesson Plans: