Engagement in the Elementary Classroom
As an elementary teacher, I know the importance of engaging my students. Creating engaging lessons requires knowledge of resources, creativity, understanding of students' needs, and patience. Fortunately for novice and experienced teachers alike, there are many resources and ideas for engaging your students; however, to borrow a phrase from my grandmother, educators must know how to "take the meat and leave the bones." You must know what your students need and select engagement strategies that connect them to what you are teaching.
Check out your Teacher’s Editions (TE) to find engagement strategies. Most TE have ideas for learning centers, small group instruction, and other ways to use technology to get students interested. If your school district provides a curriculum, that is another source. And do not forget about the teacher down the hall or the lead teachers such as the grade level chairperson, reading specialist, math instructional coach, dean of students, etc. These educators are knowledgeable and there to support you. Your colleagues may have great engagement ideas; ask them.
Here are a few ideas that work for my students:
Playing Games: Traditional games like sight word bingo and matching math facts with correct answers are excellent for engaging students. Online web-based games like Kahoot and Blooket are class favorites for reinforcing skills and engaging students.
Technology: I use interactive whiteboards and short videos to enhance lessons and hold students’ attention daily. My school system also provides educational programs that support the curriculum. Many programs have links to short stories, videos, or images that help students learn and keep them interested.
Split-Up Lessons: Breaking up long lessons into smaller, easier-to-understand parts might help students stay interested. Younger students are not going to listen to lengthy lectures. Students will be more interested if you teach them in smaller chunks of 5 to 7 minutes. After talking, students should have an opportunity to work with their classmates. During that time, teachers should check students’ comprehension. This is a great time to do a Think-Pair-Share or Turn-and-Talk.
Field Trips - Field trips can be a great way to engage kids. When possible, get the students out of the school building or bring the field trip to them (virtual or mobile field trips). On field trips to museums, zoos, and other educational destinations, students can get hands-on learning and real-world knowledge about what they study in the classroom. For example, students can visit the aquarium to learn more about underwater habits. My students loved the aquarium, and we followed up the field trip by writing about what we saw and drawing pictures. The sharks were a favorite.
In the end, to keep students interested, you must use different methods that fit their learning styles and academic needs. This means you have to know your students. It can be challenging to engage students, so it's essential to have plans to keep students' attention and give them chances to talk, listen, and learn.
