We're Engaged! Put a Ring on Students' Learning

We’re Engaged!Put a Ring on Student

EngagementKristen Meckley

East Forsyth Middle SchoolI.E.S.S.

AND MORE!• The most important thing is to know

your students’ interests and what will get them interested in learning!

• Other engaging tools/resources:–Word Whackers– Quiet Dice

**Stop by the IESS booth for more information and resources seen today!**

Kahoot!• Kahoot! is a free website and app that is

the next generation of review activity. • You can create and edit your own

questions, or browse from thousands of already made games.

• Students are able to watch their score and standings as the game progresses.

• Students can use phones, tablets or computers to participate.

• https://create.kahoot.it/#login?next=

Games• Adapt classic board games to fit in

with curriculum and/or review.–matching, cards, monopoly, situational,

etc.• Have students create their own

board game as a form of assessment. – Small groups of students can go around

and try out each game as a form of review or learning.

Buzzers• Buzzers are a simple way to engage

all students in their learning.–Motivates students who do not typically

participate in whole class discussion or review.

• Can be used with a formative or summative assessment review game.

EPR – Every Pupil Response• Each student has a piece of paper with

responses. – A B C D, 1 2 3 4, True False, categories, etc.

• After asking a question, each student holds up their paper, pointing to their answer choice.

• Allows ALL students (even those who don't like to answer out loud) to share their answer in a judgment free zone.

Beach Ball Questions• Write questions on an inflatable beach

ball. Toss the ball to a student, and they answer the question that their right thumb lands on or near. After they answer the question, they throw the ball to another students, and so on.

• Students are asked higher-level thinking questions.

Alpha Boxes• Alpha Boxes are a vocabulary skill building

tool that forces students to think about words associated with any given topic. – Think outside “typical” vocabulary words – Stretch vocabulary knowledge

• Can be used as an assessment tool.– pre, formative, and post

• Whole class motivation tool– Make a contest between classes to see who can

fill up all the boxes first, or which class can think of the most words by a given date.

– Emphasize QUALITY of words in relation to topic.

Songs and Raps

• Music and be used as a classroom management tool or as an assessment method.

• Using music creates a less formal and intimidating atmosphere.

• Music can relax or energize your students.• Drama allows students to interpret what their

know and put it in a creative format• Songs or raps to show knowledge of content.

– Pathogens Rap• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDbQHiqfkGU

Choose Your Own Ending Books• Engage students in

reading by giving them CHOICE.

• Different points of view on the same topic.

• Can be used as a read-aloud or as an anchoring activity for early finishers.

• Grow your class library with non-fiction texts.

Skits & Plays• Skits and plays are a way to fully emerge

students in the content. • Makes the subject matter come to life. • Students learn more when they “do”

rather than “absorb” information. • Creates a whole class learning experience

and gets all students involved. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=fQN5Ohof6UM&index=11&list=PL5BTyx9XQNvjmXFpGpve0ZcVqKvkUUH4c

Graphic Novels• Get more students excited about reading

with the use of graphic novels.• Graphic novels are more approachable for

students who may not be on grade level for reading.

• Highly illustrated and rarely have large consecutive paragraphs.

• All content areas and grade levels.

Pop Up Books• Pop up books have evolved greatly

over the years.• The modern day pop up book is more

interactive than ever! They come with lights, sounds and better pictures.

• Easily accessible content for all grade levels and content areas.

Service Learning

• Get students involved in their community by connecting curriculum with a real world issue or problem.

• Makes students feel like they are part of something bigger.

• Helps make real world connections.

Read-Alouds• Choose a book, story, or article in your content area, and read it to the class. • Both struggling readers AND proficient readers

have equal access to the text. – Struggling readers have the opportunity to give their

full attention to the language and visual images that the text creates while having someone else do the decoding.

– Fluent readers fine tune their observational and listening skills and further grow in knowledge of new words, situations, events, and characterization.

• Create a community of learners and readers. I recommend Scholastic Read-Aloud Anthology by Janet Allen and Patrick Daley

Simulations• “A simulation is a teacher-

directed, Student Driven activity that provides like-life problem solving experiences through role playing or reenacting.”

– “Easy Simulations,” Scholastic• Students acquire a deep

understanding of the topic by… – taking responsibility for their

own learning– working cooperatively with

teammates– and applying skills in logic to

solve problems they encounter

Interactive Notebook• Interactive notebooks (INB) are a great, interactive

way for students to take notes and retain information.

• On the left side of the notebook, the teacher gives students notes. – vocab, graphic organizers, PowerPoint notes, primary

sources, reading passages, etc. • On the right side of the notebook, students take

the information from their notes and use it to create products that showcase their understanding of the content. – sensory figures, charts, comic strips, word webs,

picture summaries, etc.

Hexagon Puzzles• Hexagon puzzles are a fun way for students to

review content before a test or test.• Students are given a sheet of paper with

hexagons on it. • Within each hexagon is a term that has to do

with the topic. • Students much match the sides of the

hexagons together to show a connection between the two terms. – For each connection, students must explain how the

two terms relate to one another.

Stations• Stations allow you to get a lot of information

to students in a short amount of time. • Students work in groups of various sizes to

complete tasks at different "stations" or points around the room. – After a given amount of time, the students either

physically move to the next station, or pass the station materials to the next group.

– By the end of the station time, students will have gotten all the information.

• This method gives students a time limit, which motivates them to complete work.

• Students must work together on tasks, which enriches their collaboration skills.

3-2-1• Use as a ticket out the door.• Checks for understanding,

comprehension, and ability to analyze and manipulate information.

• Able to get a response from all students.

AND MORE!• The most important thing to keep in

mind is knowing your students and what will catch their attention.

• More ideas:–Word Whackers– Quiet Dice– Choice Boards

** COME BY THE IESS BOOTH FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO SEE RESOURCES

USED TODAY! **