Most teachers teach because they love it. Being able to convey knowledge clearly and enthusiastically is one key to effective student learning, and therein rests a secret to becoming a truly great teacher. Becoming a successful teacher depends on the teacher’s ability to develop a relationship that increases the likelihood that students will pay attention to and understand the teacher’s message.
When students are paying attention, they will persist in their work despite challenges and obstacles. They will take visible delight in accomplishing their work and it means that they are engaged.
There are many strategies for engaging students when you are planning and delivering your lessons. Here are some strategies that you can apply in your classroom:
1. Essential Question
What is the intended goal of the lesson? Remember, there is one essential question for every lesson, and students must be able to answer this question by the end of the lesson.
2. Activating Strategy
It is something that gets students actively thinking or making a connection with the material being presented that day. Make a connection to the content or to the outside world to see how much the students already know or remember.
3. Relevant Vocabulary
Relevant vocabulary must be present in your lesson. Keep your vocabulary limited to what your students are able to handle and make sure that it is actively used in context throughout the lesson. Also have your students interactively use the words during the lesson.
4. Limited Lecture Time
There should be limited lecture time. After 12-15 minutes of lecturing, you should engage your students in some type of activity, even if it’s for only a few minutes.
5. Graphic Organizer
Use of a graphic organizer allows students to visually categorize new information or review old information. When they look at information that’s organized, it’s easier for them to retain and remember that information.
6. Student Movement
Student movement is a must. Students need to be mobile at some point during instruction to ensure they’re actively engaged.
7. Higher Order Thinking Questions
Present your students with at least three higher-order-thinking (‘HOT’) questions during the lesson. This is proof that you are presenting all your students with challenging work.
8. Summarize
Summarize to bring the lesson to a close. This is when you can assess your students’ abilities to effectively answer the essential question, and you can find out whether you need to extend or refine the skill.
9. Rigorous
Lessons must be rigorous. The activities should be challenging and move at a brisk pace. There should not be opportunities for students to get bored or periods when they have nothing to do. The entire lesson should be an active lesson.
10. Student Centered
Your entire lesson should be student centered. The ways that we instruct our students must demonstrate that they are our focus and that what we do is centered on their success. The use of technology as a tool is a critical component of this. It provides students with 21st-century skills that are both engaging and relevant to real-world applications. It is a partnership: If you effectively and successfully plan, your students will effectively and successfully work and learn.
Students who are engaged in their assignments will work harder to complete them and put forth their best effort. The result will be smarter students, higher test scores and happier teachers.
Source: http://www.edutopia.org/stw-school-turnaround-student-engagement-tips; www.psy chologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/observer/2006/april-06/evaluating-and-improv ing-your-teaching.html; http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept95/vol53/num01/Strengthening-Student-Engagement@-What-Do-Students-Want.aspx
Writer: Aulia Nurdini
Editor: Michael R. Clarke
