Teaching is challenging; often, students struggle to focus and engage in the classroom material. When they’re not engaging, they’re not learning and progressing in their development. In this article, we look at several strategies that can be used to engage students in a classroom environment.
Relate the theory to real life
Learning topics such as maths can leave students questioning when they will need to know this information in the real world. If they don’t see a practical application for the knowledge, they may disengage and find it challenging to hold on to the new knowledge. A great way to engage students is by relating the topic you’re learning to real-life situations that they’re familiar with; this will allow them to see the practical benefits of paying attention and learning about the subject. Almost everything that’s taught in the classroom has real-world applications; you simply need to find the most engaging examples to get your students’ attention.
Appeal to their competitive nature
When learning becomes a competition, it can help some students engage in the topic and pay more attention to what they’re learning. Those with a strong competitive personality will want to do well and beat their classmates, no matter what the competition involves. This approach can be as simple or as complex as you’d like to make it, a quiz with a prize is a simple example of adding competition to your classroom. A more complex example could be a project where students need to work together to present something back to the class, and the top group will win something more valuable. The prizes don’t need to be extravagant or complex to appeal to your students’ competitive nature.
Ask for physical responses
Asking students questions is a great way to engage them, but some students answer more than others. To get all students engaged in the question, you can ask them for physical responses to your questions. This could be a thumbs up or thumbs down, or you can start with them all standing and asking different questions, which allows them to sit down. When they need to participate in the task actively, they’re much more likely to be engaged as an active participant.
Utilise noise and light
Students have many lessons daily, and staying focused throughout every lesson can be challenging. One way to grab their attention is through the use of light and sound. A teacher’s whistle can stop students in their tracks and get them to sit up and pay attention. In addition, you can use light to grab your students’ attention and make the class more novel. Anything that’s out of the ordinary can help to engage your students in the material you’re trying to teach them.
Playing games
Games are a great way to engage your students in a range of different topics; they don’t need to be complex or time-consuming to create. There are plenty of online games you can use within your classroom. Use bingo cards with answers to maths problems you set, or create a quiz using questions related to your topic. There are lots of options when it comes to gaming, and students will often enjoy the game, which means they’re more likely to be engaged in the learning process.
Collaborative learning
Students don’t always need to learn solely from the teacher; they can also learn from each other. Collaborative learning can help students that are struggling as their peers may be able to explain things in a different way. Allow your students to split off into groups and discuss a topic. To ensure they stay on track, you can give them a task to complete or something to present to the class after their discussion.
In conclusion, there are many strategies that teachers can use to engage their students in the classroom. By relating the material to real-life situations, appealing to their competitive nature, asking for physical responses, utilising noise and light, playing games and promoting collaborative learning, teachers can create an environment where students are actively engaged and invested in their own learning. Engaging students in the classroom is crucial for their academic success, and by implementing these strategies, teachers can help their students develop a love for learning that will last a lifetime.
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