Many teachers struggle with maintaining student interest while they teach. The level at which students are paying attention is also called classroom engagement. Classroom engagement is one of the most important aspects of effective teaching and is a key measure of learning. Fortunately, there are some simple strategies that can help teachers get and keep their students’ attention during teaching and learning time.

Before the Lesson Begins. There are a number of great strategies to help capture students’ attention before the lesson begins. One of the best-known strategies is to use a bellringer exercise. Bellringers are very short activities students complete during the first few minutes of class, usually while the teacher takes attendance and performs other housekeeping duties. Bellringers can be short puzzles, questions for students to ponder or even short videos that relate to the lesson that follow. The important thing to remember about effective bellringers is to choose an activity that generates interest in the lesson that will follow.

Teach with the Brain in Mind. One of the most successful ways to teach so students continue paying attention is to teach with the way their brains work in mind. While teaching your lesson, use strategies that engage several senses rather than just one. Include a visual, such as a PowerPoint presentation, that accompanies oral instruction. Distribute a graphic organizer with blanks students can fill out as you teach. Pace your lesson so it is delivered in small “chunks,” so students don’t lose focus. Stop the lesson occasionally and check in with students to make sure they understand the material. Vary your teaching techniques so boredom cannot be an issue.

After the Lesson. Closing the lesson effectively can also help students maintain focus on the material. After the main teaching portion of the lesson has been completed, ask students questions about what they have just learned. Have a brief “hazy moment” discussion in which students share the portions of the lesson they are still unsure of. Take a few moments to review and reteach these portions. Conduct a brief “pair-and-share:” have students turn to a partner and share one thing they learned from the lesson.

                                                        

By: Mrs. Baby Aurea L. Carreon | Teacher – II | Culis Elementary School