Active Engagement 101
What is active engagement?
what is actively participating and interacting with a topic or activity, rather than passively receiving information
What’s one simple way to engage students at the start of a lesson?
using a hook
warm up question
attention grabbing activity
What’s one quick way to re-engage students when you notice they’re zoning out?
What is a brain break, turn and talk, movement prompt, or quick check in?
Name one simple movement based engagement activity.
What is Four Corners, stand up/sit down, gallery walk, or partner switch?
What’s one low prep tool teachers can use to quickly check for student understanding?
What is a thumbs up/thumbs down, exit ticket, or quick poll?
How long can students actively focus in lecture based learning before their attention fades?
15-20 minutes
Name one engagement strategy that builds peer interaction.
think pair share
small group work
peer feedback
group project
walk and talk
interactive learning centers
discussions
If technology fails during a lesson, what’s an easy backup engagement strategy?
What is a low tech discussion, whiteboard activity, or partner work?
what is increasing blood flow, boosting oxygen levels, and stimulating neurogenesis?
Name a fast strategy to increase student voice during a whole class discussion.
what is student led questions, multiple ways to respond, turn and talk?
True or false: Students are only engaged if they are speaking.
FALSE: Quiet reflection or focused work can still be active engagement.
What’s a way to increase engagement through student choice?
what is offer students a say in their learning by providing opportunities to select topics, activities, or methods for demonstrating knowledge?
How can you pull quiet or shy students into an activity without putting them on the spot?
What is using think pair share, small group work, written responses, or anonymous technological tools?
True or False: Movement activities should only be used in younger grades.
FALSE: Older students benefit too!
True or False: You need fancy materials or tech to boost classroom engagement.
FALSE: Creativity is key! Use what you have!
How can active engagement benefit students?
Developing leadership skills
Lifelong learning
Academic performance
Encourage social learning
Enhance the student experience
Foster autonomy
Get students engaged
Higher grades and academic success
Improves critical thinking
Increases retention
Involve and engage quiet students
Reducing class disruptions
Name one technology tool that can increase active student participation.
interactive quiz platforms
Interactive polls and feedback
collaborative platforms
virtual discussions
gamification
apps, games, websites
True or False: You should always stop a lesson if students get off task.
FALSE: Redirecting or adding quick engagement tweaks can be more effective.
What’s one way to incorporate movement during explicit instruction?
What is using stretch breaks, peer discussion rounds, or physical response activities?
What’s one teacher hack for balancing content delivery with active learning?
What is chunking material, using mini lessons, or blending input with active tasks?
Who is needed for active engagement in the classroom? (_____________ and _______________)
What is teacher and student?
What’s one engagement approach that taps into real world connections?
What is using authentic tasks, real world problems, guest speakers, or local issues?
Name one proactive classroom management move that supports active engagement.
What is setting clear expectations, using routines, offering choice, or planning for transitions?
How can movement improve student collaboration?
What is breaking up into new groups, sparking new conversations, or helping share ideas physically?
Name a strategy to quickly reset the class when energy drops or behavior slips.
What is using an attention signal, refocusing question, or a movement break?