How can we ensure that ALL students participate in a lesson?
It is not easy to involve every student, but it is important to show that you expect them all to be engaged. When one of my lessons was going well, I would be able to hear every student at least three times. That was my goal. How? Let’s look at some strategies:
– Individual – Pair – Class (IPC)
Sometimes responding to the teacher can be stressful, so give your students an opportunity to share answers before doing it as a whole class activity.
- Allow students to complete the exercise individually.
- Let them check their work in pairs.
- Give them an opportunity to ask any questions.
- When they are ready, do the activity as a whole class.
This gives students the confidence to participate, as well as the opportunity to ask questions, knowing they probably have the right answer when called.
– Popsicle Sticks
- Give each of your students a popsicle stick.
- Ask them to write their names on it.
- Collect them all and put them in a tin can.
I use a tin can because it is noisy. When I need to get all their attention, I shake the can. The noise shows them that I am about to choose students randomly.
Use the popsicle sticks to call students randomly. Students can see you have no control over which name you pick out of the can. This means they need to be engaged in case their name is chosen. By following the IPC (mentioned above), students can be ready to participate.
Spinner
If you normally use an interactive whiteboard as part of your lessons, you can find a spinner online. Simply add your students’ names. I use the Tiny Decisions app, but there are many online to choose from. This has the added advantage that most students like anything with technology, so using it will get their attention.
Asking an Expert
When a student does not know the answer to a question, they may call on someone else in the class to help them.
Example: (for a reading comprehension activity)
Teacher: Louis, how did Johnny feel at the end of the day?
Louis: I don’t know. Anna, can you help me?
Anna: Johnny felt tired because he had worked hard.
Louis: Johnny felt tired.
Louis can call on anyone in the class to help him.
Anna should respond to Louis, not the teacher.
Louis needs to understand Anna’s answer so he might ask her to repeat.
Anna needs to give an answer that Louis understands.
Louis must give the answer to the teacher.
With this strategy, all students are engaged because they might be called on by a friend. Students usually find this fun.
Strategies for Reluctant Students
The strategies above are for the whole class, but you will always have some students who are reluctant to actively participate. Use some of these strategies specifically for them.
– Talk to them about it.
Sometimes, simply talking to a student about how you can help them participate more is enough to motivate them. They may offer some suggestions that you can use.
– Give them the option to pass.
Laminate some cards with the word ‘pass’ on them.
Give three to five cards to the more reluctant students.
When you call on them and they don’t want to answer, they can simply give you a card.
– Tell them in advance you are going to call on them.
As students are completing an exercise, walk around the room.
When you see that one of your more reluctant students has the right answer, tell them you are going to call on them.
Make sure you praise them for their effort.
– Be next to them.
Walking around the room, call on a student when you are next to them.
This gives students a sense of support.
It also allows you to praise them for their participation.
– Closed pairs
Pair more reluctant students with a student of their choice.
These two students work together in class.
This gives the reluctant student support from another student throughout the lesson.
– Post-it Notes
Give reluctant students three to five Post-it notes with their name on each.
Tell them each time they participate in class, they should put the date on a Post-it note and give it to you.
Their goal is to give you all the Post-it notes by the end of the week.
For students to actively participate in class, they must feel safe and supported, whatever their age. These simple strategies will get all your students engaged in your lessons.