“That was so much fun; I didn’t even realize we were learning!” When I hear a student say this, it makes my teacher heart so happy.
Reading and writing instruction is a critical part of education. We want our students to be engaged and invested. When they are excited about a topic or lesson, they tend to put more effort in. This leads them to being more successful.
Below are some strategies and suggestions to keep engagement high in your ELA classroom.
Escape Rooms
With escape rooms, students solve a series of puzzles about a related topic or skill. Each clue “unlocks” a door to a new challenge. After completing all the mini challenges, students solve a bigger problem or challenge. These can be done digitally or in print. Students always tell me escape rooms are their favorite.
Self-Checking Digital Activities
Throughout the pandemic, self-checking activities have become a favorite of mine. These will continue to be a staple for me in the future. Students answer questions and get “real-time” feedback. This puts the independence on students. Our students live in a world full of instant gratification and these fit the bill perfectly. There are a variety of activities like mystery puzzle pixel art, collect and find, “Bingo”, stickers, “Clue”, mystery message and more!
Games
Students love games and tend to perk up immediately when I say we are playing a game. The questions related to each game can be tweaked for any skill. These can be used to practice or review a skill. There are a mix of digital and non-digital options. Some of my favorite digital games include: Kahoot, Baamboozle, Quizziz, Gimkit and Blooket.
Other favorite games include: “Bingo”, “Connect 4”, “Stinky Feet” and “Jenga”.
Scavenger Hunts
Scavenger Hunts allow students to problem solve in a tactile way. They can act as a built-in movement break, as students are able to freely move around the room. Students respond to a question and the answer leads them to another question. Scavenger hunts can also be done digitally when needed.
Reader’s Theater
Even in middle school, fluency is important. I was apprehensive about trying Reader’s Theater with my students, but I was surprised to witness their excitement. Not only did my students enjoy it, but they put a lot of effort in and really embraced their roles. I was so impressed. After reading a play aloud, students practice a skill. Some examples include: summary, evidence, inference, plot, context clues, theme, etc.
Choice Boards
I saved my personal favorite for last. The teacher is in control of the topics and skills, but students have the choice to decide how they want to practice and show what they know. Choice boards keep students accountable, while also building independence. They can be tweaked for any age or topic. Teachers can also control how many choices students must complete.
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I would love to hear what your favorite strategies to engage and excite students are. Send me a message on Instagram or tag me in your favorite activity.
