Student Participation Strategy

For students who don't like to participate in group discussions, try this neat tip I picked up from CHAMPS creator Randy Sprick:

Give student a certain number of paper clips to use during a class discussion.  Explain privately that you understand that they don't tend to share during group much, but you know they have some really great comments or answers to add to the discussion.  Tell them you'd like for them to move a paper clip from one pocket to another each time the speak out in group discussion.  You've set a goal for how many times you'd like by the number of clips given.  As they get more comfortable, the number can be increased, and eventually, the strategy discontinued.  

Get Students To Pay Attention

*Pay Attention

Number of people: Unlimited

Age:  Any

Materials:  None

Time:  5 minutes

Purpose:  A quick activity to mark a transition time, re-focus a listless group and remind students how easy it is not to notice things around us unless we are paying attention.

Directions:

• Quickly change three or four things about your appearance without the students noticing.  ex. take your tie off (if you're wearing one), put your watch on the opposite wrist, take earrings out, brush hair to side, roll sleeves up, etc.)

• Tell your class that you have just made some changes. Can they guess what they are?

This is a great way to settle students back in after a transition and get them to focus. If you would like to make a full activity  out of training them to notice things, you may follow up with this...

1. After they guess, put students into pairs telling each on who is "A" and who is "B".
2. Invite the "B's" to close their eyes and count to ten slowly and all together.
3. While "B's" eyes are closed, "A" should change something about his/her appearance.
4. On the count of 10, "B" can open his/her eyes and try to identify the difference.
5. Then give "B" the chance to adjust something and let "A" guess.
6. If there is time, allow students to change partners and do again.

Lesson taken from Lesson-Ology