I’ve been teaching first grade for quite some time, and my teaching styles and strategies have changed throughout the years. Teaching is not the same as it was 20 years ago! But, one thing that remains the same is not all students are the same type of learners. Ensuring my students are learning, happy, and engaged is one of my core beliefs as a first-grade teacher. My classroom is a safe place for each of my students, so I must be cognizant that my lessons are engaging, and that they are learning.
Here are some of my tried-and-true methods for keeping lessons engaging in the primary classroom.
Games Games Games
First grade is such a monumental grade because, for some kids, it could be one of their first experiences with school longer than a few hours. And, for some, it could be their first experience with school in general. First-graders are built to play. Their attention span isn’t the greatest, so providing them with opportunities to play while reinforcing different concepts is imperative. I use games throughout all different lessons, and it’s also a way to encourage teamwork and cooperation. I increase my use of games when it comes to teaching math, as it can be a really tricky concept for a lot of students. You can find a ton of game ideas within this bundle. Games allow students to feel confident and they are enjoyable! It’s a great way to break up your day and increase student engagement!
Take it outside
We all need fresh air. It rejuvenates us! It also helps students focus and plays a significant role in supporting emotional and behavioral development. Stepping outside your classroom, even just for a bit, helps students relax and concentrate differently from the inside. When you have the opportunity, and the weather allows for it, take your class to the grass, even just for a bit. You’ll be amazed at how your students engage in your lesson!
Hands-on
Allowing preschoolers to manipulate and touch is a huge component in increasing engagement and connection to the lesson. If I even mention play-doh, my students light up. I love using play-doh, pop fidget toys, magnet wands and chips, and fly swatters during math and literacy lessons. In this bundle, you can find so many fun ideas that you can use to make your centers hands-on. I notice such a difference in my students’ retention when using manipulatives with the lessons. Not to mention, students are way more engaged because they are having fun and not even realizing all of the learning that is going on.
Interactive
Sometimes my classroom is a little loud, and I’ll be the first to admit it. It can be noisy because there is always so much interaction. I am a hands-on interactive teacher, and I see how much it benefits my students. Read-alouds are one of my favorite ways to build community(grab this list of my favorite books), talk about real-life issues, and foster great discussions. Team-builder activities are another opportunity for students to interact with learning. I love these, especially for my social-emotional lessons. You can truly turn any lesson into an interactive moment like using a glow day or a camping day! The more interactive means, the more engagement!
Utilize Technology
We live in a digital world, and our students might know how to navigate technology better than some of us teachers. And, in today’s world, many of us are using digital resources which boosts engagement. I love having a mixture of hands-on and digital resources because having the variety keeps my students interested and it prevents boredom. Technology is a great way to increase student engagement by allowing for independent work and group work. If you’re interested in learning more about using technology in the classroom, read this post. I also use sites like GoNoodle for a fun brain break.
Include Movement
One of the worst things about professional development is the amount of time I spend sitting in a chair. I need movement. Now let’s think of our little firsties…they also can’t sit in a chair learning all day because they require movement. When we don’t allot time for our kiddos to move around, that’s when we begin to see a decline in student engagement and an increase in behaviors. Movement can include a write the room, a gallery walk, and movement-based learning stations. Adding movement to our lessons helps students to focus, and it’s beneficial to their overall academic success.
Read this post for more ideas on how to encourage movement in the classroom.
Art!
I love a craftivity! Any chance to turn an activity into a craft, I’m sold. First-graders are still little, and so often, we forget that. We have a lot of pressure on us to keep moving through the curriculum that we forget these little ones just came from kindergarten! So, yes, adding art to your lessons will increase engagement by 1000%. Also, most of my craftivities include a writing component which means we are still learning while enjoying art. And as a parent, it made me so sad when my kids got older, and I stopped getting the masterpieces they created throughout the day. These projects allow students to have fun and create something of their own while still hitting academic standards.
There you have it, my seven simple but effective strategies for making any lesson more engaging in your classrooms. These ideas can be tweaked to fit the needs of your classrooms, but they are excellent for keeping your students learning, engaged, and having fun, too.
