Two tools that I kept within my desk were a timer and bell. They were my reliable tools when teaching a lesson and assisted with the strategy of monitoring overall class engagement. The timer was used for bellwork, which was a five-minute assignment that may have been a quick vocabulary or grammar review. It was also used throughout a lesson. For example, I would have students work independently on an assignment for five minutes. After five minutes, students would talk to their elbow partners for five minutes. Then, students would discuss the assignment within a group of four people. The timer would alert students that it was time to discuss the assignment with the group. I used the bell to signal students to quiet down or when no one heard the timer chime.
While students were in groups, I would monitor their progress by walking around and stopping to hear their discussion. If I noticed that a group was off topic or not actively engaged, I would stop by their desks and wait to hear their thoughts. Most times, this worked, but some groups needed guidance or more probing. I would also make mental notes of which members of the groups worked well together or struggled. If there were too many girls in one group chatting, I would switch the groups to make it more gender balanced. This typically solved the issue of distraction.
Having a strong presence around the classroom keeps students engaged. Walking around, standing by students, and using a timer for assignments helps students focus on the lesson. Students will typically redirect discussions back to the lesson, put away notes, and lift their heads if they know the teacher is standing over them. The timer helps with motivating the students to complete the assignment within a certain time. What tools do you use to monitor class engagement? In the comment section below, express what you do in your class.
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