Ask an Educator

Woohoo! Spring is finally here… After a long winter and a glorious Pesach, the birds are chirping, the sky is clear and the outdoors and beckoning… and you… well, you are trying to teach!

Q: How do you keep students engaged when the weather is beautiful and they (possibly you too) are counting the minutes until they can go outside and bask in the sunlight, take a walk, or play?

A: You are not alone! After Pesach almost every teacher struggles with spring fever and the steadily approaching vision of summer vacation. The strategies below will help you and your students enjoy productive learning until the very last day of school.

1. Integrate the curriculum – Recognize the time of year and use it to your advantage by integrating it into your curriculum. Can you have the students write about this time of year and their favorite things to do outside? Can you talk about the trees outside when teaching about living things during science?
2. Go outside – Planning lessons and activities that can be facilitated well outdoors gets students excited and engaged. This is best for an activity that the students are actively involved in and do not have to listen to the teacher for longer than a minute or two. Many students tend to be more distracted outside, so if they receive clear instructions ahead of time and need to complete an activity, the outdoors can be the perfect backdrop to a successful lesson. Teachers have enjoyed doing scavenger hunts, nature walks, project-based learning, activities, and worksheets outside. It’s helpful to set clear expectations for student work and behavior ahead of time. Make sure to run this by your administrator in advance so your lesson is aligned with school policy.
3. Clearly articulate learning goals – Research shows that teachers who communicated their learning goals to students generated a positive impact on student learning. Begin lessons by sharing the desired outcomes so students can see the purpose behind what they’re learning. For instance, in a writing class, explain that when the lesson is complete, students will be able to write an evidence-based paragraph. When students understand what they’re aiming to achieve, they’re more likely to stay engaged and invested in the process.
4. Review rules, routines and procedures – After Pesach, students can “forget” what is expected in the classroom. A friendly review helps everyone stay focused. Structure and following routines are critical to helping all students be most effective, especially those with executive function and learning differences.
5. Lose the lecture but not the lesson – Keeping your learning goals in mind, make sure each lesson includes fun, engaging, interactive and experiential learning

Here are some suggested activities: Make a diorama or art project based on the material or instead of a test, offer choices, play games with the lesson, have students act out what they learned, have students prepare material in groups and teach the class (The Jigsaw Method Teaching Strategy), let students learn in partners, incorporate manipulatives, incorporate Brain Gym activities, take movement breaks, and feel free to reach out to JES for some more ideas! The more students are involved and interested in the lesson, the less they will want to be elsewhere.

The best defense is a good offense. A well-planned, engaging lesson that incorporates student knowledge and interests, will motivate students to focus and learn. For more tips and ideas please reach out to the JES helpline.