Learning is not just about absorbing information through a lecture or jotting down notes but about making connections and actively engaging with the content. As we know teaching is not easy and there are plenty of reasons that can get in the way of student engagement, like the lack of class time, and students who seem disconnected. On top of that, the pressure of standardized testing and the challenge of motivating students whose academic and social skills are still affected by the pandemic. Enter these three simple strategies designed to boost engagement with movement and discourse in the classroom!
The Importance of Motor Activities in the Classroom
With so many TEKS to cover and so little time, it can be tempting to skip activities that encourage discourse and movement fearing they will take up too much time and instead rely on repetitive drills. But we can’t deny that the real magic of learning happens when students are actively involved, not just passively receiving information.
By trying out a few simple strategies that get students moving and talking, we can break the monotony, re-energize your classes and foster collaboration, critical thinking and a deeper understanding of the content. These strategies are easy to implement, don’t take up a lot of class time and can help cultivate a positive classroom culture where students feel more connected to each other and the material. Step out of the comfort zone, give these simple strategies that boost engagement with movement and discourse a try, and watch as they transform your classroom.
Three Strategies to Boost Engagement with Movement
1. Spectrum
How it works
For this strategy one side of the room would be labeled Agree and the other Disagree. Students are presented with a thought provoking statement and move across the spectrum according to how passionate they are about their answers.This could be applied to any subject. For example: In a biology classroom the statement “Mitochondria are the most important cell organelle because they provide energy for all cellular activities” would be presented on the screen. Students would move to different spots in the room based on how much they agree with the statement (strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, strongly disagree). After scattering along the spectrum. The students who are clustered together will collectively come up with a statement to justify their stance when called upon by the teacher.
Why it is effective
This strategy not only encourages students to think critically about the content but also engage in the process of justifying their opinions using evidence from lessons, engaging with peers’ viewpoints and even having the opportunity to debate academically.
2. Stand or Sit, but Share
How it works
This strategy is a low stakes beginner friendly strategy that gets students moving without them having to get up from their table. Even your most hesitant students can express their ideas without pressure. The students will stand if they agree with a solution or a statement, and stay seated if they disagree.
The teacher will display a statement and give students 45 seconds to review it. Once the initial timer goes off the students get 30 seconds to stand up if they agree with the displayed statement, or to stay seated if they disagree. The third timer gives students 1 minute to discuss their position with their group.
This strategy works well in any subject matter and could easily be applied to topics in which they are solving for an outcome. For example: when asking students to evaluate the equation or scenarios involving forces, acceleration and mass the statement “An 10 object is pushed with a net force of 30 N. Using the equation F=ma the correct way to solve this is to multiply the numbers together” would be displayed by the teacher.
Students would stand if they agree and stay seated if they disagree. Students who disagree with the statement might explain that to solve for acceleration Force (N) must be divided by mass (m). Students who initially agreed that the numbers should be multiplied, might be able to identify their misconceptions by seeing that they used the formula incorrectly.
Why it is effective
This strategy is not about solving the problems but about exploring how to approach the questions and think critically. It reinforces the understanding of the content by analyzing solutions critically. The combination of movement and peer discussion makes the learning more interactive and engaging while encouraging students to articulate their reasonings in a smaller, less intimidating setting.
3. Question Carousel
How it works
For this strategy, each student will be given a card with a question that has already been solved. The question could be multiple choice with correct answers circled, vocabulary terms with correct definition or a labeled diagram asking them to identify a specific area. The class will be divided into two groups, with an inner circle and an outer circle.
Students in the inner circle will stay in place while the outer circle rotates to a new partner after each round of questioning. Each round lasts two minutes during which students take turns quizzing each other and confirming the correct answers on their cards. At the end of the round, students will trade cards with their partner. The activity continues until all students have interacted with multiple partners and questions.
Why it is effective
Rotating partners promotes teamwork and exposes the students to different ideas while the fast pace and variety keep the activity stimulating and interactive. This strategy helps reinforce the students’ understanding of key concepts by encouraging active participation and peer teaching. Giving the students the answers and having them explain it to their peers not only improves comprehension but it builds confidence and strengthens their communication skills creating a collaborative and supportive learning experience.
Boost Engagement with Movement and Discourse
Learning is most effective when paired with great strategies that improve students retention. We hope that these three strategies designed to boost engagement with movement are helpful for your classroom. Try them out and let us know how your students benefit in the comments below!