One of the hardest things about being a teacher in today’s society is gaining the attention of the students. Teachers are under a lot of pressure to produce exciting, entertaining, and fun lessons. The difficulty of this task varies depending on the age group being taught and the specific skill that is to be addressed.
I find it easier to create fun lessons for lower grade students rather than for upper grade students. I also find subjects such as Science and Social Studies to be more engaging.
Using props as openers can help get students interested in the activity from the beginning. The prop may be a puppet, a picture, or a song. It can be anything that that will spark interest within the students.
Every teacher needs a panic plan. A panic plan is an idea for any lesson that goes wrong. No matter how many times you have done it before, every now and then you are going to hit an experiment or an activity that does not work. Keep back up activities that students enjoy and that will work for any occasion.
Plan activities that involve doing. Instead of telling students how something works show them. Try to avoid too many worksheets. Students work best with hands-on materials.
Try to capture as many skills and subject areas as possible. If you can cover three or four topics or skills in one lesson then do it. Integrating standards from several subject areas will help the students see the whole picture.
Make sure to vary your type of instruction. Do not lecture or use teacher orientated lessons the entire time. Vary from whole group to small group to independent work. Using centers is also a good way to vary your instruction.
Planning is the key. A good lesson is usually well prepared for.
Merit Pay and Special Education