Amp your Engagement Pathway

Let's get their Attention and Keep it.

Of course you want to engage your students. And in the post-pandemic atmosphere, it's not easy. They've got a million distractions, and that's just on their phones.

Here, find creative ways to hook your students' attention and hold it, from book clubs to choice reading, performance poetry to genius hour, podcasting to travel research.

Explore this pathway with your students' needs in mind, and take what you think would work the best.

There's not one right way to amp your engagement, but there sure are a lot of ways to start. Let's do this together.

Shall we start with Book Ideas?

#1

Graphic Novels

Graphic novels help students engage with what they're reading. Whether it's an adaptation of a classic (like Gareth Hinds' Odyssey or Romeo and Juliet) or a stand-alone masterpiece like Jason Reynolds' Long Way Down, consider how graphic novels can help you engage more readers.

Dive Deep with Graphic Novels
#2

Book Clubs

Offering CHOICE is a fantastic way to boost engagement, and book clubs do just that. Choose a theme and then create a booklist that feels right for your kids. Novels-in-Verse are a helpful way to ease into reading independently if you've got students who are struggling to read on their own.

Get Started with Book Clubs
#3

First Chapter Fridays

Sharing engaging first chapters from a wide variety of fun contemporary authors is a solid option once a week. Choose your favorites to read and then display them prominently on your choice reading shelves.

Dive into First Chapter Fridays

Speaking of Book Ideas, let's build your CHOICE READING PROGRAM.

Building a choice reading program is one of the most important things you can do to increase engagement in your classroom. Giving students as many opportunities as possible to realize they can enjoy reading and connect with books is what we want! That means creating a classroom library and being head of PR for it. Bookish posters, book talks, enticing displays, and time to read in class will all be essential elements of your choice reading program.

Explore your Choice Reading Materials

Cell Phones making things Tough?

Many teachers find success with cell phone charging stations or hanging plastic shoe holders on the back of their door. One thing is sure, keeping cell phones out of kids' hands (except when they're helpful for a lesson) will make it a lot easier to keep everyone engaged.

In this station activity, students have a chance to consider how cell phones are impacting life today and how they might best be treated at school.

The curriculum set includes an editable poster you can use to display your cell phone policy once you and your students agree on one.

Get the Stations

Consider these Creative Programs

When it comes to engaging students, it helps to use real-world projects that feel relevant to them.

Genius Hour

As students pursue their passion, they document their process.

Learn more here.
Ethical AI PBL Unit

Just what role should AI play in our lives? Students will research and decide.

Find the curriculum here.

Podcasting

Students can script, record, and publish their own shows (no fancy tech).

Find the full unit here.
The Social Media Movement Project

Students have a chance to take a stand on an issue they believe in with this project.

Grab the curriculum here.

Go-Tos

These popular resources are teacher and student favorites,

never a bad thing when trying to increase engagement.

Click on the link at the bottom of any square to go to the resource in The Lighthouse.

EXPLORE THROUGH THIS LINK

BUILD CONNECTIONS & RELATIONSHIPS

Connect each day with a Fun Attendance Question

Building connections with your students can start with a simple question each day. Would you rather go to the mountains or the beach? Would you prefer horseback riding or go-carts? Which is better, pancakes or waffles?

These fun attendance question image slides will make it easy to start.

TAKE IT FURTHER....

Make classroom management easier with helpful strategies like Post-It compliments and prompts based on students' interests, explained by special guest C.J. Reynolds in this podcast episode.

Often kids who don't love writing at first are makers and creators. Their ideas come alive across multiple modes of expression.

Try The Writing Makerspace

The writing makerspace can inspire detailed and imaginative creative writing, help students vault over writer's block, and even provide structure and ideas for argument writing.

In the Writing Makerspace section of The Lighthouse, you'll find an introductory video from Angela Stockman, who invented the concept, as well as projects and materials to help you start your own.

Explore the Writing Makerspace

Let your Room Help - Feature Interactive Classroom Displays

Monthly Displays

Feature writing and media themed to special months throughout the year, like Women's History Month, Black History Month, AAPI heritage month, Pride Month, and more.

Explore the Displays

ELA in the World Posters

Let students see why ELA skills matter across a range of appealing fields.

Get the Posters

Podcast Invitations

Engage early finishers with popular podcast options like How I Built This and Serial

through these interactive posters.

Check out the Bulletin Board