No-Prep Student Engagement Ideas for ANY Time of Year

The hardest thing right now seems to be engagement . . . Student engagement, student motivation (and teacher motivation, too!). 

Here’s something that can definitely help you if you need fresh ideas for the days ahead:

Save them for your own toolbox, and implement them as you wish 😊

Before announcing or emailing or talking about grades and assignments and upcoming projects . . .

Ask your students to do ⬇️THIS⬇️ at the beginning of your next class (allow time to write, discuss, etc. between each of these two items) —

1. Make a list of five things that come to mind about this quote taken from an ancient Chinese proverb: 

“A teacher opens the door, but you must enter it by yourself.” 

✨Every day going forward from ↑ that discussion, begin class with a similarly phrased question like this: 

“Hey, I’m so excited you’re here! Welcome back! Happy Tuesday.” (Or whatever day it happens to be). Today, I’m opening a door for you where I will show you how to _________________. Will you enter the room with me?”

If you’re 1:1, then have students drop an emoji, or a yes/no, or something (use for taking attendance if needed). 

At the end of your lesson or at the end of class, ask your students if they entered the room when you opened the door.

Yes, it’s a metaphor, but doing this at the beginning and ending of EVERY class period going forward — while it may get old — will help solidify in their minds that you are providing an opportunity for them but it’s UP TO THEM to take you up on it. 

Your kids will get tired of that proverb, but stick with it for a while! Talk about the metaphor aspect of it.

⭐️THEN ask your students to find, invent, share, locate other metaphors that basically say the same thing and you can start using a different one each day or each week. Have students sign up for a day to present their metaphor.

Or, keep it light and low-key and just ask for volunteers (a lot of my singer/songwriter/rapper/poetic kiddos quickly figure out that music lyrics are great places to find creative metaphors, especially when they have a specific topic to search for). 

2. Another way to engage your students throughout class is by relying on a fantastic set of questions to ask during your lesson to increase motivation and to help make your lesson components meaningful for students is to consistently post or ask questions like this:

“What would it mean to you if you were able to __________?”

“If I could show you in 3 minutes how to __________, what could you then do that you don’t know how to do now?”

“If you’ll give me 5 minutes to explain _______, you’ll be able to understand ________! Can you believe you’ll know that in just a few minutes??!! Let’s get started.” 

In other words, you’re providing a WIN or a REWARD or a “fear of missing out” component to your instruction where kids want to know that one next thing. 

What you’re doing is you’re creating curiosity and combining it with a fear of missing out. Let’s say your class is 50 minutes long. You’re breaking down that 50 minute class into little segments, and bringing in the concept of YOU being able to show your students how to do something in just a matter of minutes. It’s not about condensing a 50 minute lesson into a 3 or 5 minute lesson. It’s about segmenting your 50 minute lesson into digestible parts simply by arousing curiosity and asking students questions that they can very simply answer. 

When you’re asking those types of questions, have students type a quick one-word response. It’s easier to respond with an emoji, or a yes/no (if you’re 1:1) . . . More likely to keep them engaged for the lesson part of things.

I hope all that helps! If it even helps a little bit, then that’s something to be celebrated😊

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