Using a variety of teaching strategies helps increase engagement and also increases the learning value of your lessons. In particular, consider alternatives to whole group, one at a time raising our hands, discussions and brainstorms.
Keep in mind some of the digital technologies you’ve been exposed to that can support active learning and assessment (student or all-class response systems including Kahoot, Socrative and Plickers or Digital ‘Walls’ like Padlet). You can find other ‘technology informed’ strategies (high, low and no tech approaches) and ideas on the Scarfe Digital Sandbox Blog.
Below are a few select resource banks that share some well-described teaching strategies appropriate for k12 contexts:
- For the Teachers: http://www.fortheteachers.org/instructional_strategies/
- Project Zero (Harvard) Thinking Routines Toolbox: https://pz.harvard.edu/thinking-routines
- Liberating Structures (more appropriate for upper grades): https://www.liberatingstructures.com/
- Teach from the Middle Toolkit (includes active learning strategies, discussion based strategies, assessment and more): http://www.rcsthinkfromthemiddle.com/