the name of the game: keeping students engaged through opening activities

The name of the game: Keeping students engaged through opening activitiesGerardo Joel Aponte-MartínezI Am A Teacher Expo 2013East Lansing, Michigan

OverviewThe beginning of a lesson is a crucial moment

where a teacher must "hook 'n link" - hook students' attention and link new content to their

prior knowledge. This session will explore a number of activating strategies to help teachers engage the

students from the beginning of the lesson IntroAn overview of activating strategiesSamplesPractice Session

The beginning of a lessonKnow Want to know Learned

Activating strategyEvery lesson should begin with an opportunity

for students to prepare themselves Transition into cognitive process of the subject Build relevance to students lives Establish continuity (between lessons, topics,

units, etc.)

Activating strategy: Hook ‘n link – motivates AND activates prior knowledge

Purposes• Motivate• Link prior knowledge• Preview key vocabulary• Advance organizer or map of

concept/skill/content for lesson

Hints• Allocate time (~10% of

instructional time)• Link new to prior (either

something they have already learned or something that establishes relevance)

• Engagement (students are contributing information/ideas)

• Use of new vocabulary during lesson

• Connections between prior knowledge and new knowledge during lesson

How you know it’s a good strategy

Scdcnds

• Not announcements/agenda• Not a list of new content• Not a warm-up, review activity

disconnected from the lesson• Not an additional content-

related, instructional activity

What it is not

ACTIVATING STRATEGY

Adapted from Thompson & Thompson (2009)

ComponentsContent/skill Objective – what will be the

highlight of the lesson? Introduce the key vocabulary, skills, concepts of

the lesson

Hook – how will you motivate students, get them excited to learn about the topic?

Link – what will be the connection between the content and students’ prior knowledge, experiences, interests, talents?

I see, I think, I wonderI see I think I wonderName objects you see in the painting(only things as they are)

Interpret what is happening(give meaning to the objects, what you think things in the painting represent)

What questions do you have as a result of your interpretations?(connections to broader themes/topics)

Sample 1Modeling:

John Gast’s American Progress Activating Strategy: I See, I Think, I Wonder LEQ: How and why did the Louisiana Purchase take

place? Context: 8th grade U.S. History – Western

Expansion unit

Thoughts about this activating strategy….

Types of StrategiesRecallMaking predictionsGamesHumor or mysteryExploration or experienceRole play or simulationMedia (video, music, literature, art)

Indian Reservationhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

zQ6RjP7MlXk

Sample 2Modeling:

Indian Reservation by Paul Revere & The Raiders LEQ: What were the effects of the Indian Removal

Act of 1830? Context: 7th grade Geography – U.S. History Unit

Thoughts about this activating strategy….

Practice In your team, plan an activating strategy for a

team-taught lesson.Components:

Content/skill Objective – key vocabulary, skills, concepts of the lesson

Hook Link

Types: recall, making predictions, games, humor or mystery, exploration or experience, role play or simulation, media (video, music, literature, art)

Contact information:Gerardo J. Aponte-Martínez

Doctoral Student & InstructorDepartment of Teacher Education

Michigan State Universityapontege@msu.edu

www.msu.edu/~apontege

Questions?