One of the biggest challenges a teacher has to face during her teaching career is to catch her students’ attention. What is even more difficult is holding on to it. It does not matter what age the students are, there will always be those who just find it difficult (or boring) to focus in class, especially on what you have to say. This is why, it is imperative for teachers to create an environment that would encourage students not only to listen and concentrate but also participate actively in discussions and activities. To help you do this, here are some excellent teaching strategies on how to rouse your students’ curiosity and draw their attention long enough for you to get the message across.
Begin with playtime
Kids of all ages love to play games. Even teenagers do. Playing a game right before the start of a class is always an effective way to catch their attention. Just make sure that the game that you choose is both age-appropriate and relevant to the discussion. If you don’t choose something that is right for their age, the students will either be bored or frustrated. And if you don’t pick something that relates to the lesson, the game will be a useless strategy.
Open up with a story
Another great way to engage your students’ attention is by opening up with a story. Kids love to listen to stories. Open up with a, “Do you know the story of….” Again, it is a must that the story is relevant to the topic to be discussed in your lesson plan. Also, pick a story that has moral value and interesting topic that will keep the students engaged in listening.
Be hip and cool
This is especially applicable to teaching high school students. As you know, this is the stage in children’s life where being cool is like a matter of life and death. Yes, that is how important it is for them. This is why, they have so much respect for adults who are genuinely “cool”. How do you think you will be able to pull this one off?
Well, for one, you have to know the latest fads and trends that teenagers are crazy about. Know what they are watching. Listen to their music. Learn about the lingo they use. You don’t have to necessarily talk like a teenager and risk looking foolish but it would help that you understand what it is they are saying. All these things will help you catch their attention by relating into the lesson anything that happens in their worlds.
Keep things interesting
Once you have gotten the kids’ attention, the trickier part is holding onto it. But the only thing you really need to do is keep the discussion engaging. Even the most boring lectures can be spiced up with a couple of jokes or funny anecdotes here and there. You can relate even the most scientific terms and processes to everyday life or the latest trends. When you have mastered the art of doing this, catching and holding onto children’s and teens’ attention would not be too much of a difficult task.
Even if you have a long line of teaching degrees and teaching certification, if you don’t know how to connect with your students, all your efforts will be futile. Learn about these strategies so they will listen to you and respect you.
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