The American Psychological Association emphasizes a teacher’s role in improving students’ social and academic development. Students are more likely to be interested in their education when the lessons are engaging. Only 46% of students report feeling engaged in school. Furthermore, a survey of around 3,448 primary students found that 77% enjoyed attending school, and only 34% liked learning.
These low engagement stats are concerning, as primary school is a child’s bedrock of development. It prepares them to enter society by teaching them foundational real-world skills. As a primary school teacher, you must make your lessons more engaging to provide quality education. As 92% of educators agree that student engagement is crucial for a student’s academic success, you can use the following strategies to make your lessons more engaging.
Incorporate technology
Using technology to facilitate learning is an innovative approach to making lessons more engaging. A Smoothwall report suggests that 96% of teachers believe they can positively impact their student’s participation and learning through technology. 56% of teachers also observed increased student engagement levels after incorporating technology into their lessons. However, gaining the skills to incorporate technology into the classroom requires higher education. You can get a Master of Science in Education to learn the necessary technological skills to create a modern classroom. This degree can help you master topics like instructional technology, which gives you an edge over virtual learning platforms.
However, being a teacher is burdensome. From long teaching hours to grading papers and planning lectures, finding the time to get a Master’s in Education may seem difficult. However, by pursuing a masters of science in education online, you can overcome these challenges. Through an online master’s program, you can learn new strategies as you teach. Since online programs are flexible, you can comfortably take classes during your free time without compromising on teaching. You can also apply what you learn during your online program, test your knowledge, and develop better teaching strategies.
Provide emotional support
A 2023 survey of 1,449 primary educators in the US found that 96.9% of teachers utilize building a caring relationship with their students to increase engagement levels. Furthermore, 81% of respondents believed students are more engaged when their teachers care for their social and emotional well-being. Many studies suggest that teachers who are caring, warm, and attentive to their student’s needs positively contribute to student achievement.
In recent research by Robert Thornberg, the results imply high student engagement where students believe their teacher is competent, fair, and kind. Furthermore, the study reported that teachers who were unfair, uncaring, or too strict created a poor learning environment for their students. As a teacher, you must focus on how you act and what you do in the classroom to design a positive learning environment.
You can support your students emotionally by presenting yourself as a stable and reliable adult. Make yourself seem approachable and friendly without compromising on discipline. Your students should be able to see you as a trustworthy authority figure.
Start lessons captivatingly
The first impression of your lesson is essential. Suppose you need to capture your student’s attention right off the bat successfully. In that case, they may struggle with focusing on whatever you say next. Diving straight into your subject matter can disengage your students from the lesson. Instead, you can capture their attention using a hook before you begin. This strategy ensures you have your student’s attention and gives them a vague idea about what they’ll learn in today’s class.
You can start lessons captivatingly by asking a question, stating an interesting fact, or telling a fun story. Suppose you’re teaching history. In that case, you can ask, “Can you imagine life without electricity, smartphones, or even bicycles?” This question captivates their imagination and gets them thinking about the lesson, which increases their engagement.
Plan short activities
As a primary teacher, you’ll deal with young children with short attention spans. Every child has a different attention span according to their age. For example, a grade one student can focus on their teacher for about 8 to 10 minutes, while a third grader can focus for about 16 to 27 minutes. However, a 2023 survey found that the attention span of primary school students has deteriorated. More than 70% of teachers responded that students are more disengaged and likelier to get bored.
You can plan short activities to deal with your students’ short attention span effectively. Suppose you’re teaching a group of second graders about animals. In that case, you can break your lesson into small, engaging activities. Instead of delivering a long boring lecture, you can begin with an exciting animal video for just a few minutes, followed by a quick class discussion. Next, you can introduce a fun animal quiz or a short drawing activity to keep them engaged. These brief bursts of exercises maintain their interest and cater to their short attention spans.
Establish open communication
Students show more engagement when you give them more control over their education. When you ask students what they want to learn, they feel valued and give more importance to their education.
Establishing open communication is also crucial for identifying weak areas students wish to improve. For example, some students might struggle in math, while others might struggle with reading. When your students effectively communicate their needs, you can devise more personalized lessons to boost engagement.
Set high expectations
Recent research has found that 1 in 8 middle school students found school boring because they were constantly over or under-challenged and needed help understanding the value of their learning. As a teacher, you must help your students unlock their potential without overburdening them.
When you set high expectations, you let your students know you believe in them. This support gives them the confidence to leave their comfort zone and explore new horizons. However, upholding high expectations shouldn’t be confused with overburdening students. Instead, it’s about challenging them appropriately, providing guidance and support when needed, and celebrating their successes, big or small. You should tailor your expectations to every child and support their needs accordingly. This approach can also foster friendly competition amongst peers and create an environment of consistent growth.
Conclusion
Primary schools develop a child’s core personality, and teachers play a huge role in shaping it. Academics aside, you can change your students’ lives for the better. Through your lessons, you can encourage them to be critical thinkers, boost their confidence, and nurture their creativity. However, beyond your classes, your students will remember how well you treated them. So, make a difference and be the role model your students deserve.
