Creating an Actively Engaged Classroom

Todd Whitney is an Assistant Professor of Special Education in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Louisville. He received his Ph.D. in Special Education with an emphasis in learning and behavioral disorders from the University of Louisville. He has taught special education methods, assessment, and classroom management courses for almost 10 years across three universities (Kentucky and Tennessee). His research areas of interest include evidence-based academic and behavioral interventions for students with disabilities and the effective use of evidence-based instructional practices to increase student engagement.

Make your lessons interesting, interactive, and engaging

Introduction: Student Engagement and Teacher ResponsibilitySection I: Verbal Engagement StrategiesWhip AroundQuick PollChoral RespondingIndividual Questioning Strategies for Student ResponseSection II: Nonverbal Engagement StrategiesStop and JotGuided NotesResponse Cards Colored Choice Multiple Choice True/False Response Slates and WhiteboardsHand Signals Fist to Five Fingers for Numbers Thumbs Up/Thumbs DownSection III: Partner and Team Engagement StrategiesTurn and TalkCued RetellNumbered Heads TogetherFour CornersSnowballClassroom MingleConclusion: Putting It All TogetherAppendixA. Stop-and-Jot Template-ElementaryB. Stop-and-Jot Template-SecondaryC. Response Card TemplatesD. Fist-to-Five VisualE. Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down VisualF. Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down/Thumbs Sideways VisualG. Cued-Retell SheetH. OTR Data Collection Form-Overall OTR OnlyI. OTR Data Collection Form-Individual/Group OTR-Specific Strategies UsedReferences