Mike’s Blog
Strategies, Ideas and Insights for Teachers and Leaders
Tag: creating engagement
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Two simple questioning activities with universal appeal for learners of all ages
Who Am I? This is a very simple game which is also a lot of fun. It works as follows: The class is divided into groups of two or three.…
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How using the word ‘might’ can instantly transform questioning and discussion in your classroom
Consider the following questions: The meaning of the sentence is significantly altered by the word ‘might’. In sentence (1) there is an implied presumption that the questioner knows the answer…
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How does ‘wait time’ change the impact of every question you ask, creating better answers in any lesson?
In many situations, teachers encourage learners to take their time: All these comments are intended to help learners understand that taking a little longer and going a little slower often…
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Understand how skilled teachers use ground rules to bring discussion to life and make it work for all their learners
Life is governed by rules. As adults we implicitly know, acknowledge, and act in accordance with these. Many learners make the complaint that school life is riddled with rules. An…
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How to use stimulus material to create discussions your learners can’t help but engage with
There are many different ways to begin a classroom discussion. The most common is to present learners with a question or statement related to the topic. There is also the…
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How can you quickly improve the quality of your learners’ writing by harnessing the power of discussion?
Discussion is a great way to help learners develop their ideas about a topic before they start doing any writing. It gives an opportunity to think at length and to…
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What are some of the best ways skilled teachers scaffold paired discussion, group discussion and whole-class discussion?
Scaffolding involves: Here are six examples of scaffolding strategies, two each for paired discussion, group discussion and whole-class discussion. Paired Discussion Scaffolding Strategies Strategy One – Question Sequence Provide each…
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How can you effectively model discussion for your learners, immediately improving the quality of their speaking and listening?
As the teacher, learners are watching you and analysing how you behave. They act in accordance with what they observe. If you model excellent discussion, you set an example for…
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Why is bouncing the simplest and yet potentially most powerful tool teachers can use to develop oracy in their classrooms?
Most classrooms have the following structure: This structure commonly results in the teacher spending some of their time standing at the front of the room, conveying information to their learners.…
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Six surefire ways you can use the power of language to eliminate low-level disruption
There are lots of language tools any teacher can use to help eliminate low-level disruption. Here are four to get you started: Talking in terms of ‘we’ Doing this helps…