279. Plot Twist: Student Engagement Doesn’t Happen by Accident

There are so many times as teachers when we realize we’re the ones doing all the heavy lifting during our lessons—talking, thinking, and writing—while our students sit back and watch. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Student engagement isn’t something that happens automatically, even with a great lesson plan. In this episode, I’m unpacking what it really means to plan for engagement and why it’s essential to build intentional opportunities for students to think, respond, and connect throughout every lesson.

I share a handful of simple engagement routines that can transform the way your students interact with your lessons. These routines—like the classic think-pair-share, agree/disagree statements, two-sentence responses, and three-two-one reflections—don’t require fancy materials or major prep. Instead, they’re flexible structures that you can use in any subject to spark thinking, encourage participation, and give every student a voice in your classroom.

By the end of this episode, you’ll see how easy it can be to plan for engagement and keep your students actively involved all lesson long. My challenge for you this week is to choose one engagement routine and try it out. Start small, stay intentional, and watch how your students’ focus, confidence, and comprehension grow. Click play to discover how small, intentional changes can make a big difference in how your students show up and engage during lessons.

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To check out all of the resources from this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.stellarteacher.com/episode279.

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