Educators
3
Engage your learners
Capturing learners’ attention from the start reduces disengagement. Using an intriguing object, picture, quote, classroom layout, or prop stimulates curiosity and prepares learners for active participation.
Other effective engagement techniques include:
• Summarising the topic in five bullet points, then reducing it to five words and finally, to one word.
•“ Just a minute”: Learners speak on a topic for one minute without hesitation or repetition.
• Taboo: Learners describe a word / concept / character / event to a partner without using certain key words( similar to 30 Seconds).
• Verbal Tennis: Divide the class into two groups that take turns saying words related to the topic. No repeats. Scored like tennis.
• Reverse questioning: The teacher gives the answer, and learners must formulate the question.
• Group multiple-choice challenges: Learners design tricky questions to test other groups.
• Lateral-thinking puzzles: Encourages problem-solving before starting the lesson.
• These short activities boost engagement, reinforce prior knowledge, and set an energetic tone for the lesson.
4
Differentiate to meet learners’ needs
Behaviour issues often arise when the lesson is too difficult or insufficiently stimulating. Learners who struggle may act out to avoid work, while those who finish too quickly may become restless and disruptive.
• Offer choices and allow learners to demonstrate understanding through different formats( e. g., writing a poem, creating a rap, or designing a poster).
• Provide extension tasks. For high-achievers, introduce challenging questions rather than just giving them extra work.
• Adjust tasks for struggling learners. Offer simplified materials, additional practice opportunities, and scaffolded learning.
• Consider reading levels and ensure texts are accessible and, where needed, offer alternative ways of engaging with the content( e. g., diagrams, labelled drawings, flow charts).
• Modify note-taking methods. For learners with dyslexia, provide preprinted notes they can annotate rather than expecting them to copy large sections of text.
• Have discreet conversations and speak with learners individually to understand what they find difficult and how they prefer to learn.
Differentiation ensures that all learners are engaged and challenged at an appropriate level, reducing frustration and improving behaviour.
Good teaching practices go beyond delivering content, they shape the learning environment. By implementing these four strategies – clarifying lesson purpose, establishing routines, engaging learners, and differentiating tasks – teachers can create an environment that supports learning, minimises disruptions, and encourages positive behaviour.
A well-managed classroom is not just about discipline, it’ s about creating a space where all learners feel engaged, supported, and motivated to achieve their potential.
40 www. futuresa. co. za