​Implementing a new program can be stressful for both teachers and students. One way to mitigate some of the stress is to embed student engagement strategies and formative assessment practices throughout each lesson. Ensuring that all students are actively engaged helps keep the focus on student learning and supports differentiation. Using formative assessment allows teachers to respond to student needs as they occur during the lesson, and this responsive teaching leads to improved learning outcomes for all students.
 
As part of a class on student engagement/formative assessment, Angelique Brown, principal at Glover School, has created a newsletter that provides suggestions for embedding engagement techniques and formative assessment in Eureka Math lessons. I hope you’ll read the attached newsletter, try some of these strategies, and comment below to let us know how they impacted learning in your classroom.

This blog post was written by Sue Cloutier a teacher in the Orleans Central Early Childhood Program. Thanks Sue!

With our district talking so much about formative assessments, student engagement, and total participation techniques, one may wonder where and/or how to begin.  Well, here is a resource (book listed below) and a little support summed up just for you!  Before I begin I want to assure you this process is easy!  There is only one idea to keep in the back of your mind, and that is, “What do I want my students to get out of my lesson?”
      First of all, I must let you know upfront that many teachers have already started their own personal journeys through this process of implementing strategies and techniques.  I want to assure you that it will take very little time to start your own journey.  One important bit of information before we start is:  having fun with formative assessment is totally encouraged.
      Just by reading chapters four and five in the book (listed below), you will already feel confident in making attempts to formatively assess your students; and support student engagement by using total participation techniques.
Chapter four includes: “On-the-Spot TPTs.”  Chapter five includes “TPT Hold-Ups.”  I have ranked the techniques extremely easy, or more challenging than others (this is because the technique takes a longer amount of time than the others).
 
Extremely Easy, no materials needed, and utilizing very little time:                      
*Think-Pair-Share
*Thumbs-Up When Ready
*Thumbs - Up/Down Vote
Extremely Easy, writing materials needed, and utilizing very little time:
*Quick-Writes
*Quick-Draws
*Chalkboard Splash (need sticky notes and place to post notes)
*Whiteboard Hold-Ups
Extremely Easy, but need premade cards; and utilizing very little time:
*Processing Cards
*Ranking
*Selected-Response Hold-Ups
*Number Card Hold-Ups
*True/Not True Hold-Ups
*Multiple Choice Hold-Ups
More Challenging than others:
*Similes (comparing)
*Numbered Heads (analyzing)
 
More information about all of these techniques can be found in the text noted below.
 
In both chapters four and five, there is an extremely easy format to follow.  It lists:
      *Steps to how they work-this gives you step-by-step directions in how to use the technique.
      *How to Ensure Higher-Order Thinking-gives you steps to ensure higher-order thinking.
      *Pause to Apply-gives you ideas on when you might use the technique.
 
The resource I recommend is a book: Total Participation Techniques, by Persida and William Himmele. (2011) 

What engagement strategies do you use to ensure total participation? Comment below to share your ideas!