Use your creativity to come up with activities that can be fun to do in class with in-person and/or online students. You can introduce and try an activity at the beginning of the class period after you have taken attendance. After you have introduced the activity, it will probably take the first 10 to 15 minutes of class.
You could start on a Monday and surprise your students with a fun engaging activity. You may want to try to do the same activity for 10 minutes at the beginning of class on Monday and Tuesday, then you can try a new activity on Friday. It can be helpful to poll your students after each of the activities so they can provide a rating of how it went for them or which activities they prefer. Most virtual teaching platforms have a rating tool. Anytime you have an opportunity to engage with your students in a fun and meaningful way, do it. Students really like it when their teachers have fun and mix things up once in a while!
At Grand Canyon University’s College of Education, our teaching and learning cycle provides a structure for reflection for teacher and principal candidates. It provides guidance based on research regarding the professional teaching and learning process and is grounded in our rich Christian heritage. Just as the teacher and principal candidates personally move through the practices of learning, leading and serving, they also progress through the teaching and learning cycle. By doing so, they are better able to have a systematic positive impact on classroom instruction and student learning. Learn more about earning your education degree from GCU and return each week for a new Teaching Tuesday post.