There are all sorts of things you can do to shake things up in your classroom. But teachers are expected to have a certain level of decorum. That is why I included the first item in this post. From there, it gets interesting. So, read on!

Dress Appropriately 

I think teachers should dress appropriately for school. Having a professional attire is just one of the things we should all be doing on a regular basis. I wear a tie to class at least three times a week.

Even on Fridays, when a lot of teachers dress down, I still wear casual pants and a golf shirt. Although, wearing jeans and a school t-shirt also works on the occasional spirit day or the day before a holiday.

Figure out how to incorporate art, drama, movement, and props in the lesson. You could even use food or beverages to create a positive atmosphere for a special lesson. Same goes with music and lighting.

Wear a Costume

But, I also like to shake things up by wearing a costume that compliments my lesson. This year, I have gone into role as a scientist. I wore a lab coat and glasses, and spoke with an accent. I even gave this character a name and back story. It was great!

There are all sort of ways you can use costumes in the class. I regularly have myself play the role of a guest speaker. I have been a construction worker, a football player, and of course, a pirate.

Involve the Audience

You need to ask yourself questions when designing your lesson. These questions will help you make your presentation more interactive and meaningful.

– How can I consistently keep the audience feeling involved?
– Can I cue them to make certain motions or sounds at key points?
– Can I incorporate call and response in this lesson?
– Can I bring students to the front of the room as volunteers?

Here is an idea that politicians or celebrities use during press conferences. Why not bring it into the classroom too?

– Have a student play a pre-arranged role and interact with them throughout the lesson. They key here is to keep this a secret so only you and that one particular student know what is going to happen.

Try Something New and Exciting in the Classroom

I hope my Teaching Tip Tuesday Series helps to inspire you and have you try something new and creative in your classroom!

This series normally runs every week during the school year. This year, it will be sporadic. I am not teaching right now, but still have some ideas I can share with all of you. Stay tuned to the blog for more!