10 Classroom Engagement Tricks That Actually Work in 2025

Boost student focus and participation with these proven engagement ideas.

By SELINclub | 15 Jul 2025, 05:56 AM

Keeping students engaged is one of the most essential — yet often elusive — goals of effective teaching. Whether you’re crafting a lesson plan for primary pupils or guiding secondary school learners through complex content, classroom engagement is the cornerstone of successful learning.

In this age of passing attention and instant diversion, no aspect of teaching has ever been as important as the need for creative teaching practices, student engagement, and classroom control.

This blog analyses 10 research-backed engagement tricks proven not just effective, but with the potential to transform your classroom experience.

1. Begin With a Strong Hook

What is a “hook”?
 A hook is a quick, compelling way to start a lesson, designed to grab attention and ignite curiosity.

Why it works:

• Activates prior knowledge
   
• Sparks intrinsic motivation
   
• Frames learning as meaningful and exciting
   

Examples:

• A provocative question: “What if we didn’t have gravity?”
   
• A real-world dilemma: “Should students vote at 16?”
   
• An unusual object: Use it to prompt inquiry-based learning

Incorporate this into your lesson plan format as your first step. It sets the tone for student engagement and encourages active learning from the outset.

2. Give Students Choice

Choice increases autonomy, and autonomy boosts engagement. From a psychological perspective, students are more motivated when they feel in control of their learning.

Easy ways to offer choice:

• Learning outputs: Essay, podcast, video, or infographic
   
• Reading options: Select from 2–3 texts with shared themes
   
• Group vs. individual work: Allow flexible collaboration

Incorporating choice into lesson plans shows a commitment to differentiated instruction — a pillar of modern teaching methods and strategies.

3. Use Collaborative Learning Techniques

Learning is inherently social. Techniques like Think–Pair–Share, jigsaw activities, and peer teaching allow students to process, discuss, and co-construct understanding.

Collaborative Strategy	Best For	Primary or Secondary?
Think–Pair–Share	Quick discussion starters	Both
Jigsaw	Group projects or reading tasks	Secondary
Peer teaching	Revision and reinforcement	Both

For education leaders, embedding these into your teaching methodology can support school-wide pedagogical consistency.

4. Integrate EdTech – With Purpose

Educational technology can either enhance or distract. The key lies in intentional integration that supports your learning outcomes.

Recommended tools:

• Kahoot: Interactive quizzes for formative assessment
   
• Padlet: Digital collaboration board
   
• Quizlet: Flashcards and games for revision
   
• Google Jamboard: Visual collaboration
   

As you evaluate tools, ask: Does this deepen learning or merely digitise it?
Using technology effectively is not about being trendy; it’s about enabling new learning and extending reach, particularly valuable in hybrid or inclusive classrooms.

5. Implement Project-Based Learning (PBL)

PBL allows students to explore real-world problems over extended periods. It fosters critical thinking, collaboration, and sustained engagement.

Key Features of PBL:

• Inquiry-driven questions
   
• Cross-curricular integration
   
• Authentic final product
   

Example Project:
 “Design a sustainable garden for your school.”
 (Integrates Science, Maths, English, and Citizenship.)

For education leaders: encourage CPD on project-based learning and allow time for teachers to design high-quality, cross-disciplinary units.

6. Use Visual and Interactive Lesson Plans

Today’s learners benefit from multi-modal input. Static lectures don’t cut it anymore.

How to enhance visuals:

• Use diagrams, flowcharts, and concept maps
   
• Use videos and animations.
   
• Let students make their visualisations.
   

Making a lesson planning template for visual aids, timelines, and icons available can also contribute to classroom management and organisation.

7. Apply the 10:2 Rule for Pacing

This rule suggests: For every 10 minutes of teaching, allow 2 minutes for processing. This is vital for student engagement, especially in content-heavy subjects.

Proessing Activities:

• Quick write
   
• Partner discussion
   
• Sketch-note
   
• Exit ticket question
   

Education leaders can support this approach by encouraging manageable pacing in lesson observations and CPD training.

8. Use Gamification Tactically

Gamification transforms routine lessons into engaging, low-stakes challenges.

How to gamify:

• Introduce classroom leaderboards
   
• Create badge or point systems.
   
• Build educational “quests” or mini-challenges
   

Gamification enhances:

• Motivation
   
• Teamwork
   
• Long-term memory retention

But use it sparingly — it should support, not replace, solid pedagogy.

9. Focus on Clear, Student-Friendly Objectives

If students don’t understand what they’re learning or why, they’ll disconnect. Every lesson should answer two key student questions:

• What am I learning today?
   
• Why does it matter to me?
   

Tips for clear objectives:

• Use “I can…” or “We will…” statements
   
• Display them visually throughout the lesson.
   
• Refer back at key intervals to connect tasks with the goal.
   

A well-structured objective builds focus and reduces classroom drift — a cornerstone of strong classroom management strategies.

10. Reflect, Review, Revise

Teaching isn’t static. Encourage both teachers and students to reflect regularly.

Student strategies:

• Exit slips
   
• Weekly learning journals
   
• Peer feedback
   

Teacher strategies:

• After-class notes: What worked? What didn’t?
   
• Adjust future lesson plans based on engagement levels.
   
• Collect informal feedback from pupils.

This approach aligns with professional development for teachers and ensures continuous improvement in teaching effectiveness.

Why Engagement Must Be Prioritised

Engagement isn’t just a teaching buzzword — it’s foundational to student success. Engaged students are:

• More likely to achieve academic targets
   
• Less likely to exhibit behaviour issues
   
• More resilient and enthusiastic learners
   

For education leaders, the evidence is clear: supporting teachers with practical classroom strategies, ongoing professional development, and resources for lesson planning can drive a culture of engagement across the school.

Recommended Tools for Classroom Engagement

Here are some effective, teacher-tested tools featured in this blog that support active learning, classroom management, and lesson delivery:

Tool	Purpose	Best For	Tool Link
Kahoot	Game-based quizzes	Formative assessment, revision, and warm-ups	kahoot.com
Padlet	Digital collaboration boards	Brainstorming, group discussions, and exit slips	padlet.com
Quizlet	Flashcards and learning games	Vocabulary building, spaced retrieval	quizlet.com
Nearpod	Interactive lesson presentations	Real-time student engagement, formative checks	nearpod.com
Flip (formerly Flipgrid)	Student video responses	Reflective learning, speaking practice	flip.com
Google Jamboard	Visual collaboration tool	Concept mapping, group ideation	jamboard.google.com
Mentimeter	Live polls, Q&A, word clouds	Student voice, quick feedback	mentimeter.com

 

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Tips for Using These Tools:

• Choose tools that support your learning objectives, not just what's popular.
   
• Start with one new tool at a time to avoid tech overwhelm.
   
• Embed them into your lesson plan format and classroom routines for consistent use.
   

Shifting Engagement Strategies for Inclusive and Diverse Classrooms

Teaching today is about responding to students with diverse backgrounds, skills, and learning styles. To effectively engage students, shifting engagement tips with inclusion and diversity in consideration is crucial.

Why It Matters

Inclusive classrooms include students with diverse linguistic backgrounds, special educational needs, and diverse social-emotional capabilities.

Inclusive engagement deepens participation, lessens behaviour difficulties, and creates a sense of belonging.

Practical Strategies for Accessible Engagement

• Differentiated Choice: Provide multiple modes for students to show learning (visual, oral, written).
   
• Accessible Tech: Employ software that includes features such as screen readers or captioning (e.g., Flip for video responses with captions).
   
• Collaborative Grouping: Actively group diverse learners together to establish conditions for peer learning across ability levels.
   
• Culturally Responsive Hooks: Select hooks and examples that are reflective of the cultural backgrounds of your students.
   
• Flexible Pacing: Provide additional processing time or scaffolded assignments for students who require it, according to the 10:2 pacing rule.
   

Conclusion

If you are interested in finding out more about teaching methods, classroom management, and active learning, we welcome you to visit the SELIN Club website.

SELIN Club is an increasing force of educators teaching educators, exchanging tested and reliable solutions, evidence-based practices, and resources that contribute to student achievement and professional development.

From webinars and knowledge centres to peer-led CPD, the SELIN Club is for educators who aspire to be at the forefront — and for educators who aspire to offer every child a rich learning experience.

FAQs

1. What is the best way to maintain student interest throughout a lesson?
Employing more than one active learning strategy, like Think–Pair–Share, choice-based activities, and strategic pacing, maintains students interested and engaged throughout a lesson.

2. Are tricks applicable to elementary and high school classrooms?
They are. The majority of these approaches to teaching are adaptable. Though content and complexity will differ, the fundamental principles of engagement — clarity, variety, and relevance — cut across year groups.

3. How do leaders of education promote classroom engagement in schools?
By prioritising CPD in approach and methodology, facilitating collaboration in professional learning communities, and leading reflective practice, school leaders establish a culture in which engagement will flourish.

4. How do I know that my students are engaged?
Engagement is revealed through body language, contributing, work quality, and feedback. Monitor with formative assessments and student reflection, and make revisions.

5. Where can I find more resources on classroom management and lesson planning?
SELIN Club website provides in-depth resources, articles, and professional development tools for new and veteran teachers seeking to refine practice.