Engaging Students – Total Participation Techniques

Total participation in the classroom – – every teacher’s holy grail!  According to Persida and William Himmele in their book “Total Participation Techniques: Making Every Student an Active Learner,” there are a multitude of techniques that we can elect to use in the classroom. But before we can get there, we first need to know what exactly is their definition of total participation techniques. They define total participation techniques as: “teaching techniques that allow for all students to demonstrate, at the same time, active participation and cognitive engagement in the topic being studied.” You might be asking yourself — how can I get my students there? First, let’s take a look at the keys to creating  total participation techniques, classroom ready techniques that can be employed and the benefits of (TPT’s).

Keys to Creating a TPT Conducive Classroom:

  • Appreciate student differences – give students multiple opportunities to participate in class, show their strengths, and demonstrate their cognitive abilities.
  • Foster student collaboration – employ numerous groupings of students based on the activity and knowledge of your students.
  • Promote peer acceptance – create a safe and accepting learning environment for all students.
  • Higher order thinking questions and prompts– ask higher order thinking questions and don’t forget to give students time to process.
  • Grow confidence – always give positive feedback to students.
  • Build trust – do you believe your students are capable of learning? How do you show your students that you trust them?
  • Follow through – be an active presence in the classroom by asking questions, walking around and participating with students, redirecting students if necessary.
  • Move away from right/wrong – ask students to justify their responses based on learned content. Never ask a student why — instead use the phrase tell me more.

Now that you have the keys to having a TPT conducive classroom, here are a few, and know there are a plethora of other classroom ready TPT’s that you can employ. One key to success with the techniques listed below – – always remember that when phrasing your questions or prompts to students, make sure they require higher order thinking skills.

Classroom Ready TPT’s:

  • Turn and Talk – have students turn to their partner and discuss what has just been asked of them. Remember circulate through the group and you too become part of the discussion.
  • Quick Draws or Quick Writes – have students write or draw their understandings.
  • Line-ups – give students a discussion question (remember to give them time to process and think). Have students line up in 2 parallel lines and discuss with the person across from them. Repeat by having students take 2 steps to left so they can discuss with a new partner.
  • Networking session – prepare prompts ahead of time for discussion. Have students locate a partner to discuss responses with. After a few minutes have students find a new partner to discuss with.
  • True/Not True – create 4 cards for each student — 1.) true, 2.) not true, 3.) true with modifications, and 4.) unable to determine. Ask students a higher order thinking question and then have students hold up their card.

And finally, here are some of the benefits that can be realized by using TPT.

Benefits:

  • provides you with ongoing formative assessments
  • increased student participation
  • deeper learning and cognitive engagement
  • increased social connectedness

Should you wish to read more about this, fill out a coaching request or contact me and I will loan you my book by Himmele – –Total Participation Techniques: Making Every Student an Active Learner.

 

Works Cited

Himmele Pérsida, and William Himmele. Total Participation Techniques: Making Every Student an Active Learner. ASCD, 2017.

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