Active Engagement (Stems)

Engagement during the “Telling” phase

Strategy
Whisper to your neighbor
Write the answer in the air
Show me with your
fingers how many…
Whisper to me (show a
top hat or a box) to
“collect” answers
**K/1st grade strategy
Point to the correct
answer…
Move to your choice…
Example
Whisper to your neighbor how you solved the problem.
Solve problem #1 in your head. Write the answer in the air.
Show me with your fingers how many characters are in the
story.
Whisper to me (holding out top hat) what your favorite part
of the story was. Teacher places the hat on his head – OK,
I’ve got it.
Here are three different choices of the spelling for
there/they’re/their. Point to the correct usage. - The
students did their homework – point to the correct work.
Signs are placed around the room for various continents.
Move to the continent that you would like to live on…

Choral Response (all students should know the answer)

Use a verbal and a visual response cue simultaneously
Verbal Cues Visual Cues
On the count of three, Show the finger count – then snap fingers for choral
respond… response
Think… Think… Hand raised (stop), lower hand and snap fingers for
Respond response
Think… Respond Point to item with finger pointer – tap for response

Responses for Yes/No or True/False Responses

 Thumbs up/Thumbs down
 Stand up/Sit down
 Hold up little card with yes on one side/no on the other
 Yes/No on white boards

Written Responses
 During the lesson, the teacher requests that students write answers on: paper, post-
its, graphic organizer, transparency, or slate.
 Students hold up a response card indicating the answer to teacher’s question.

Engage – then – Assess

 Tables discuss. Group Member 3 be ready to respond. Table 6 – member 3
respond.
 Whisper to your neighbor. Teacher calls on one student to respond.
 Students each using individual white boards while one student is working the
problem on the classroom white board