Awake and Engaged Facilitator Script

Slide 1: Awake and Engaged (Title Slide)

“Good afternoon, everyone! Thank you for joining our 25-minute session, Awake and Engaged: Keeping Students Alert & Involved. I’m [Your Name], and today we’ll explore why some of our students nod off in class, how we can respond with empathy, and concrete strategies to boost alertness across our classrooms. Let’s dive in!”

Pause briefly to ensure everyone can see the slide.

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Slide 2: Session Objectives

“On the screen you’ll see our four objectives for today. By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Identify common causes of student sleepiness
• Practice empathetic responses when students are drowsy
• Brainstorm classroom-wide engagement strategies
• Plan actionable next steps for your own classes

Take a quick moment to read these objectives. (Pause 5 seconds.) Any questions about what we’ll cover? [Pause for clarification.] Great—let’s move on.”

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Slide 3: Causes of Sleepiness: Health & Well-Being

“Our first area is health and well-being. Many students struggle with:

• Sleep disorders or simply not getting enough rest at night
• Poor nutrition or dehydration
• Stress, anxiety, or other mental-health factors

Has anyone noticed a connection between these factors and a student dozing off? (Invite one or two examples, 30 seconds each.)

Thank you for sharing. Understanding these root causes helps us respond more thoughtfully.”

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Slide 4: Causes of Sleepiness: Environment & Routine

“Next, let’s consider environment and routine:

• Heavy home responsibilities or long bus rides
• Classroom conditions—lighting, seating, room temperature
• Lack of movement or frequent breaks

Think for a moment: what environmental adjustment has helped you re-engage a sleepy class? (Pause for 20 seconds; invite one quick response.) Excellent. Small tweaks can make a big difference.”

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Slide 5: Causes of Sleepiness: Screen Time & Workload

“Finally, screen time and workload can impact sleepiness:

• Late-night device use—phones, video games, streaming
• Heavy homework assignments
• Overcommitment to extracurriculars

When we recognize these pressures, we can work with students and families to balance demands and support healthier sleep habits.”

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Slide 6: Empathy Response Discussion

“Now we’ll practice empathetic responses. Please take the Discussion Prompts Handout (Discussion Prompts Handout) and find a partner. You have three minutes to read one scenario and draft a short, empathetic response you might say to that student.

• Remember to acknowledge feelings before offering solutions.
• Keep your language supportive, not judgmental.

I’ll give you a 30-second warning before we wrap up. (After ~2½ minutes) Time’s up! Would two or three pairs like to share your scenario and response? (Invite responses.) Thank you for those thoughtful replies.”

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Slide 7: Strategy Brainstorm Activity

“Let’s shift to proactive strategies. In your groups of three or four, use the Engagement Activity Guide (Engagement Activity Guide) to brainstorm 2–3 classroom-wide interventions that boost alertness. Examples include quick brain breaks, seating rotations, or stretch prompts.

• Write each idea on a sticky note.
• Post your notes on the board when you’re done.

You have five minutes—begin now. (After ~4½ minutes) Great work, everyone. I see some fantastic ideas on the board!”

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Slide 8: Reflection & Action Planning

“Finally, let’s make a plan you’ll actually use. Please take the Reflection Form (Reflection Form).

1. Choose one strategy from our brainstorm.
2. Set a realistic timeline for implementation.
3. Note any supports you’ll need (colleagues, resources).

You have three minutes for this. (After ~3 minutes) Would two volunteers share their chosen strategy and timeline? (Invite responses.) Thank you—those commitments are inspiring!”

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Slide 9: Additional Resources

“I’d like to point you to some extra materials:

• The full Facilitator Script you’re using now (Facilitator Script) to run your own PD.
• Research articles on sleep and learning.
• Tips for collaborating with school counselors or nurses.

Feel free to follow up with me for any of these.”

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Slide 10: Thank You!

“Thank you all for your energy and ideas today. Remember: small, empathetic moves can keep students alert and invested in learning. If any final questions pop up, email me at YourName@school.edu. Have a great rest of your day—and stay engaged!”

Empathy Response Discussion Handout

In pairs, read each scenario below. Discuss the student’s situation and draft a brief, empathetic response you might say to this student. Focus on acknowledging feelings before offering solutions.

Scenario 1

Alex slumps at his desk each afternoon. After soccer practice, he gets home late, grabs a quick snack, and stays up finishing homework. He often nods off during your fourth-period lesson.

Your Response (2–3 sentences):

Scenario 2

Maria sometimes dozes during morning class. She helps care for her younger siblings before school, skipping breakfast to get them ready. She arrives tired and struggles to stay awake.

Your Response (2–3 sentences):

Scenario 3

Jamal’s chair often tilts back as he fights to keep his eyes open. He missed the bus today and rushed through chores, arriving late and without time for breakfast or a calm moment.

Your Response (2–3 sentences):

After drafting your responses, share with another pair. Compare wording and discuss how each acknowledges the student’s experience before suggesting next steps.

Strategy Brainstorm Activity

Purpose: Generate a variety of classroom-wide interventions that help students stay alert and engaged throughout the school day.
Time: 5 minutes
Group Size: 3–4 teachers per group
Materials: Sticky notes, markers, whiteboard or wall space, Engagement Activity Guide handout (this document).

Steps

1. Form Groups (30 sec)
   Organize into your preassigned groups of 3–4. Collect a pad of sticky notes and a marker.
2. Discuss & Brainstorm (3 min)
   Use the guiding questions below to prompt ideas for proactive, classroom-wide strategies. Each time your group lands on a new idea, write one strategy on a single sticky note. Be concise—just a title or short phrase.
3. Post & Cluster (1 min)
   Affix your sticky notes on the whiteboard or designated wall area. As a group, look for similar ideas and cluster them together.
4. Gallery Walk (30 sec)
   Take a quick lap to scan the full board. Note any standout ideas you might adopt in your own classroom.

Guiding Questions

• What mini “brain breaks” (1–2 minutes) could you insert between activities?
• How might you rearrange seating or rotation to re-energize students?
• What quick prompts or questions can you use to check in on student alertness?
• How can you leverage movement (stand-and-share, stretch, walk-and-talk) within existing lessons?
• Which visual or auditory cues (music, chimes, countdown timers) could signal a reset moment?

Examples of Strategies

• Stretch & Share: Pause halfway through a lesson for 60 seconds of guided stretches, then have students turn to a neighbor to share one key point.
• Seat Swap: After each major segment, students rotate seating by one seat to change perspective and posture.
• Quick Pulse Check: Display a “How awake are you?” slide; students hold up 1–5 fingers, then adjust pace or activity based on results.
• Movement Quiz: A pop-quiz requires students to stand at their tables to answer—encourages posture change and attentiveness.

Next Steps

After posting and browsing, choose one idea your group feels most excited about. Be ready to share it in the large-group debrief.

Reflection & Action Planning Form

Use this form to select one strategy from today’s brainstorm, set a timeline, and identify supports for successful implementation.

Name: ________________________
Date: ________________________

1. Strategy Selected

Which classroom alertness strategy will you implement first?
(e.g., Stretch & Share, Seat Swap, Quick Pulse Check)

2. Implementation Timeline

By when will you introduce this strategy?
(Be specific: date, lesson, or week.)

3. Steps for Implementation

List 2–3 steps you’ll take to prepare and launch this strategy in your classroom.

4. Needed Supports & Resources

What materials, colleagues, or school resources will you enlist?
(e.g., colleague co-teach, counselor tips, class set of timers.)

5. Anticipated Challenges & Solutions

What obstacles might arise, and how will you address them?
(Consider time constraints, student buy-in, space.)

Thank you for committing to this step toward keeping students alert and engaged!