Lesson Plan
Engage Your Brain
Students will identify personal barriers to classroom engagement and develop at least two personalized strategies to actively participate and focus during lessons.
Staying engaged in class is key to understanding new concepts, improving academic performance, and feeling more confident. This lesson helps students overcome distractions and find what truly works for them to learn effectively.
Audience
8th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Self-reflection and personalized strategy development.
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
Review the Engage Your Brain Lesson Plan and ensure familiarity with the content.
Review and prepare the Engage Your Brain Slide Deck for presentation.
Print or prepare digital copies of the My Engagement Action Plan Worksheet for each student.
Step 1
Warm-Up: My Brain Status
5 minutes
Begin by asking the student to reflect on how they typically feel at the start of a class.
Use a quick poll or a simple thumbs-up/down to gauge general energy levels or readiness to learn.
Introduce the idea that engagement isn't always easy and that this session is about finding personal tools to help.
Step 2
Understanding Engagement Barriers
10 minutes
Present the Engage Your Brain Slide Deck focusing on common reasons students disengage (internal/external distractions, difficulty of material, lack of sleep, etc.).
Facilitate a brief, private discussion with the student about their specific challenges.
Ask open-ended questions like: "What usually makes it hard for you to focus in class?" or "When do you feel most 'checked out'?"
Step 3
Strategy Brainstorm & Action Plan
10 minutes
Introduce various engagement strategies (e.g., active listening, note-taking methods, asking questions, fidget tools, strategic seating, pre-class review).
Provide the My Engagement Action Plan Worksheet.
Guide the student in selecting 2-3 strategies that resonate with them and help them complete the worksheet, personalizing each strategy to their needs.
Step 4
Cool-Down: One Small Step
5 minutes
Ask the student to identify one specific strategy from their My Engagement Action Plan Worksheet they will try in their next class.
Encourage them to share how they plan to implement it.
Reinforce that consistent small efforts lead to significant improvements in engagement over time.
Slide Deck
Engage Your Brain: Ready to Learn?
How ready do you feel to focus in class today?
Welcome the student. Start with a quick, informal check-in. Ask: "How are you feeling about focusing in class today? Thumbs up for ready, thumbs down for a bit distracted, somewhere in the middle is okay too!" Emphasize that it's normal to have varying levels of focus and this session is to help them find what works for them.
Why Does My Brain Zone Out?
Common Engagement Barriers:
- Internal: Mind wandering, feeling bored, stress, hunger, sleepiness
- External: Noise, classmates, phone, uncomfortable environment
What are your biggest challenges?
Explain that disengagement isn't a flaw, but a challenge many face. Use this slide to open up a safe discussion. Ask: "What are some things that make it tough to focus in class?" Prompt for both internal (mind wandering, boredom, stress) and external (noise, other students, phone) factors. Listen actively.
Tools For Your Brain: Engagement Strategies
Ways to Power Up Your Focus:
- Active Listening: Mentally summarize, predict, or question what's being said.
- Smart Note-Taking: Use different colors, draw diagrams, use Cornell notes.
- Strategic Seating: Choose a spot with fewer distractions.
- Pre-Class Prep: Briefly review previous notes or upcoming topics.
- Quick Movement: Small stretches or fidget tools (if allowed).
- Ask Questions: Even if just to yourself initially, then aloud.
Which of these sound interesting to you?
Introduce a few key strategies. For each, give a brief example. Encourage the student to think about how they might adapt these. "Active listening isn't just hearing, it's about thinking 'What question could I ask about this?'" or "Maybe note-taking means doodling related to the topic, not just writing words." Mention the worksheet for detailed planning.
Your Personalized Engagement Plan
Let's create your custom plan!
- Identify 2-3 strategies that you think will work best for you.
- Think about when and how you'll use them.
- Consider which classes these strategies might be most helpful in.
Transition to the worksheet. Explain that this is where they'll make it personal. "It's one thing to hear about strategies, it's another to pick the ones that fit you and plan how to use them." Hand out the My Engagement Action Plan Worksheet and guide them through selecting and detailing 2-3 strategies.
One Small Step: Try It Out!
What's one strategy you'll try in your next class?
- Think about how you'll use it.
- Don't aim for perfection, aim for progress!
- Small steps lead to big changes in engagement.
Conclude by bringing it back to immediate action. "Out of the strategies you picked, which one will you try first, in your very next class?" Encourage them and reiterate that practice makes progress, not perfection. "Even a small effort can make a big difference!"
Worksheet
My Engagement Action Plan
Name: ____________________________ Date: ____________________________
Part 1: My Engagement Challenges
Think about what usually makes it hard for you to focus or participate in class. Be honest with yourself!
- When do I tend to zone out or lose focus the most? (e.g., during lectures, group work, specific subjects, at certain times of the day)
- What usually causes me to get distracted? (Check all that apply, and add your own!)
- My phone / other technology
- Friends / other students talking
- Noise outside the classroom
- Thinking about other things (daydreaming)
- Feeling bored with the topic
- The work feels too hard / confusing
- Not enough sleep
- Feeling stressed or anxious
- Hunger or thirst
- Uncomfortable seating
- Other: ____________________________________________________
Part 2: My Personalized Engagement Strategies
Review the strategies we discussed (or think of your own!). Choose 2-3 strategies you want to try to improve your focus and participation.
Strategy 1: ____________________________________________________
- What is this strategy? (Briefly describe it)
- How will I use it? (Be specific! e.g., "I will write down 3 questions during the first 10 minutes of math class.")
- When and in which class will I try this first?
Strategy 2: ____________________________________________________
- What is this strategy? (Briefly describe it)
- How will I use it? (Be specific!)
- When and in which class will I try this first?
Strategy 3 (Optional): ____________________________________________
- What is this strategy? (Briefly describe it)
- How will I use it? (Be specific!)
- When and in which class will I try this first?
Part 3: My Commitment
I commit to trying at least one of these strategies in my next class. I understand that it might feel awkward at first, but with practice, I can improve my focus and engagement.
My signature: ____________________________