In my classroom, I prioritize fun the same way I magnify learning. I just refuse to become a boring teacher and in this post, I’d gladly share ways of how I make my classroom more fun.
Photo by Max Fischer
We’ve all had the potential to make our classroom more interesting and exciting. We’ve even had instances in the classroom witnessing flares of interest in our students’ eyes, beaming and never wanting the period to end. Why not make the most of them?
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<<< Have you thought of making use of ice breakers in the classroom? Take time to read our fun and exciting ice breakers to help your students become more motivated to learn.
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What can we do to keep students engaged and eager to learn? What can we do to have more fun in the classroom?
How Do I Make My Classroom More Fun?
1. Incorporate physical and interactive online games
According to research, playing games in the classroom might help students become motivated and active participants in learning. Students will become more attentive and participative because games are part of their routines.
-Essentially, with the integration of games and technology in the classroom most students get engaged in learning. Games in the classroom and in a virtual setting are now considered a vital element of the learning process in many schools.
We all know that students can learn via play, and the body of evidence continues to mount in support of the importance of physical and interactive online games. They transform learning content that some students may otherwise find difficult. With Kahoot and Quizizz, for example, content becomes enjoyable and appealing.
When you incorporate games into student learning, rest assured that you are the kind of teacher who brings fun into the classroom and your students will love you for that. You are making things less intimidating for them. For me, gamifying content is an excellent classroom management technique as well.
2. Explore new possibilities together
Consider going outside the box together and devise a class that is radically different from the norm. The inclusion of worksheets and lectures in your class discussion won’t be enough to maintain fun and excitement in the classroom.
Try new things together and see how your students get excited each day. Bringing learning outside, inviting other teachers or speakers, going on a field trip, or hosting a learning fair are great examples of great and unusual possibilities in the classroom.
When developing your lesson plan, try to incorporate new things like sending your students on a virtual tour to enhance their learning. There’s a good likelihood that your students may respond favorably when you introduce something new and unusual into the classroom.
3. Create surprises
When your students don’t know what to anticipate, they may have the greatest fun learning. Your lessons should be thrilling and surprising for them.
Students should be given a fresh hint each day that they will become more energetic to learn. It could be about using new instructional materials and manipulatives or it could be a new strategy to facilitate learning.
By and by, your students are excited as they look forward to finding out what you’re going to teach them and what they’re gonna do in the classroom.
As you make your lessons more mysterious, your students will definitely have fun learning. Even a simple review game can ignite interest and excitement.
4. Use humor
Every single day can be very challenging for some students, but if you’re making things exciting in the classroom by using humor, the classroom atmosphere becomes welcoming and accommodating.
Humor is fun and it builds a positive atmosphere in the learning space. When students laugh at your jokes, they are more prepared to learn because they feel how happy you are to teach them.
Laughter in the classroom is a cure for boredom, stress, and uneasiness. Hence, bringing humor into your classroom is like using cartoon characters in your visuals, or simply reading funny books can make a difference and can keep students excited about learning.
For sure, they won’t forget your style and perhaps always look up to you as their very accommodating, funny, and loving teacher. Make them laugh and feel good.
5. Exchange ideas using casual conversations
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko
How do you talk with your students? Is it in a very formal way? Oh, I imagine your students are very serious in your class that they can’t manage to be wrong in what they say.
It’s essential to be a good teacher but it doesn’t mean you have to be completely serious at all times in the classroom. Try to relax and accept that your students need to talk casually. The more they do it, the more they can express themselves. With this method, you can probe into where they are and how they are learning.
Engage your students in dialogue and modify your teaching styles. With casual conversations rather than stiff lectures, you and your students will be actively engaged in exchanging ideas without intimidation but with full excitement and respect.
Try asking, “No kidding! How could this be possible?”, “Really? What good will it bring to your life?”, “Oh, that’s interesting! Were you inspired by the main character in the story? How?”, “Would you like to add some more ideas?”, “Can you tell me more about your experience during our field trip?” You’ll find out how your students share easily and each of them contributes his or her ideas.
6. Be more passionate and a game-changer
Demonstrate your enjoyment of the class by being more passionate. If your students feel your interest in teaching them, they can become likewise very interested to learn. Show your passion by being a game-changer.
Don’t be that sage on the stage but rather a passionate teacher who’s willing to go the extra mile to become learning successful.
If you’re passionate about teaching, you won’t get tired of making learning fun and your enthusiasm spreads like wildfire. If you’re having fun, your students are likely to be as well.
Each day is an opportunity for us to create memorable moments with our students. Let go of the rigid structure. Try new teaching practices that can inspire students to do better and become more creative, communicative, and critical thinkers.
7. Teach with empathy and be a student again
Photo by Max Fischer
Participate in learning tasks. Spend days a week being with your students on their hands-on learning tasks. Your students will get excited to see you doing the things that they do. Imagine those little hands will be working with you.
If it requires you to dance and sing with them, just imagine how fun the classroom can become. Those twists and high notes of yours will make students feel that you are one of them. This is a win-win solution for everyone.
With this approach, you will be able to reach out to your students and know how they are feeling and where they are at learning. Teach with empathy and know how they feel. Be a student again and make the classroom environment a lot more friendly.
8. Enjoy teaching
If you enjoy teaching, your students will enjoy learning as well. Your enjoyment in teaching is manifested in how you deal with your students and how to teach concepts and make them master skills.
If your students show greater improvement, it means you’ve done your part effectively because you are enjoying teaching your students.
Enjoying teaching is also enjoying yourself in the profession. This can give you a high level of confidence that your students can achieve the learning objectives and exceed expectations. Have a good time and your students will have too.
Love teaching even more and enjoy it, this can make your job much easier. As a result, your students will be happier as well.
9. Involve students actively
The most effective learning occurs when students are actively involved. When you deliver the subject to your pupils in a variety of unique ways, they will find it more enjoyable to study.
Make learning collaborative. Students will learn more quickly and retain more knowledge when they are able to collaborate with one another. Value group tasks and differentiate instruction.
Additionally, communication and critical thinking are two more abilities that are improved through cooperation. Likewise, breaking up your sessions with various tasks breaks up the monotony and makes it more interesting to study.
10. Be open to students’ creativity
With various hands-on learning tasks in your classroom, your students can surprise you with their outputs and performance. Appreciate their creativity and make them feel that you are indeed happy with their work.
Our students have various interests that ought to be respected and valued. Hence, if they’ve come up with something different than what is expected, acknowledge their ingenuity. This can inspire them to do more and become more animated and enthusiastic.
Allow your students to make adjustments and modifications to tasks and projects as long as they get your approval first. It’s possible that their suggestions will invigorate the class with a fresh perspective. As an added benefit, your students gain a greater sense of accomplishment and self-esteem when they come up with their own solutions and creations.
Conclusion
So, how do I make my classroom fun? Quite fun, isn’t it?
At school, our students need to have fun so they get excited to wake up each day and attend their classes. Moreover, they are more eager to participate and remember their lessons if the classroom is made more fun.
What else can we do to make our classrooms more exciting and enjoyable for our students? We highly value your thoughts. Drop them in the comment section below.
