10 Techniques to get Students Talking: K-8 Student Engagement Strategies by Dr. Dee Ann Schnautz and Dr. Brandy Hempen (2022) is a low-prep, high-impact, research-based collection of ten techniques designed to elevate student voice and maximize classroom collaboration.  The core frameworks and learning outcomes include:

 

• The power of positive relationships: Building a foundational trust so students feel safe sharing their thoughts.
   

• The magic of making mistakes: Normalizing errors to eliminate the fear of answering incorrectly.
   

• The purpose of precise praise: Delivering specific feedback that reinforces constructive academic communication.
   

• The fearless approach to flexible grouping: Structuring dynamic peer interactions that encourage lower-stakes talking environments.
   

• The quest of creating quality questions: Crafting open-ended prompts that naturally invite students to elaborate.
   

• The development of dynamic discussions: Transforming passive listening into active, multi-directional classroom dialogue.
   

• The thrill of timely, tranquil transitions: Keeping the momentum alive without losing student focus between activities.
   

• The tangible reward behind time management: Maximizing the actual time students spend speaking during a lesson.
   

• The impact of setting instructional outcomes: Ensuring that student talk remains aligned with specific learning targets.
   

• The value of student voice: Giving learners agency and building meaningful leverage via intentional lesson preparation.

 

For the past thirty-plus years, Dr. Dee Ann Schnautz has been involved in public school education, teaching elementary and middle school students for sixteen years, and serving as a middle school assistant principal, elementary principal, and district administrator of curriculum, instruction, and assessments for seventeen years. She earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Indiana State University, and served as a clinical supervisor of student teachers for a local university. She also mentors new principals, coaches them on mental toughness and school improvement, trains instructional coaches, and provides professional development to districts.

Dr. Brandy Hempen is a professional development specialist, author, and a recipient of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science teaching, the nation’s highest honor for Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Computer Science (STEM). She helps  teachers and districts to become the next wave of change makers, offering workshops throughout the year focused on educational technology and student engagement for educators and classroom teachers, sharing her expert advice and tips for making a classroom an engaging, dynamic, energetic learning experience.

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Join Dee Ann and Brandy for an hour chocked full of strategies and resources!