I've come to realize, if you want to engage your class do what you know (or better yet do who you are.) Infuse what you do into your lesson, trust me it will be way more engaging than what you could plan using stuff outside your expertise.
The most engaging thing that I did this practicum (I feel) was bring music into to a language class (which I did twice.) Which brings me to my second point... If music is what you know, then use it when ever possible. My only regret is that I didn't have time to plan more music into my lessons. Your students will love you for it and the material will stick, I guaranty it!
Here's a song about grammar I wrote for my class, about the distinction between common and proper nouns. There is an explanation of how the song works before I demonstrate the song.
Lyrics
Verse:
G C D G C G
- The first proper noun that comes into your mind is (insert proper noun)
D
- Thats mighty fine
Em C D G
- A proper noun is nothing without some common ground
C G D G
- Well (proper noun from before) is a (insert corresponding common noun) and that's a common noun
Chorus:
C D G C
- A proper noun, is a person, place, thing, or quality
D G C
- They're all around, like Mr. Miller, Monday, and Germany
D G Em
- A common noun, is a class of objects or things
C D G
- Like a teacher, or a day of the week, or a country
I know that this lesson was successful because I heard students singing the song during recess.
I think the best way to hold the students attention is to either play the song at the beging of a class or hold the students hostage with it and save it to the end. If they see you've got an instrument ready to go they know it's coming and their right with you the whole lesson.
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