Pathways to Student Engagement Part 3: Activating Strategies and Vocabulary Instruction Event
Enhance Student Engagement with Strategies That Work
Dates for This Event
- January 9, 16, & 23, 2026
- Virtual event that includes self-paced course work and 3 two-hour synchronous sessions
Learning Goals:
- Hook students from the start: Purposeful Activating Strategies signal relevance, spark curiosity, and connect students to prior knowledge and new ideas.
- Engagement begins with thinking: Starting with higher-order thinking increases students’ cognitive investment and sets the tone for deeper learning.
- Background knowledge matters: Activating and building knowledge improves comprehension and retention—especially for students with limited exposure to content.
- Vocabulary fuels academic success: Effective instruction must go beyond exposure to include explicit teaching, repeated use, and meaningful application of academic language.
- Make vocabulary instruction consistent and powerful: Plan vocabulary routines that help students understand and use critical content words—across subjects and texts.
- Turn Word Walls into learning tools: When students actively use academic vocabulary in discussions and writing, they become more confident, articulate, and engaged.
This installment of the engagement series builds upon the core instructional framework established in the preceding books. While Part 1 focused on the active learning structures of Collaboration, Writing, and Summarizing, and Part 2 detailed the guidance systems of Questioning, Assessment, and Feedback, this part addresses the critical first step: preparing students for new learning.
The focus is on two essential "launch" strategies that ensure all students can access rigorous content from the very beginning. Activating Strategies hook student interest and bridge the gap between prior knowledge and new learning. This is paired with foundational Vocabulary Instruction, which equips students with the specific language they need to comprehend and engage with the lesson's core concepts.
By mastering these preparatory practices, educators ensure that when students are asked to collaborate, write, or respond to higher-order questions, they are equipped with the confidence, background knowledge, and academic language to succeed. It completes the engagement puzzle by ensuring every lesson starts on solid ground.
Your Facilitator
Lindsey Hampton
During her 20+years as an educator, Lindsey served various grade levels and subject areas. For 8 years she led inclusive classrooms and taught advanced placement courses. Following her classroom years, Lindsey spent 10 years as an instructional coach, professional development specialist, and district administrator of new teacher induction. She has presented at numerous conferences, including the Florida Association of School Administrator Conference, the Tennessee Principals Association Conference, and the Kentucky Association of School Administrators. Today, she works directly with teachers and school leaders in the implementation of the Learning-Focused Instructional Framework.
Learning Goals
By the end of this course, you will be able to…
- Explain the role of Activating Strategies and Vocabulary Instruction in promoting all dimensions of student engagement.
- Plan and implement effective Activating Strategies that connect to prior knowledge, build background, and spark engagement.
- Apply the characteristics of effective vocabulary instruction across all content areas.
- Identify and teach critical vocabulary using a structured process and a variety of instructional strategies.
- Create and use Word Walls and other tools to support ongoing vocabulary growth.
- Develop consistent routines that support academic success for all students.
What You Will Receive
Along with attending a workshop led by a Learning-Focused expert, participants will also receive the following resources and materials:
- Pathways to Student Engagement Part 3: Activating Strategies and Vocabulary Instruction Book
- Pathways to Student Engagement Part 3: Activating Strategies and Vocabulary Instruction Flip Card
- 12 month Learning-Focused Online membership
When and Where
This virtual institute is designed for self-paced coursework and synchronous learning through Zoom. The synchronous learning will consist of 3 two-hour sessions.
Location
- Wherever your computer is located.
Date
- January 9, 16, & 23, 2026
Time
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Registration
Act fast, get your materials in time
- Registration for Pathways to Student Engagement Part 3: Activating Strategies and Vocabulary Instruction is $197 per person.
- Learning is better in teams! Register three people and receive a $50 discount off the third registration fee!
- Participants are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis only. To secure your spot, we must receive a signed quote.
