Jumpstart Learning with Activating Strategies and Vocabulary Instruction
Engaging students at the start of a lesson isn’t just a warm-up—it’s the spark that fuels curiosity, confidence, and deeper thinking. When students are invited to connect to what they already know, they’re more prepared to take on new learning and make it meaningful.
This professional learning focuses on two foundational strategies for engagement:
Activating Strategies and Vocabulary Instruction.
Together, these strategies help students access background knowledge, build academic language, and dive into content with purpose and clarity. You’ll explore practical ways to use these strategies every day to create a dynamic, student-centered classroom that supports all learners from the very first moments of instruction.
Key Takeaways
Purposeful Activating Strategies signal relevance, spark curiosity, and connect students to prior knowledge and new ideas.
Starting with higher-order thinking increases students’ cognitive investment and sets the tone for deeper learning.
Activating and building knowledge improves comprehension and retention—especially for students with limited exposure to content.
Effective instruction must go beyond exposure to include explicit teaching, repeated use, and meaningful application of academic language.
Plan vocabulary routines that help students understand and use critical content words—across subjects and texts.
When students actively use academic vocabulary in discussions and writing, they become more confident, articulate, and engaged.
Let’s close the engagement gap by creating pathways that enrich and elevate teaching and empower students with the skills they need for academic success.
Professional Learning Options
At Your School
Schedule a day of Professional Learning at your school. Onsite training with one of our experts provides opportunities for educators to expand their knowledge, refine teaching techniques, and stay up-to-date with the latest curriculum and instruction innovations. By investing in professional learning, your school can cultivate a culture of continuous learning, enhance teacher effectiveness, and ultimately improve student outcomes.
At Our Training Center
Join us in Asheville, North Carolina, at the Learning-Focused Training Center. With seats limited to 22 attendees, you are guaranteed to have a great experience.
At Your Own Pace
Learning at your own pace allows you to tailor your professional learning journey focused on your unique goals and preferences. This option empowers you to set your own pace with the flexibility and autonomy to master new concepts and refine your skills.
Pathways to Student Engagment Series
Continue the Journey Toward Full Student Engagement
Pathways to Student Engagement is a three-part professional learning series designed to transform classroom engagement from passive compliance to active, empowered learning. Each part builds upon the last to create a comprehensive approach to student engagement.
Part 1 introduces foundational strategies—Distributed Summarization, Writing to Learn, and Collaborative Pairs—to spark thinking, motivation, and participation.
Part 2 deepens engagement through Effective Questioning, Formative Assessment, and Feedback, ensuring clarity, reflection, and responsive instruction.
Part 3 strengthens the start of every lesson with Activating Strategies and Vocabulary Instruction that ignite curiosity and build background knowledge.
Together, these sessions provide a powerful framework for instructional planning and delivery that engages every student—behaviorally, cognitively, and emotionally—every day.
