Pathways to Student Engagement

Part 3: Activating Strategies and Vocabulary Instruction

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

  • 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.

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.

Pathways to Student Engagement Part 3: Activating Thinking and Vocabulary Development
Professional Development Opportunities

Professional Development Agenda

Pathways to Student Engagement Part 3: Activating Thinking and Vocabulary Development
Professional Development Agenda PDF

Coming Soon

Course Syllabus

Pathways to Student Engagement Part 3: Activating Thinking and Vocabulary Development
Comprehensive Course Syllabus PDF

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Frequently asked questions

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Regular ground shipping, which arrives in 7-10 business days, is free. Yes, FREE!
However, if you need faster shipping for an additional charge, call 866-955-3276 to place your order.

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We offer quantity discounts up to 10% on materials when purchased for a school-wide or district-wide professional development
training that we are providing at your location or when using with a Learning-Focused Online course.
Contact us to request a discount.

What is your return policy?

Learning-Focused will accept returns of products within 30 days of receipt of shipment for a refund. Learning-Focused will accept
returns of products within 45 days of receipt of shipment for an exchange or store credit. To qualify for return or exchange, products
must be unused.
Call 866-95-LEARN to arrange the return for a refund or exchange. Products purchased that are made to order (Coaches Binders,
Monitoring Binders, Redelivery Notes) will not be accepted for exchange or refund. Defective products will be exchanged for the same product only.

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