How did you surprise your students today?

First of all, why bother?
And when we know why, let's talk about how.
Then you can write and tell me what you do to surprise your students.


Why bother? Your students live in a highly stimulating world. They are connected to stimulating audio-visual media almost 24-7, and their attention is repeatedly pulled this way and that by the latest and craziest distraction. So when they come into your classroom their heads are spinning, their focus elsewhere; and in order to teach them something, you will need to grab their attention and refocus it on the lesson.

How do other teachers do this?

• Some teachers greet their students in the classroom doorway and make eye contact, shake hands, say a few well-chosen words.
• Some teachers dress up in unusual clothes, play music, show slides, tell stories, tell jokes, issue a collaborative pre-lesson survey (test), or command silence.
• Some teachers rearrange the chairs and tables, dim the lights, lay out workbooks or set up a round robin of related activities.
• Once, I started a morning lesson wearing a dressing gown, with a towel over my shoulder and a toothbrush in my pocket. The students, baffled by my unexpected choice of clothes, shifted their focus to the 'here and now', and I was more able to catch and hold their attention. By the way, I'm a maths teacher!

Tell me. I would love to hear what you do to surprise your students. Share your experiences and suggestions here and let's see how many students we can surprise on a global scale.