6 Tips for Captivating Young Learners
February 2nd, 2026
Student engagement is a hot topic in education. Especially after a long holiday break or at the start of the school year after an even longer summer break, educators are continually looking for ways to keep their students interested in the current lesson or material.
Engagement affects every educator and every learner, no matter what grade level or education platform. You know yourself – maybe you’ve attended a recent professional development workshop or training session or can think back to your own school experiences – if you aren’t engaged, you become easily distracted, uninterested, and probably learn very little, if anything at all.
Piquing students’ curiosity, getting them interested, and holding that interest is what every educator strives towards. When students are engaged, they are motivated and open to learning. This can be a challenge, however, especially when it comes to young learners with a limited attention span of roughly five to fifteen minutes.
Here are six ideas you can use to keep students engaged throughout the school year.
- Connect with students: Take time each day to talk with individual students, ask questions, and listen to their stories and the way they communicate. Discuss common interests and shared experiences. Research shows that when a teacher and student feel connected, student performance improves.
- Lower the affective filter: Negative feelings like nervousness and embarrassment can impede learning. You can make learning a positive experience by creating a low-stress, supportive environment.
- Promote team work and peer support: Have students work together in small groups so they can help and learn from each other. Encourage them to provide praise or constructive feedback for each other or the rest of the class when appropriate.
- Make words and lessons meaningful: When reading with students, ask open-ended questions about the characters and events taking place in the story, and point to the text and pictures. This builds a meaningful understanding of the language, and children begin making connections between the text and their own individual lives. Let students know how a lesson might apply to themselves and to the real world; you can get ideas for this when you connect with individual students each day and learn about their life experiences.
- Get students moving: Nothing kills the motivation of little learners better than being stuck in a chair listening to a teacher drone on in the front of the classroom. Include daily action activities that get students out of their seats, allowing them to renew their energy, stay focused, and have fun.
- Build confidence: Provide positive feedback and praise for good work to make students feel comfortable, encourage participation, and boost self-confidence. Hearing this praise from a teacher as well as other students makes them feel good about themselves.
GrapeSEED keeps students engaged with consecutive two-to-three minute teacher/student shared activities, including songs, stories, chants, big books, poems, and action activities. Teachers can mix up the activities during a GrapeSEED lesson based on their students’ needs. Students have fun, stay engaged, and enjoy learning!
February is a unique moment in the school year: routines have been established, students are settled, and teachers can clearly see areas of growth as well as emerging needs. It’s also a natural pause before the busy spring months. All of this makes February an ideal time to reflect and to look ahead. For multilingual learners, what happens after the school year ends matters more than we often realize. The Summer Learning Opportunity Extended breaks can unintentionally slow language development, particularly in listening, vocabulary, and verbal confidence. However, when summer instruction is intentional and well designed, it can do more than maintain progress—it can accelerate it. The key is ensuring summer learning feels inviting, engaging, and developmentally appropriate. What Works for Young Language Learners Effective summer language programs share common elements that support growth without feeling like “more school”: A low-stress environment where students feel comfortable taking risks with language Consistent exposure to English through stories, songs, shared reading, and movement Natural repetition and routine that strengthen foundational English language skills Multi-sensory learning experiences that keep students engaged and motivated When language is experienced rather than practiced in isolation, children remain curious, confident, and connected. Why February Is the Time to Think Ahead February isn’t about making immediate decisions—it’s about asking the right questions: How can summer learning support language development without burnout? What experiences will help students feel successful and excited to learn? How can summer instruction align with the strengths of our school-year approach? Exploring these questions now allows schools to plan thoughtfully rather than reactively. A Season for Planting Ideas Strong summer programs build on what young learners love most—music, stories, movement, and interaction—while quietly reinforcing the language skills they need to grow. February offers the space to imagine a summer experience that supports continuity, confidence, and joyful learning long after winter fades. Ready to learn how GrapeSEED can be a meaningful part of your school’s summer learning?
If you’re an elementary teacher working with multilingual learners, you already know your work is full of heart, hustle, and highlighters. But let’s be honest—supporting language learners takes a lot of energy. That’s why self-care isn’t a luxury. It’s a must. You’re juggling language development, academic growth, cultural connection, and emotional support. And while your students are growing every day, you need time to recharge, too. Here’s a quick self-care recipe to keep your cup full: 🧡 Smiles: Find Joy in the Little Things Celebrate the small wins: a new vocabulary word, a student’s laugh, a kind moment. Write one highlight on a sticky note each day. It’s a mood booster—and a reminder that you’re making a difference. 🍎 Snacks: Fuel Your Body (and Soul) Don’t skip lunch! Keep a stash of healthy snacks (and maybe a treat or two) nearby. Food is fuel, and sometimes chocolate is emotional first aid. 🧠 Sanity: Protect Your Peace Say no to that extra committee if you’re overwhelmed. Take 5 minutes to breathe or stretch between lessons. Step outside during a break of any kind, even for just a second or two. Talk to someone who “gets it”—sharing helps lighten the load. You Matter Your students need you AND they also need you to be okay. When you take care of yourself, you’re showing them how to care for themselves, too. So go ahead, teacher: smile, snack, and protect your sanity. You can’t do it all , but you CAN do a lot more when you’re well. At GrapeSEED English for Children, we value teachers and work to make certain that those using our curriculum feel supported. With a personal Professional Learning Specialist that teaches can communicate with anytime, a teacher portal, on-demand PDs and so much more, we’ve got our teachers covered! Ready to learn more about getting started with GrapeSEED in YOUR classroom? Just click here for more information.
January is the season of decluttering, but in schools, it’s about clearing space for what truly matters! This month’s blog explores how thoughtful organization supports multilingual learners and why strong language systems are worth keeping. A little clarity now can create momentum that lasts all year… and beyond!
The new year is a perfect time for reflection and renewal—not just for us, but for our students, too. After a long winter break, January offers a natural opportunity to revisit and reinforce classroom routines and procedures, especially in multilingual classrooms where clarity and consistency are key to helping all students feel secure and successful. For multilingual learners, routines are more than just classroom management—they provide language-rich structures that support understanding, reduce anxiety, and foster confidence. Whether students are newcomers or have been learning English for years, a clear and predictable environment helps them focus on learning rather than guessing what’s expected. Start the month by gently reviewing procedures: entering the classroom, transitioning between activities, participating in group work, asking for help, and using classroom materials. Model each step and invite students to demonstrate, using visuals, gestures, and multilingual supports when possible. Pair verbal directions with pictures or sentence stems to help students connect words with actions. This not only aids comprehension, it builds community and shared responsibility. Remember, reviewing routines isn’t about enforcing rules—it’s about resetting the tone for a peaceful, productive, and joyful classroom. Make space for students to share what helps them learn best and celebrate the positive habits they already bring with them. By investing time in January to revisit expectations with warmth and intention, you're setting the stage for a second half of the school year filled with growth, laughter, and learning—for every student, in every language.
