Total Participation Techniques: Making Every Student an Active Learner

by Pérsida Himmele, William Himmele

Providing easy-to-use alternatives to the stand and deliver approach to teaching that causes so many students to tune out--or even drop out--Total Participation Techniques presents dozens of ways to engage K 12 students in active learning and allow them to demonstrate the depth of their knowledge and understanding. The authors, Persida Himmele and William Himmele, explain both the why and the how of Total Participation Techniques (TPTs) as they explore the high cost of student disengagement, place TPTs in the context of higher-order thinking and formative assessments, and demonstrate how to create a TPT-conducive classroom.

Readers will learn how to implement field-tested techniques they can use on the spot (e.g., Quick-Draws, Quick-Writes, Chalkboard Splash); with Hold-Up cards (e.g., True/Not True, Selected Response); with movement (e.g., Bounce Cards, Line-Ups, Simulations); and to guide note-taking and concept analysis (e.g., Picture Notes, 3-Sentence Wrap-Up, Debate Team Carousel).

Each TPT is presented in four
* A descriptive overview
* How It Works--step-by-step instructions for implementation
* How to Ensure Higher-Order Thinking--ideas for advancing students beyond surface-level thinking
* Pause to Apply--suggestions for how to adapt and personalize the technique for specific contexts and content areas

Filled with examples from real classrooms, Total Participation Techniques is an essential toolkit for teachers at all levels and for administrators who want a model for analyzing lessons to ensure that they are relevant, engaging, and cognitively challenging.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Professional Development, Nonfiction, School, Reference

133 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2011

Reviews

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was SOOOOOOO good; best PD book I've read in a while! I may have THOUGHT I was using TPTs, but this book taught me how to do them way better, involving more higher-level thinking, and having students take way more (active) ownership of their learning and requiring a lot more collaboration than they were getting before. I loved the format of this book, the concise writing style, and the real life teacher examples. Excellent techniques well communicated, and I recommend this to absolutely all teachers! (Not sure about early elementary, though).

[Michael Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read! This came in on a snow day/office day here at school. I had ordered it to complement everything we do at Northern Discovery to grow, develop, and equip our teachers in our classrooms. As a school whose educational philosophy is built on Charlotte Mason with rich use of the Multiple Intelligences for effective practice and assessment--I was looking for resources and tools to enrich our daily teaching strategies and the experience of our students day-in-and-day-out. This book did a fantastic job! I already have created a tool based on this work.

The core message of the book is that "Stand and Deliver" methodology makes up almost 90% of most students' experiences (not at Northern Discovery Academy but still an area we can grow). Studies have shown that students in middle school already have a learned habit of disengagement. This means that students become listening objects rather than engaged students. This book offers easy strategies and practices to get students engaged in each class. The tools and practices are intended to change the dynamic from sitting and listening to active participation in the learning experiences offered in class. This book was an incredible read in that way and I am excited for it to become a key resource for our teachers at NDA.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I’ve told a few colleagues, as a veteran educator nothing in here is earth shattering. But it is an EXCELLENT reminder of the things that are so simple to do to get the kids engaged with the content.

And maybe more importantly, it’s a reminder that engagement ≠ entertainment. Kids being excited about a game that doesn’t really get them thinking isn’t engagement. Kids discussing what they just read and debating it with a partner (no prize at the end!) IS. This book was an excellent reminder of these ideas and a few new ones for me as we move to block schedule next year.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll admit, I rolled my eyes most of the way through the first chapter of this book. More of the same, I thought. I already know to do this, I thought. But it was definitely a good reality check for me -- even after only six years of teaching, it was easy for me to climb onto the totally unproductive "I don't have anything to learn from this" train.

Yes, some of the strategies are familiar. Yes, you already know it's important to involve students. But what I so appreciated about this book was its relentless focus on using familiar strategies and twisting them or taking them a step further to improve higher level thinking (that higher level focus is what bumped it from 4 stars to 5).

These are authors who truly practice what they preach. If I had an opportunity to take a college-level course from them, I absolutely would. That said, the pictures of the students on the front of this book are somewhat misleading. The strategies covered would be very appropriate for all grades, especially in high school content area classes and at universities.

I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you: http://www.indiebound.org/

Or order TOTAL PARTICIPATION TECHNIQUES from ASCD: http://www.ascd.org/publications/book...

[Morgan Vosburgh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh holy cow do I wish ten year old me had a TPT teacher. I was so shy and so damn afraid of being wrong that I hardly ever raised my hand or participated in class. I’ll be damned if I don’t try these techniques and become the teacher the shy ones need to get them to not be afraid to participate!

I will read this book over and over. I have implemented some of these strategies and I’ve noticed there’s so much more participation in students I never expected. Getting all the kids to quick draw or write really helps all my kids, especially my ELLs. I’m trying to be better at planning my groupings to allow kids to process the material at a deeper level. This book is making me a better teacher, and I’m so glad my non-tenure teacher coach recommended this book to me.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best and most useful professional book I have ever read! I loved the easy-to-read nature and the practical layout of the information and included strategies. I can't wait to use these techniques in my school.

[Lyndsey Daniels · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as part of a book study with my Elementary Teaching colleagues. While many of the techniques wouldn’t work as described in a World Language classroom — the concepts behind the techniques are key: student voice, student engagement, formative assessment — FOR ALL kids, not just the Hermione Grangers.

I was able to mark up quite a few techniques that will work in my Spanish classroom. Book is a dry read for sure — but is more of a how-to manual and more practical than cerebral.

[Kris Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the joy of hearing William Himmele speak at Indiana State Reading Association Conference September 2017. I could have listened to his East Coast voice all day. He is wonderful! He and his wife have fabulous ideas for getting beyond thumbs up/thumbs down on infinite loop. My mind was racing with technology adaptations for TPTs with Google Drive + Canvas LMS, but he also provides reasoning for when paper and pencil is most advantageous. I like it.

A terrific investment for new teachers, veteran teachers, instructional coaches... everyone! I'll frequently be referring to this recent addition to my personal reference library.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book of strategies to get students to participate in their learning. I know it will take time and practice to really implement the strategies and get reluctant students to participate, but the premise is valuable and makes so much sense. I wish I could find some videos of the techniques being implemented to get a feel for the classroom placement of students and resources...and that allows for the movement necessary.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, practical strategies for increasing student engagement.

[L.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely worth a read, teachers!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I made a ppt with different ways I can formatively assess students' understanding during different lessons. They specify how to get kids not just engaged but learning. The book covers how you can hold kids accountable and allow them grace to take risks in the classroom in a safe manner. I made true/not true, number cards, sentence stems, agree/disagree cards. I also made some sentence stems to aid in discussions and I think the ones I have already learned to us will go even further with the information I learned on including the higher level thinking and how important it is to pause to check in on the learning. I also learned easier ways to take up Quick/writes and draws, and the importance of a read aloud (which seemed kind of random), but they were spot on in mentioning all the benefits. The book had many immediate, relevant ideas. Well worth using my summer time off.

[Michael Loveless · Rating 5 out of 5]

Total Participation Techniques is a rare book in education. The techniques it suggests could be equally useful at the elementary, secondary and even post-secondary levels. It's unusual to find a book that has ideas that are new, simple, and practical. The point of the techniques is two-fold: 1) Get all kids engaged in a lesson, 2) Get kids to process information at a higher order of thinking. The book isn't perfect. It seems longer than it needs to be. The extensive discussion of why engagement is unnecessary. Also unnecessary is the long description of Bloom's Taxonomy and Webb's Depth of Knowledge. Some of the techniques are also ones that are well-known. Despite these minor flaws, the book is extremely practical. Every teacher will find numerous ideas that could be implemented immediately to improve their teaching.

[Mary O'shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides the theory, the application, the advantages, and the nuts and bolts of total participation techniques and toolkit. It provides student involvement and higher order thinking. It also provides a window into how to better connect and teach to all students, including those reluctant to participate in class discussions. You know the learners that we identify as the "quiet" ones. We find a way to truly connect and involve all learners through a variety of strategies such as think pair-share, quick-writes, quick-draws, chalkboard splash, thumbs up when ready, TPT hold-ups, Line-ups and inside outside circles, TPTs during the Read Aloud, and so much more. Each is tied to assessment and geared to higher order thinking and student engagement and student voice. What a wonderful resource!! All teachers should have this resource!!

[Alfie Mosse · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you do any type of teaching - especially in ELL, this is a great reference book. It is concise, practical and readable. The approach using techniques to produce a
"High Cognitive/High Engagement" classroom give a good framework for planning out lessons and classroom activities. I regularly use these techniques in my ELL settings and have found them also very helpful in a bachelor level seminary classroom. A great read!

[Christine Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly a review of strategies I have used, but sometimes forgotten recently, this book was a good refresher on techniques a teacher can use to ensure all students are actively engaged in learning in a classroom and that help develop rich discussion regarding lesson content. I did find a couple new ideas as well, and after 29 years of teaching, something new is like discovering a little gold nugget.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful book for teachers. It is filled with easy-to-use strategies to activate participation and increase student confidence and learning in five categories: on the spot, hold ups, movement, note-taking, and wrapping up. Not everything is revolutionary—think pair share and graphic organizers are included, for example—but it’s handy having it all in one spot with multiple examples for how to use the techniques and how to use them to increase deeper thinking.

[Eco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another summer professional development reading book

This one at least gives concrete examples of techniques for the classroom to encourage participation without denigrating the teacher. More centered for elementary school even though the authors use it in college. I can see where college students would be more willing to do the exercises. After all, they are paying for the education and want to be there.

[Kaia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has many practical techniques for increasing student participation in classrooms K-university. It is structured in a way that focuses on how to implement the techniques well, and the authors provide multiple examples of how a technique may be used with various content. Great resource for all teachers.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the ideas in this book. I don't buy that asking questions and having individuals raise their hands to answer them is as terrible as they say it is, not do I think it possible to avoid it altogether. But The Ripple is a great method to keep in mind. I'm also not sure if they best way to read this book, as I found the chapters of idea after idea after idea overwhelming.

[Marc Daly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides strategies for student participation that increase engagement and learning. The techniques can be used with kindergarten students through graduate students.

I look forward to using the suggestions to improve student participation.

[Davina Frazier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although first written in 2011, and updated in 2017, the strategies in this book are still relevant and provide some ways to not only get all students in the class to participate, but to ensure that activities are meaningful and provide opportunities for higher order thinking.

[Deanne Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every educator needs to read this book!! It has transformed my teaching and my classroom. It contains the practical techniques I wish I had learned in graduate school.

[Rebecca Malone · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not much meat in this.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concrete strategies framed by philosophies reminiscent of Ritchhart’s Making Thinking Visible and Hammond’s Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great ideas, but needs to update the technology section to incorporate new methods for TPT.

[Melody Slagter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking forward to implementing these techniques! Helpful and provides explanation of how to effectively apply these strategies.

[Lizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book to read as a new teacher with lots of tips and tricks!

[Sarah Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ideas to get students more active. Most can be implemented immediately.

[Carley Wyant · Rating 5 out of 5]

What great and easy strategies to add to daily instruction! I read this book along with a course I took and wish every PD I took was as useful as this one.