5 fun creative ways to take the register

Teachers, have you ever experienced the frustration of starting your language lessons on a high note, only to find your students bored and disengaged when you begin the register?

Here at TEFL Barcelona we understand the struggle! Language teaching is meant to be an exciting journey filled with endless possibilities for both educators and students. However, the mundane task of taking attendance can often dampen the enthusiasm in the classroom, particularly with large groups.

Worry not, we’re here to save the day with five creative and enjoyable techniques recommended by Zack Powell, a fellow English teacher and the author of the book “52 Creative Ways to Take Advantage of Taking the Register.”

The great news is that these same activities can also double as incredible warm-up exercises (and that we have a video about them at the end of this article).

5 fun creative ways to take the register, here we go.

1.Small Talk Questions

One highly effective technique to inject excitement into the register process is by incorporating small talk questions. This approach goes beyond the simple act of calling out names and transforms it into an opportunity for meaningful interaction. 

Prior to the lesson, take the time to prepare a set of thought-provoking questions tailored to the students. These questions should revolve around their individual interests, experiences, or current topics of discussion. When you call out their names during attendance, instead of the usual response of a simple “here,” ask them a question.

For example, you could engage a student by asking, “Carmen, where did you get your shoes from?” This not only catches her attention but also sparks her interest as she contemplates her response. Similarly, for another student, you could ask: “Javier, is the weather better than yesterday?” 

By incorporating personalized questions, you tap into their individuality and create a sense of relevance and connection in the classroom. It’s crucial to emphasize that students should provide concise answers during this activity. This ensures that the register process remains focused and doesn’t consume too much time. 

2. Error Correction

A variation of the previous technique, error correction, adds an exciting element to the register process while simultaneously reinforcing grammar skills. This technique involves preparing slips of paper with grammatically incorrect questions or statements that students need to correct. 

For instance, you could create a slip that says, “What you did last night?” instead of the correct form, “What did you do last night?”

As students enter the classroom, distribute these slips to them, making sure each student receives one. Allow them a minute or two to carefully examine the question and identify the grammatical error. This activity not only sharpens their grammatical awareness but also promotes critical thinking and attention to detail.

When it’s time to take the register, call out each student’s name as usual. However, instead of the typical response, they will present the corrected question or statement. For example, let’s say you call out Carmen’s name, and she responds by saying, “Oh teacher, what did you do last night?”

To ensure a smooth flow, it’s important to keep these interactions brief and concise. The focus should be on correcting the error and moving on to the next student swiftly. 

3.Spotting Differences

A straightforward yet engaging activity that stimulates critical thinking and encourages active participation from students involves asking them to identify differences between two words or concepts. This activity adds an element of excitement to the register process while promoting analytical skills.

When calling a student’s name, provide them with two words or concepts and ask them to identify one difference between them. For example, you could mention “motorbikes and cars” to Lucia, prompting her to respond with “the number of wheels.” 

Similarly, you can engage Francisco by giving him the words “Rome and Paris.” In response, he might state “the language spoken” as the difference between the two cities.

This comparison allows students to think quickly and demonstrate their understanding of the given words or concepts.

Zack Powell’s book, “52 Creative Ways to Take Advantage of Taking the Register,” offers numerous examples for this activity, covering a wide range of topics, allowing you to explore different word pairs and concepts. For instance, you could compare oceans and mountains, laundry and dishes, or even Netflix and cinema.

4.Playing Opposites

Playing opposites is a versatile technique that adds an element of excitement and intellectual challenge to the language learning process. It is an activity that can be adapted to suit different language proficiency levels, making it accessible and engaging for all students.

To implement this technique, there is no need for prior preparation or materials. Simply call out a student’s name, followed by an adjective. Their task is to respond with the opposite adjective. 

For instance, when addressing Jorge, you could say, “messy,” to which he should reply with “tidy.” This activity not only tests their understanding of the given adjective but also encourages them to think critically and quickly come up with an appropriate opposite.

For beginners or younger learners, you can start with basic adjectives like “hot” and “cold,” “big” and “small,” or “happy” and “sad.” As students become more proficient, you can introduce more challenging adjectives such as “confident” and “nervous,” “generous” and “selfish,” or “brave” and “coward.”

5.The Odd One Out

In this activity, students are presented with a sequence of four words and challenged to identify the word that does not fit the given category. 

This activity promotes critical thinking, observation, and analytical skills among students, while also encouraging active participation and engagement in the language learning process.

When calling a student, you provide them with a set of words that share a common characteristic or belong to a specific category. One of the words in the set, however, does not fit the given category. 

For example, you might present Brenda with the words “zebra, cat, dog, and fish.” Brenda’s task is to identify the odd one out, which in this case could be “zebra.” While the other three words are commonly known as pets, “zebra” stands out as not being a typical household pet.

Similarly, you can create sequences of words that require students to think critically and analyze the given category. For instance, you could provide a sequence like “German, France, Spain, and Italy,” with “German” being the odd one out. Students need to recognize that the other words refer to countries, while “German” refers to a language.

By engaging in this activity, students are prompted to pay close attention to the words, analyze their characteristics, and make informed decisions based on their understanding of the given category. This enhances their focus and critical thinking skills, as they need to consider the subtle differences among the words and determine the unique element.

Be that engaging teacher!

Remember, these techniques can be applied beyond the register-taking process. Incorporate them into various parts of your lessons to create an engaging and dynamic learning environment. 

When teachers make lessons fun and captivating, students are more likely to pay attention, resulting in increased learning outcomes. So, don’t forget to be enthusiastic and inspiring, as a vibrant classroom experience benefits everyone involved.