If you are ever in a school classroom, you need to be aware of its dynamics. The classroom is a great place: if you are front and center, you have the ability to truly connect with students and teach them something. However, it can be difficult to gain the attention of a group of people. The following are some ways to keep the attention of students in any school classroom. The first step is simple but something many people forget: you have to speak up. This doesn't mean shouting – the front row won't appreciate this, and there's always the chance that you might spit mid syllable. No, instead, you want to make sure that you project your voice so that it is heard throughout the room. Additionally, if you want to be heard, speak slowly and be sure to enunciate. If you speak too fast or clip your words, there's a chance you'll confuse the students about what it is you're really trying to say. Eye contact is key when speaking before a school classroom. If you look at different parts of the room from time to time, it will keep people engaged. Part of keeping anyone's attention –whether students or teachers – is showing them that what you have to say is important. Thus, a piece of this is showing them that you are speaking to them and not at them. Eye contact goes a long way than if you stare only at your notes or at a point of the school classroom ceiling. Use images to highlight your points or ideas. If you give people something to look at other than yourself, it will help clarify your points. Thus, consider drawing or even writing from time to time on a piece of poster board or on a blackboard if the school classroom has one. Another great technique to try is to use a handout with images and some basics about whatever it is you are talking about. Another way to ensure that those sitting in a school classroom can hear you is to try to engage the people in some audience participation. This is a chance for you to ask them questions or to bring willing participants to the front of the room to accentuate or highlight key principles or ideas from your talk. To ensure that you are heard, be prepared to have a question and answer period to your talk. This gives people a chance to clarify any points they are unclear about and a chance for you to add anything you might have forgotten or missed in during your talk or lesson. In addition to a question and answer period, it's always great to have people engage with one another. At some point during your talk, try to organize a small activity where the people are split into small groups and are able to work on something that highlights or explains one of your key points. This activity should be short – no more than five to ten minutes – and should be something that encourages teamwork or is fun.

For more information on classroom etiquette, visit http://classroommicroblog.com and http://homeworkmicroblog.com