What techniques do you use to keep students actively involved during a lesson?

"My students love vocabulary hot seat. You separate the class into two teams and set up two chairs with their backs facing the board. Students take turns getting into the hot seat. You put a word or phrase or concept you've learned in class on the board, and the teams try to describe it to their teammate in the hot seat. Games are great to get the ball rolling again after a long class."

"I think that when I start teaching my high-school class, I would like to start the day with a New Yorker cartoon, something students look forward to every day. If the day starts consistently, but on a lighthearted note, I think the students would respond very positively. Also, these cartoons can spark some great discussions on politics and socio-economic issues."

"To keep my students engaged, I will often move them around. I like to put them in a conversation circle and have a Socratic-style discussion with them. I don't say much but let them work out the answers on their own."