Take and Use Strategies : Quantum , Cooperative Learning, and Brain Brakes Basics

Take and Use Strategies:Quantum, Cooperative Learning, and Brain Brakes Basics

Welcome • Prayer • About Me • LET’s Go

Take and Use Strategies:Quantum, Cooperative Learning, and Brain Brakes Basics

Disclaimer • I am not a certified trainer on any of these strategies • This is not a training course on any of these strategies • I am sharing with you “bits and pieces” of the strategies that I have begun to incorporate in my own classroom

Quantum Learning • Music • Opening/Welcome Song • Transitions/Grouping • Quiet Work • Upbeat • Closing/Goodbye

Welcome Song • Could be playing as students enter room • 1st of the year, 1st of the week • Played prior to the traditions song More Examples:

Opening Tradition • Traditions • Starts class off the same way each time • Get louder as class is ready to start • Students are up with the song doing an “action” *To begin the day and greet one another *To create a warm, positive atmosphere

Transitions • Transitions • For moving from one activity to another • Cleaning up *To ease transitions from one activity to another *To focus children’s attention

Grouping • Grouping • For putting students into groups small or large *To establish social solidarity

Enhance Curricular Areas • Teach Skills • Help with memory *To link the arts with other subject areas

Upbeat • Celebrations *To establish a certain mood *To make special events even more special *To help celebrate diversity

Quiet Work • Small group work…creating a buffer • For test taking • Individual work *To sharpen thinking skills *To refresh and relax *To promote creative expression

Closing/Goodbye • Ending on a happy, upbeat note • Closing tradition *To ease transitions *To bring the day or event to a satisfying conclusion

Organizing Music • Itunes • Create playlists • Ipod or Mp3 usage Free Music YouTube music videos

Resources • Creative Thinking and Arts-Based Learning Isenberg and Jalongo • Quantum Learning http://learningforum.com

Cooperative Learning

What that looks like… • Teams: student desk groups • Quiet Signal • Assigned roles • Materials Monitor • Taskmaster

Cooperative Learning Four Basic Principles: • Positive Interdependence • Individual Accountability • Equal Participation • Simultaneous Interaction

Positive Interdependence • The success of every team member is not possible without success/contribution of each • The success of a team is not possible without success or contribution of each member

Positive Interdependence • Goals: all have the same goal • Rewards: recognition on the contributions made • Task: structured so that it can’t be done alone • Resources: I have this, you have that, and she has the other • Social Roles:

Social Roles • Encourager • Praiser • Cheerleader • Gatekeeper • Coach • Question Commander • Checker • Taskmaster • Recorder • Reflection • Quiet Captain • Materials Monitor

Individual Accountability • Reward Accountability • Task Accountability • The contribution of each individual is made known to the team

Equal Participation • “What percent of the class are active participants at any one moment?” • Learning for a larger percent of the class • “How equal is the participation?”

Simultaneous Interaction • Distribute Supplies: Materials Monitor distributes materials to team • Discuss Topic: All students discuss views in pairs • Form Teams: Look for names on tables • Share Answers: all students/choral response • Receive Help: Teammate/immediate help

The Structures • Teambuilding • Classbuilding • Mastery • Thinking Skills • Information Sharing • Communication Skills

Example of … Teambuilding: Getting Acquainted: Turn Toss • Teammates learn names • Begin using names • Ask each other questions

Example of … Classbuilding: Mutual Support: Similarity Groups: Puzzled People Using a drawing that has been cut, each team member attempts to solve the puzzle

Example of…. • Mastery • Inside-Outside Circle • Roundtable

Example of… • Thinking Skills Structure • Think-Pair-Share

Example of… • Information Sharing • Three Stray, One Stay

Example of…. • Communication Skills • Talking Chips

Resources • Cooperative Learning Dr. Spencer www.kaganonline.com

“Our students should have a kinesthetic brain break every 25-30 minutes. Brain breaks are refreshing to students and teachers alike. They do take some time out of class, but the efficiency of our students goes up when we incorporate them.” http://brainbreaks.blogspot.com/2010/03/waiter-brain-break.html

Blink Brain Breakby Molly Tanner 1. Stand Up. 2. Blink your left eye and snap your right hand finger and thumb at the same time. 3. Now blink your right eye and snap your left hand finger and thumb at the same time. 4. Go back and forth as fast as you can

Gotcha Purpose: Try to grab another person’s finger on one side of you, while at the same time avoid being grabbed by the person on the other side of you. Stand up and get into groups of 3-10 people. Form a circle with your group. Each person should hold out their left hand with their palm flat and facing up. Now take your right hand index finger and point it directly into the palm of the person to your right. When the instructor says “Gotcha”, you are to try to grab the person’s finger that is in your palm, and at the same time avoid being grabbed by the person you are pointing to. Repeat with your arms crossed

Resources www.energizingbrainbreaks.com http://brainbreaks.blogspot.com Brain Breaks for the Classroom by Michelle Gay

Take and Use Strategies : Quantum , Cooperative Learning, and Brain Brakes Basics