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Friday, January 15, 2021

ACTIVE LEARNING - STATE CHANGES

Enough tap, swipe, sit and listen! It's time to get those kids moving, thinking, talking, and engaged! Over the next few weeks I'll share simple tips and strategies that encourage ACTIVE LEARNING. YOU will have to be CREATIVE, ACTIVE LEARNERS as you think about how you can adapt these strategies to your particular age level, content, and teaching situation. 

What is ACTIVE LEARNING?

Active learning involves students in the learning process more directly than in other methods. Bonwell (1991) "states that in active learning, students participate in the process and students participate when they are doing something besides passively listening."

Teaching is what the teacher does. Learning is what the student does! Key elements of active learning include:

Students build on their interests and make choices

Students communicate in a wide range of ways

Students problem solve

Students make connections across learning

Students collaborate with others

Students develop creativity and use their imaginations

Students engage in a wide range of learning activities

Students move and use multiple senses

In short, students are not passive, but are “doing things” and are excited about learning. Good teachers have always focused on active learning because they know the more engaged and excited their students are, the more they will learn.

Bonwell, C.C. and Eisen, J.A. (1991). Active learning: Creating excitement in the classroom. School of Education and Human Development, George Washington University: Washington DC.


Active Learning #1 STATE CHANGES

Wake up the brain by having children do one of the following to read, count, or practice other skills. It’s so easy and can add an element of fun to any lesson.  Many of these would work in the traditional classroom or virtually.

Sit Like a Boss– Children cross arms, lean back, and put feet up on their desk.




Cowboy and Cowgirl
– Children turn chair around and straddle it as if riding a horse.

Change Seats– Children exchange seats with a classmate.

Tummy Time– Lay on the floor and read, write, and work.

                                 

Stand– Have children stand as they read or do other work.

Easy Chair – Turn chairs upside down, put backpacks between the legs, and sit back and relax.
                                                                               

Silly Me!

Teacher puts on a hat, silly nose, glasses, etc.


Lighting
Turn on twinkle lights or a special lamp.

More!  Invite the children to suggest other state changes.