BRAIN RESEARCH = ACTIVE LEARNING #2 BOOKS UP

Before going any further with active learning, I think it’s important to do a review of brain research. Some of you have administrators who “don’t get it.” Knowledge is power, and knowledge about how the brain learns will support movement in your classroom. You can easily search for this information on the internet, or you are welcome to use my “Top Ten Teaching Strategies Your Brain Wants You to Know About.” (Just so you don’t think I make this stuff up, I’ll cite some references at the end. The interesting thing about brain research is it’s primarily commonsense that you already know from being in the classroom!)

WHAT EVERY BRAIN WANTS!

1. Exercise – Exercise boosts brain power.

2. Attention – The brain likes novelty and challenges. It doesn’t pay attention to boring things.

3. Music and movement are the most convenient way to learn anything.

4. Stress – The brain needs a safe and secure environment.

5. Brain Growth Time – the brain needs quiet time for thinking and reflection.

6. Sensory stimulation – The more senses you activate, the more likely the message will get to the brain.

7. Memory – You have to repeat to remember.

8. The brain needs good nutrition, water, and plenty of rest.

9. Brain breaks need to be integrated into the day.
*Neuroscience suggests that our attention span is 10 minutes and instruction needs to be varied accordingly.

10.The only way to the head is through the heart. Take care of those relationships!

References
Hannaford, C. (2005). Smart moves: why learning is not all in your head.
Salt Lake City, UT: Great River Books.
Jensen, E. (2008). Brain-based learning. Del Mar, CA: Turning Point.
Medina, J. (2010), Brain rules. Seattle, WA: Pear Press.
Ratey, J. 2008). Spark. The revolutionary new science of exercise and the brain. New York: Little Brown and Company.
Schiller, P. (1999). Start smart. Beltsville, MD: Gryphon House.
Wolfe, P. (2001). Brain matters: translating research into classroom practice. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.


Active Learning #2

Books Up
You will need multiple copies of books for this game. Each child takes a book and looks for information that the teacher asks for.
                                         
For example: “What was the pirate’s name?” (Children hold up their books when they find the page that answers the question.)
“What do you call the front of a ship?” (Again, children look for the answer and hold up their books.)
“How did the pirate find the treasure?”
“What is the copyright date of the book?”

*This is also a great way to review for social studies or science tests.

Musical Books
Place chairs in a circle. Put a different book on each chair. Children get in the circle and march around to some music. When the music stops, each child sits in a chair and begins looking at the book in that chair. After a few minutes the teacher randomly asks, “What is your book about?” “Who is a character in your book?” “What is the setting of the book?” Children then replace books in chairs, stand, and begin marching to the music. 

*This is a good way to spark interest in books and help children practice scanning for information.

ACTIVE AUGUST! #1 STATE CHANGES

It's August and I hear that school bell ringing! What an exciting time of year!

One of the buzz words in education now is ACTIVE LEARNING! Enough tap, swipe, sit and listen! It's time to get those kids moving, thinking, talking, and engaged! Each day in August I'll suggest a strategy that can be used to teach skills and standards in a more meaningful way. They are super easy to adapt to different age levels and content, and they'll energize your students and YOU! Tap into your creative powers and think about how to make teaching and learning more fun by harvesting the ideas you’ll learn each day!!!

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.

For years I have shared Edgar Dale’s “Learning Cone.” Although his research was done decades ago, more recent research validates the value of his findings. It’s a powerful visual to support active learning and engaging multiple senses.

I hope you’ll join me each day to discover how you can take what you HAVE to do and turn it into something your students WANT to do!

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.

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.

Backwards– Turn chairs around and face the back of the room.

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.

                                                                         

TIS' YOU WHO CARES!

This August will be the 50th anniversary of my career as a teacher. Can you believe it? I started teaching at Montclair Elementary in1969. I remember that I was terrified about my first day. My mother smiled and said, “Oh, honey, just love them and be sweet to them.” That was some of the best advice then, now, and forever!

It used to be so much more fun to be a teacher. It’s more difficult now because of academic pressure, data, test scores, and lack of support from parents. I worry about you because it seems so many of you are getting “beat up” by evaluations and unrealistic demands. Think of me as your “grandmother consultant” who hugs you and tells you that you’re doing a great job...BECAUSE YOU ARE!



A friend who taught with me over 40 years ago visited recently and said, “I remember how you would take the most pitiful little child and write on their hand: YOU ARE AMAZING AND WONDERFUL! Or, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!  Or, YOU ARE SPECIAL! She said, “Why did you do that?” My response was, for once in their lives, I wanted them to feel that way. I wanted them to know that someone believed in them. (Now they’d probably throw me in jail for writing on a child’s hand, but you get the point.)

                                                             

Sometimes you just have to shut your door and do what’s best for your children. Do what my momma said, “Love them and be sweet to them!”

TIS’ YOU
(Tune: “Simple Gifts”)
Jean Feldman and Hollynd Feldman Karapetkova

Tis’ you who cares,
And tis’ you who shares.
Tis’ you who teaches
Children everywhere.
Tis’ you who inspires,
Tis’ you who molds.
You help children’s gifts
And dreams unfold.

Tis’ you our teachers
Everywhere
For some child you’re the
Only one who cares.
And when you come at last
To the end of your days,
I have touched a life
Is what you can say.

It’s not the test scores.
It’s not the workbooks.
Into the hopeful eyes
Of each child you must look.
You plant the seeds of learning
With smiles and grace.
Each day you make the world
A better place.

Tis’ you our teachers
Everywhere
For some child you’re the
Only one who cares.
And when you come at last
To the end of your days,
I have touched a life
Is what you can say.

TEACHERS WHO LOVE TEACHING MAKE CHILDREN WHO LOVE LEARNING!

Administrators rarely come to my workshops. (Gee, I wonder why???) Here’s some advice I’d like to give them. What would you add to this list?
                                                                         
WHAT CAN ADMINISTRATORS DO TO HELP TEACHERS LOVE THEIR JOBS?

1. Let your teachers TEACH. Give them autonomy to do their jobs and TRUST them to do what’s best for their students.

2. Be a real person and a good model for your teachers. Visit each classroom and do something FUN by reading a book, teaching a song, telling a joke, or doing a magic trick.

3. Support your teachers. Be careful not to let a single parent’s request sway what’s best for their child and the other children in the classroom.

4. Believe in the WHOLE child. A test score is a number. “You can’t see the forest for the trees.” And, sometimes, you can’t see that wonderful little person because of “data.”

5. The word “rigor” is not appropriate when talking about instruction for young children. The world keeps changing, but children are still children. They don’t all grow up in the same way at the same time, and they should not be expected to accomplish skills according to some master plan.

6. Please don’t give teachers any more paperwork. Assessment and reports are driving instruction and consuming their day.

7. Teaching is a video not a snap shot. Is it fair to walk in a classroom, observe for 10 minutes, and then make negative comments to the teacher? Compliment teachers for what they are doing well. Give positive suggestions instead of critical remarks.

8. Listen, listen, listen to your teachers. Problem-solve, ask for their input, and collaborate on goals and issues. Instead of TELLING them, ask for their help and suggestions.

9. Don’t take away their JOY! If the children are engaged and enjoying an activity, do you have to ruin it by requiring “observable evidence”? Let it be! It’s O.K. to read a book without dissecting it with questions about the author’s purpose. It’s O.K. to take a walk outside to enjoy the peace and beauty of nature. It’s fine to sing a song or use a brain break to make children smile.

10. Remember that for some of your students “school” is as good as it’s going to get for them. You never know what’s going on at home, and school should be a wonderful world where they feel accepted, successful, and excited about learning!

O.K. I’M THROUGH PREACHING!!! Tomorrow will be ACTIVE AUGUST with creative strategies to help kids learn as they move.

DIY POINTERS

I’ll get to the POINT! Pointers are a fun way to engage students’ attention. Make some of these before the school year begins and you can pull them out of your “bag of tricks” when needed.

What? craft sticks, chop sticks, googly eyes, fake jewels and fingernails, E6000 (or other craft glue)

Why? Children love anything novel and different. These pointers just add some “hands-on” to the task at hand.

When? Small group, independent

How? Take a look at the list below and choose your favorite.

*Use to track print from left to right.

*Identify key details in a picture.

*Point out letters, words, punctuation, etc. in print.

*Touch shapes, numbers, etc.

*Space between words with pointers.

Magic wand – dip the end of a chopstick in glue and roll in glitter

Finger nail – glue a fake fingernail to a craft stick

I Spy – glue a googly eye to a craft stick

Jewel – glue a fake jewel to a craft stick

Witches’ finger – great fun

Magnifying glass - pipe cleaner formed in a circle

              

Swizzle stick – buy these at a dollar store

Pretzel stick – point and then eat

Seasonal – glue small seasonal toys or stickers to craft sticks or purchase seasonal pencils

Bugles - point, read, and eat!!!
                                                       
Giant Pointers

Glue a toy to the end of a cardboard pants hanger or decorate a butterfly net.



Smart Center

This was one of those simple, yet clever ideas that a teacher shared years ago. She said she had a center called the "smart center" with an old pair of glasses and a hand pointer. Children wore the glasses and walked around the room and pointed to words, shapes, colors, letters, etc. to show how "smart" they were. The only rule was you had to use a whisper voice. The teacher who shared this said the kids LOVED this center. She said nobody paid any attention to them, but they thought they were smart just the same!

                          

DIY LEARNING CUPS

You can have a "cup" of learning fun with a box of bathroom cups. These cups are not only quiet to play with, but they develop small motor skills and eye-hand coordination.

Letter Cups 

What? bathroom cups, permanent marker

Why? sight words, letters, phonics

When? small group, centers, independent

How? Write letters on the sides of the cups. Children can put these in alphabetical order or make words with the cups.
(I put the uppercase letter on one side and the lowercase letter on the side.)

*Trace around the bottom of a cup and write uppercase letters in the circles. Have children match cups with lowercase letters.

*Glue pictures to cups and use them to match beginning sounds, ending sounds, vowels, etc.
                     

*Put letters together to make spelling words and word wall words. As a follow-up ask children to write the words.
                                                              
*Write words on cups. Children can arrange them to make simple sentences.

*Write word families on cups. Children can read the words as they stack the rimes.

*Glue pictures of opposites or write synonyms on cups to make a matching game.

*Write compound words (one word on each cup) and have children stack them and say the word. Write the compound words as an extension activity.

Hint! Store the cups in an empty Pringle's can.

Math Cups

What? bathroom cups, permanent marker

Why? numbers, counting, math facts

When? small group, centers, independent

How? Write numbers with a permanent marker on the sides of the cups.

*Mix up the cups. Ask the children to put the cups in order.

*Trace around the bottom of one cup 20 times on a file folder as shown. Write the numerals in sequential order from top to bottom and left to right in the circles. Children take the cups and match them up to the appropriate circle on the file folder. Next, sweep the cups off and try to stack them up vertically from 1-20.

*Write addition and subtraction facts on the sides of the cups. Write the answer inside on a dot sticker. Children can solve the problem and then check by looking inside the cup.

                                        

*Make math cups with multiples so children can practice counting by 2's, 5’s, 10’s, and so forth.

http://drjean.org/html/songs/Playing-index.php

DIY CLIP BOARDS

“Ownership” is important to children. They like their own space and materials. Yes, you can buy clipboards, but don’t you think that children will find it more meaningful if they get to decorate their very own clipboard.

Note!When I made things like this for my class I would also remind them that I made it special – just for them! They seemed to take pride in this.

What? 9” x 12” piece of corrugated cardboard, 1” butterfly clip

Why? writing, science observations, sight words, surveys

When? Learning center, independent, partner work

How? Attach a butterfly clip, insert paper, and let the writing begin!

Use the clip boards for:

Observations  (weather, nature walk, clouds, etc.)

Surveys (favorite food, ice cream, animal, sports team, etc.)

Write the room  (2 syllable words, seasonal words, nouns, shapes, letters, etc.)

Read the room (check off words they find, shapes, letters)

Note taking (write or draw pictures as they listen to a book or watch a video)

Interviews  (parents, grandparents, friends)

What I learned (record what they learn as you do a unit of study)

Lists
And here's a LIST of lists children can make on clipboards.

     List of what they are thankful for.

     List of their favorite books, songs.

     List of their favorite foods.

     List of their favorite subjects at school.

     List of their favorite animals/pets.

     List of their favorite sports or games.

     List of what they can do if they finish their work early.

     List of things that make them happy.

     List of how to be a buddy/friend.

     List of “cheers” and “goals.”

                                                              

Wipe Off Boards
Many lumber companies will cut shower board into 9” x 12” pieces that you can use like clipboards.

    

Hint! Plastic plates or laminated white card stock are great substitutes for white boards.

Hint! For morning work at the beginning of the school year a teacher told me that she had her children use clipboards to settle down in the morning. Initially, she asked them to practice making shapes each morning. Then she started to play my “Chant and Write” song to work on numerals. Later they listened to alphabet songs and practiced writing letters of the alphabet.

DIY DISCOVERY BOTTLES

Let’s make a few bottles for the science center today. If you have children of your own, they will totally get “into” making these bottles. They are inexpensive, simple to make, and are a great way to model “recycling.” Just remember to glue the lids on (E6000) because the children might be tempted to do a little too much exploration!!

Note! These bottles will also come in handy if you have a child that who stressed or anxious. Just hand them a bottle and they will become engaged looking at the bottle and moving it around.

What? plastic bottles, E6000 (or super glue), common materials below

Why? observing, experimenting, predicting, focusing

When? Independent exploration

How? Take a look at the ingredients in the bottles below. What have you got in your kitchen or around your house? Well, what are you waiting for? Get busy and make some of these or come up with your own creations.

Mindful Bottle

Materials: plastic bottle, old crayons, scissors

Directions: Take the paper off the old crayons. Make crayon shavings by scraping the side of the scissors. Put the crayon shavings in the bottle and then fill with water. Secure the top with glue. Turn the bottle upside down and then observe as the crayon shavings float around.

Party Bottle

Materials: clear corn syrup, food coloring, sequins or party confetti
                       
Directions: Put about 1/2 cup of corn syrup in the bottle. Add a few drops of food coloring and a spoonful of confetti. Roll the bottle around to coat the sides and watch the confetti move around.

*Make seasonal bottles by adding plastic spiders at Halloween or small heart erasers for Valentine’s Day.

Muddy Water Bottle

Materials: plastic bottle, dirt, water
                                             
Directions: Put ½ cup of dirt in the bottom of the bottle. Fill 2/3 full with water.

Glue on the lid. Children can shake up the bottle and observe the dirt as it settles to the bottom.

Beach Bottle

Materials: plastic bottle, sand, blue food coloring, small shells, fun foam
                                                                   
Directions: Put ¾ cup of sand in the bottom of the bottle. (Rinse the sand out until the water is clear.) Fill the bottle almost to the top with water. Add a drop of blue food coloring and the shells. Cut fish or other small sea creatures out of fun foam.

Wave Bottle

Materials: plastic bottle, food coloring, baby oil or vegetable oil

Directions: Fill the bottle 2/3 full with water. Add several drops of food coloring. Fill the bottle to the top with the oil, and then glue on the lid. Slowly move the bottle on its side to create waves. Shake the bottle up and then observe as the oil and water separate.


Bubble Bottle

Materials: plastic bottle, dish detergent, food coloring
                           
Directions: Put ½ cup of water in the bottle. Add a drop of detergent and a drop of food coloring. Glue on the lid. Shake up the bottle and observe.

What happens to the bubbles if the bottle sits for a while?

Variations: Use shampoo and different types of detergent to make bubble bottles. Which one makes the most bubbles?


I Spy Bottle

Materials: plastic bottle, sand, salt, or rice, 5-10 small toys or objects (crayon, eraser, hair bow, penny, counting bear, etc.)
                                                      
Directions: Fill the bottle 2/3 full with sand or salt. Drop the toys and other items into the bottle and glue on the lid. Shake to hide the objects. How many things can the children “spy” in the bottle? Have them draw pictures or write down all the objects that they see.

More! Make holiday bottles with Halloween toys, conversation hearts, spring things, etc.

*Use a larger plastic bottle (such as cheese balls or pretzels come in) and fill it with confetti or Styrofoam packing. Insert magnetic letters. Children write the that they find in the bottle.