Dear Parents,
We will be learning through Whole Brain Teaching, a research based system that utilizes all areas of the brain, keeps children engaged throughout their lessons, and helps them retain much more information than the standard lecture-discussion model.
Whole Brain Teaching is a highly interactive form of instruction that delivers information to students in short “chunks.” Kids then teach what they have just learned to their partners, using hand-gestures to help remember specific vocabulary. While students teach each other, the teacher walks around the room to discover who understands the lesson and who needs more instruction.
Research shows that children retain more information when they have an opportunity to put it into their own words and use gestures to emphasize key instructional units …plus, it’s amazingly fun! For more information about Whole Brain Teaching please contact me, come by for a classroom visit and/or go to www.WholeBrainTeaching.com.
Thanks!
Mrs. Partyka
We will be learning through Whole Brain Teaching, a research based system that utilizes all areas of the brain, keeps children engaged throughout their lessons, and helps them retain much more information than the standard lecture-discussion model.
Whole Brain Teaching is a highly interactive form of instruction that delivers information to students in short “chunks.” Kids then teach what they have just learned to their partners, using hand-gestures to help remember specific vocabulary. While students teach each other, the teacher walks around the room to discover who understands the lesson and who needs more instruction.
Research shows that children retain more information when they have an opportunity to put it into their own words and use gestures to emphasize key instructional units …plus, it’s amazingly fun! For more information about Whole Brain Teaching please contact me, come by for a classroom visit and/or go to www.WholeBrainTeaching.com.
Thanks!
Mrs. Partyka
I say “mirrors please” and the students respond “mirrors please.” They then pick up their hands ready to mimic my gestures. As students imitate my motions, their motor cortex, the brain’s most reliable memory area, is automatically engaged. I use mirror when telling a story, giving directions, describing the steps in a procedure, learning new vocab, demonstrating a process ... anytime you want your class locked in to what you are saying. |
When using Teach/Okay I notice that some students are chronic talkers and never let their partners get in a word. Or I see the chronic listeners who are absolutely content to listen while their partner explains and teaches everything. I use "switch" to ensure that all students are equally involved and all have a part to play in each lesson. |
I often finish a lesson with a Q/T also known as a Quick Test. I use it two ways: 1. I ask questions about the current lesson concept and the whole class responds with "yes" or "no way". 2. I have the students close their eyes and they use thumbs up to signal "yes", and thumbs down to signal "no way". |
Student Engagement