Macomb Institute
Who’s Time Is It Anyway? Oct 2008
Begin with Energizer … Power Ninja Koosh toss: One thing you’ve never seen offered at a teacher’s workshop, but it would help you more than any other? (or) The most wonderful vacation you’ve ever taken. A time when someone ..almost out of the blue.. did something very nice for you. Call him or her Johnny, but tell us about a student you have in class right now who’s your joy.
Workshop presentations usually follow this pattern: ---The speaker spends the first part of the presentation selling you on an idea ---2nd part explaining it ---Then you make a few notes, nod like it’s a good idea, all the time filtering it through your own curriculum, and generally ignoring most of it by next week.
If you are bored at any point today, it’s probably because you haven’t been actively engaged. You haven’t spoken. You haven’t done anything. ---When we are engaged, we learn. You may not understand what just happened at the beginning of our session, but you were engaged… That’s what I’m talking about today.
… The anticipatory set… One of the best ideas to come to education in the last 20 years.. The Anticipatory Set.. an exercise of any kind that get students involved as soon as the bell rings. a lead-in to class work of the day
And by the way, if you leave this workshop saying, “Well duh.. I knew that..” Good for you. We’ve had success.
My mother attended and taught in a one-room school. The energizer is very old. Day always began with recitation.
How do we usually begin class. “Okay! Let’s quiet down!”
“Okay, quiet down!” isn’t a very ineffective anticipatory set. Why? Because as a student, there’s nothing in it for me.
Two types of Energizers today… The Opening Question and the on-your-feet energizer. I’ll talk about the Koosh Ball and we’ll do a few of the others. Many listed on the sheet.
(Walk in.) BALL TOSS Tell me about a smell..some may not consider it pleasant, but it triggers a beautiful memory in your mind whenever you smell it. What are we talking about today? I don’t know…genealogy, history, being specific when you write, metaphors,
The idea…get the kids talking about it, then YOU join in. We usually try to do the opposite. WE start talking then ask them to join the conversation.
It uses the natural energy that your kids bring into the classroom. All research says that hands-on, participatory learning is the most effective and long-lasting. Think back to the greatest learning experiences you had in grade school… I’ll bet you were doing.. not just watching and listening. Me: my bean on the window sill… teacher told us nothing.. but we went out and found out.. I tested mine to death. Bottom line: in order to learn, we must be mentally loosened up.. mental calisthenics.
More Samples: ---The best moment you’ve had in class so far this year. One of the best things about using the opening questions is that it tells you what the class knows so you can build on it. THIS IS NOT THE SAME as asking, “Who knows something about story telling?” Put the ball in their hands. ---A really big lie that some family member once told you. ----Tell me about an object, that whenever you see it, reminds you of some older relative in your life.. Me: bib overalls..Grandpa. ---Where’s some place you’ve always wanted to visit? Don’t simply ask “Can somebody tell me something about geography?”
And by the way, the opening question need not always be tied in to the day’s lesson. You may just want to use it for focus.
We do want students to learn to express themselves, don’t we? Imagine… a football coach…first practice is a game. No, you’ve got to work your way into communications skills. Or worse yet, a basketball coach that has them practice by reading a book on basketball. It’s usually no problem to get students talking…the trick is to get them talking in the direction you want. Our school..basically a student body who in large part don’t mind getting up and doing things..especially noticeable when a new student transfers in.. not because of our plays or speech contest, but the classroom experience. Much speaking on the Jr. High level.
The Brain What are You Doing? That Darned Whistle Word Tennis Circle of Sound Statue! Statue! Hitchhiker The Stare Channel Surfing Emotion Tap Walk on, Sit, Walk off Attitude Line Slide Show Line Talk
Groupings, 3-Some, Line Talk, Slide Show
A defining moment in your life… Something you wish more people knew about you…
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