Class? Yes!
To get my classes’ attention I simply say ‘Class!’ and then they reply ‘Yes!’. Next is the catch, the hook that makes this fun, and gets them invested in it in a way that has them looking at me and grinning rather than continuing their conversations.
When I say ‘Class!’ and they say ‘Yes!’ they have to say it the way I said it. If I say ‘Classity-class-class!’ they have to say ‘Yessity-yes-yes!’. If I say it loudly, they have to respond loudly. If I whisper, they respond in a whisper. They have to match my tone and intensity.
Why is the Class-Yes, in terms of brain structure, so effective? The neo-cortex, the part of your brain behind your forehead, controls, among other things, decision making. Think of the neo-cortex as an executive, organizing other brain areas for complex tasks. When the teacher says, "Class!" and students respond "Yes!," I have, in effect focused the students' neo-cortices on what I'm going to say next. In other words, their brain's executives are ready to take directions from my brain's executive. That's wonderful! My neo-cortex is the CEO of all the kids' neo-cortices. That's called, Teaching Heaven.
When I say ‘Class!’ and they say ‘Yes!’ they have to say it the way I said it. If I say ‘Classity-class-class!’ they have to say ‘Yessity-yes-yes!’. If I say it loudly, they have to respond loudly. If I whisper, they respond in a whisper. They have to match my tone and intensity.
Why is the Class-Yes, in terms of brain structure, so effective? The neo-cortex, the part of your brain behind your forehead, controls, among other things, decision making. Think of the neo-cortex as an executive, organizing other brain areas for complex tasks. When the teacher says, "Class!" and students respond "Yes!," I have, in effect focused the students' neo-cortices on what I'm going to say next. In other words, their brain's executives are ready to take directions from my brain's executive. That's wonderful! My neo-cortex is the CEO of all the kids' neo-cortices. That's called, Teaching Heaven.
Teach - OK
This technique allows you to simultaneously engage students in all four learning modes -- seeing, saying, hearing and doing.
A small amount of information is presented, complete with gestures. Then looking at the class the teacher claps two times, and says “Teach!” Students clap twice and respond “OK!”
Students copy the teacher's gestures (kinesthetic) and mimic the emotion in her tone of voice (limbic). Students teach their partner concepts taught.
A small amount of information is presented, complete with gestures. Then looking at the class the teacher claps two times, and says “Teach!” Students clap twice and respond “OK!”
Students copy the teacher's gestures (kinesthetic) and mimic the emotion in her tone of voice (limbic). Students teach their partner concepts taught.