Full Description
This text is designed to challenge student and experienced teachers alike to weave techniques for developing good decision-making skills throughout the curriculum. By being given challenging daily curriculum, students will become engaged in their own learning and accomplishments. When students begin to experience the excitement of personal accomplishment, they will be more focused on active participation in their classroom community. 35 Classroom Strategies: Promoting Learning and Building Community is organized into sections related to the important themes in creating a community of learners. Within each section, strategies are explained and steps in implementing the strategies are given. Two classroom examples are provided for each strategy in order to show how use of the strategies will differ according to the ages of the learners and the content of the curriculum.
Contents
SECTION I An Introduction to Classroom Management and Discipline SECTION II Strategies for Setting Up and Environment that Supports Engagement in Active Learning 1 Arranging furniture to encourage collaboration. 2 Accessible resources and materials. 3 Providing time to work, explore, interact. 4 Setting up the structure for in-depth studies and ongoing research. 5 Providing opportunitiesfor pursuing personal interests. SECTION III Strategies for Establishing a Classroom Management System Built on Mutual Respect and Caring 6 Modeling and building mutual respect. 7 Establishing routines and transitions. 8 Individual conferences and goal setting. 9 Using contracts to build intrinsic motivation. 10 Implementing class meetings. SECTION IV Strategies for Building Responsibility for Their Own Actions and Words in the Members of the Learning Community 11 Using words positively. 12 Avoiding power struggles in the classroom. 13 Empowering students to resolve conflicts. 14 Eliminating bullying in schools. 15 Troubleshooting problem areas: Identifying and responding to student needs. 16 When and how to ask for help with difficult students. SECTION V Strategies for Integrating Active Learning Experiences, Authentic Practice and Assessment 17 Relating new skills to prior experiences. 18 Using the learning cycle to enhance academic success. 19 Building resources for using manipulative, realia, and visuals. 20 Using simulations in the classroom. 21 Documenting learning. 22 Establishing and maintaining reading and writing workshops. 23 MI Centers. 24 Designing effective homework assignments. 25 Making connections to the arts. 26 Using technology to support learning. SECTION VI Strategies for Building Community Through Collaboration 27 Teaching classroom behaviors and routines that encourage collaboration. 28 Training students to recognize and respond to the needs of the group. 29 Establishing the rules and expectations for cooperative groupwork. 30 Insuring that all students are active participants in cooperative activities. 31 Intervening to support total participation by all members of the groups. SECTION VII Strategies for Building a Support System: Celebrations and Parent Involvement 32 Scheduling celebrations during the day. 33 Using space in the room to celebrate learning. 34 Setting up web pages, newsletters, and newspapers to document and celebrate learning. 35 Involving parents in their child's education. SECTION VIII Establishing Schoolwide Collaboration Structures Teacher Resources
