One of my twitter friends linked me to some youtube videos about Power Teaching and Learning. I’ve added this to the teaching reading comprehension I blogged about earlier this week and come up with some super dynamic stuff happening.

I introduced some of the power teaching techniques today in class and for the first time had one particular child 100% on task – for the first time this year! (we’re in week 34 of a 40 week school year!)

I used the teaching aspect in both maths and reading today In maths we’re just beginning to look at 3D-objects. I started by reminding them about 2D objects and how to describe them. Then i used Teach-OK and had them teach/remind each other about them. I moved on to 3D. We looked at a cube and in the 1-2 pairings i had them discussing what it might be called. Then they shared back what it was. Then i talked about the face, the edges and the corners. Then it was Teach-OK time again and away they went. I stopped them and told them that it was hard to tell who was doing what they had been asked to do so we would use gestures. Then back to Teach-OK time. Fantastic – i could see immediately there were two people off task.

In reading we were looking at a cover picture of an easy reader. First I reminded them about the two terms we used previously – ‘predict’ and ‘prior knowledge’ – then I used the Teach-Ok technique and had the children teaching each other what the two words meant.

So far i’ve introduced:

* Teach-OK

* Scoreboard

* Oh No/Oh Yes (instead of mighty groan etc)

* Switch

I already had my own version of Class-Yes! (1,2,3 – eyes on me/1,2 – eyes on you which i sing/chant/rap or whatever comes out at the time)

We have a favourite game the children like to play and that will be reward for the Scoreboard (Silent Ball)

My children bounced out of the classroom at the end of the day buzzing about the fun learning we had today … that’s all I need to be sold on this.

I will continue to blog my progress as it happens …

Here are the links to the important stuff
Power Teaching Homepage
Powerteachers.org
Power Teaching

The author of this technique (or one of the authors) Chris Biffle has some amazing stuff on his website, including free downloads – free if you follow his FAIR USE AGREEMENT.

FAIR USE AGREEMENT: Use any e-books below in exchange for sending evidence to Chris Biffle at CBiffle@AOL.com that you forwarded information about this website to 10 people along with a copy of this FAIR USE AGREEMENT.

Check out this youtube video – and then this youtube video. You will be amazed.

Posted by dragonsinger at November 6, 2008 & Filed under power teaching | 2 Comments »