As we have discussed across your block courses, effective instruction is student-centered, engaging, and empowering. The block instructors want to assist you in filling your toolbox with practical strategies to create this type of interactive classroom setting! In addition to the small forest handouts I gave you in class today, here are a few resources:
Here is a link to a blog post with an excellent list of research-based best practices for facilitating effective classroom discussions.
Here is a link to "Kagan Structures: A Miracle of Active Engagement," a brief article that provides an overview of the basic research/theory underlying active discussion and presents six strategies. (Dr. Wilcox mentioned the great success of a teacher professional development based on the Kagan strategies, during his visit with us this week.)
