Teacher
Tips for Brain Compatible Classrooms
Activities
and Ideas
Here are
ten activities teachers can use in the classroom to enhance learning. These strategies utilize movement, music,
art, and the four modalities of learning (auditory, visual, kinesthetic, and
tactile).
1.
Bingo – this can be adapted in many ways to fit
almost any area of content or concept.
2.
Cloze Procedure – by deleting words from notes on
transparencies that accompany a lecture you can actively involve the listener.
3.
Change of State – have your students stand up or
change locations in the room.
4.
Transition Signal – when moving from small groups back to
whole group instruction, have a signal (train whistle, music, etc.). Be sure to
cover this procedure during the first days of school.
5.
Student Developed Rubrics – Let your students be
partners in the development of rubrics.
6.
Inside/Outside – Two circles of students, one sharing and discussing
while the other listens, followed by questions and comments.
7.
Alternative Assignments – Have more than one way
for students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the topic you
are teaching (posters, video reports, traditional paper and pencil assessment,
models)
8.
OÑ
Circle/Triangle/Square – 1question going around in your mind/ 3 points
to remember/ 1 concept that squares with your beliefs. This could be used as a
form of a reader's log, or for a video you are showing.
9.
Two circle reflection – A variation on
Inside/Outside that can be adapted for reading comprehension, vocabulary, or
almost any concept.
10. SPLAT from Teacher Smart by George Watson – An auditory, visual, kinesthetic approach to capitalization and punctuation. Think Victor Borge!