It does NOT feel like it is only the first week of school! I really feel as though these kids and I have been together for a lot longer. Mashallah, they are doing really well. We started classroom rules and procedures right away. Mashallah, we have SUCH a large class this year - 27 students! In order for everything to run smoothly and for all of us to learn to get a long and work together, going over the rules over and over again is a must.
This year, I am trying to implement some aspects of an educational concept called Whole Brain Teaching. It involves the use of many gestures to learn routine things. It also involves students teaching each other small chunks of concepts learned right after I teach them. They also use gestures. One of the practices they have learned class attention signal, where I say "CLASS," in a certain tone, voice, or pattern, and the students have to repeat, "YES," in the same way. Whenever I say "Hands and Eyes," they drop everything and give me their attention. "Mirror, Mirror," means they copy all my gestures as I am teaching or explaining something. "Mirror with words," means they copy my gestures and repeat what I am saying. When I say, "TEACH," they say, "OKAY," and turn to a group or partner and teach each other what I just taught them. By involving movement, actions, and words, we are utilizing more parts of the brain, which hopefully aid in learning and remembering.
Every morning, we have been practicing our five whole brain classroom rules. We use hand movements to explain each rule. They mirror me first, and then teach each other.
1) Follow directions quickly- (snapping with their fingers)
2) Raise your hand for permission to speak- (raise hand and make talking motion with hand)
3) Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat- (raise hand and then make a walking motion with fingers on the other hand)
4) Make smart choices- (point to brain)
5) Keep you dear teacher happy- (point your fingers to a smile on your face and tilt your head back and forth). This is my favorite rule of course.. :) If we keep teachers happy by following the rules, they get to put more positive time and energy into teaching the children.
Inshallah, by constantly practicing these expectations, the classroom will be a well oiled machine.
-Sr. Amna-
This year, I am trying to implement some aspects of an educational concept called Whole Brain Teaching. It involves the use of many gestures to learn routine things. It also involves students teaching each other small chunks of concepts learned right after I teach them. They also use gestures. One of the practices they have learned class attention signal, where I say "CLASS," in a certain tone, voice, or pattern, and the students have to repeat, "YES," in the same way. Whenever I say "Hands and Eyes," they drop everything and give me their attention. "Mirror, Mirror," means they copy all my gestures as I am teaching or explaining something. "Mirror with words," means they copy my gestures and repeat what I am saying. When I say, "TEACH," they say, "OKAY," and turn to a group or partner and teach each other what I just taught them. By involving movement, actions, and words, we are utilizing more parts of the brain, which hopefully aid in learning and remembering.
Every morning, we have been practicing our five whole brain classroom rules. We use hand movements to explain each rule. They mirror me first, and then teach each other.
1) Follow directions quickly- (snapping with their fingers)
2) Raise your hand for permission to speak- (raise hand and make talking motion with hand)
3) Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat- (raise hand and then make a walking motion with fingers on the other hand)
4) Make smart choices- (point to brain)
5) Keep you dear teacher happy- (point your fingers to a smile on your face and tilt your head back and forth). This is my favorite rule of course.. :) If we keep teachers happy by following the rules, they get to put more positive time and energy into teaching the children.
Inshallah, by constantly practicing these expectations, the classroom will be a well oiled machine.
-Sr. Amna-