Gestures for Information Power Teaching

Engaged children make better learners.

Power teaching is brain-based teaching growing more popular. Designed to improve whole brain involvement, teachers use interactive gestures and chants while imparting information. Thus, Power Teaching results in more involved students and less behavior disruptions in class.

Chanting and Moving

"Teach? Okay!" Chants and gestures engage students in lessons. Six strategies comprise beginning whole brain teaching: Class-Yes, The Scoreboard, Teach-Okay, Hands and Eyes, Switch, and Mirror. These methods improve student focus and increase personal student responsibility.

Methods to Improve Focus

Focus is immediately directed by Class-Yes, Hands and Eyes, and Switch. Using attention getting verbal prompts, while students respond with chants and gestures flips an attention switch in the brain. Of course, increased attention equals increased learning.

Engaged Classroom

The Scoreboard, Teach-Okay and Mirror ignites reward centers in the brain as students teach one another. These strategies help students better retain information presented. Because lessons are fun and interactive, combining oral and physical movement, more neurological connections are made in the brain.

A Mighty "Oh Yeah"

Promoting a positive learning environment empowers students. Nationwide, Power Teaching strategies are implemented. Creators Chris Biffle, Jay Vanderfin, and Chris Rekstad may not have known the influence their method would have on teaching. Building students' thinking ability is vital to a brighter future for everyone.

References

• Whole Brain Teaching: Research
• Whole Brain Teaching: Whole Brain Teaching, LLC-Milestones
• Education.com: Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligence in the Early Childhood Classroom
• "Whole Brain Teaching for Challenging Kids"; Chris Biffle; 2010.

Resources

• Whole Brain Teaching: Research
• Whole Brain Teaching: The Basics