In our zeal to raise test scores, many have wrongly assumed that students who are laughing, interacting in groups, or playing games are not doing real academic work. The result is that some teachers feel pressure to preside over more sedate classrooms with students on the same page in the same book, sitting in straight rows, facing straight ahead.
The fact is that when we remove joy and fun from the classroom, we distance our students from effective information processing and long-term memory storage. Instead of taking pleasure from learning, students become bored, anxious, and anything but engaged.
Neurological data has shown the benefits of joy in the classroom. Neuroimaging studies and measurement of brain chemical transmitters reveal that students' comfort level can influence information transmission and storage in the brain (Thanos et al., 1999). When students are engaged and motivated and feel minimal stress, information flows freely through the affective filter in the amygdala and they achieve higher levels of cognition, make connections, and experience “aha” moments (Willis 2007).
We have a 40 minute program called Stride that we implement daily before classes to give students an opportunity to spend time with teachers and review any lessons the students may be struggling with. I plan to use all of the learning items listed to enhance the learning environment in our class as well as to offer an incentive for students to complete their homework and spend time studying outside of class. Every Friday morning during stride we will have Fiesta Friday where students who have reached their weekly goals will get to enjoy having fun and playing games to solidify the weeks learning.
Every donation given will be a gift towards helping students experience joy and fun in classroom learning. Thanking you wholeheartedly in advance..... Adios
About my class
In our zeal to raise test scores, many have wrongly assumed that students who are laughing, interacting in groups, or playing games are not doing real academic work. The result is that some teachers feel pressure to preside over more sedate classrooms with students on the same page in the same book, sitting in straight rows, facing straight ahead.
The fact is that when we remove joy and fun from the classroom, we distance our students from effective information processing and long-term memory storage. Instead of taking pleasure from learning, students become bored, anxious, and anything but engaged.
Neurological data has shown the benefits of joy in the classroom. Neuroimaging studies and measurement of brain chemical transmitters reveal that students' comfort level can influence information transmission and storage in the brain (Thanos et al., 1999). When students are engaged and motivated and feel minimal stress, information flows freely through the affective filter in the amygdala and they achieve higher levels of cognition, make connections, and experience “aha” moments (Willis 2007).
We have a 40 minute program called Stride that we implement daily before classes to give students an opportunity to spend time with teachers and review any lessons the students may be struggling with. I plan to use all of the learning items listed to enhance the learning environment in our class as well as to offer an incentive for students to complete their homework and spend time studying outside of class. Every Friday morning during stride we will have Fiesta Friday where students who have reached their weekly goals will get to enjoy having fun and playing games to solidify the weeks learning.
Every donation given will be a gift towards helping students experience joy and fun in classroom learning. Thanking you wholeheartedly in advance..... Adios
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