So You Think You Can Dance?

Active learning is the theme running throughout my summer Literacy Institutes for both teachers and their students. I am always looking for ways to enhance learner understanding.

One of my favorite engagement strategies is called "The Dance Card." (Big thank you to my friend and colleague Mona Slagle for sharing this one with me!)

It is very similar to the often used "appointment clock strategy" where members of a learning community set "appointments" with one another to meet, reflect, share, and react to the content presented in the classroom.

At particular times throughout the learning event, the facilitator or teacher will invite the group to find their " three o'clock or six o'clock partner". The partners will meet for a focused conversation about the learning that has occurred.

Instead of setting "appointments", institute participants filled their "dance cards" with partners for the Salsa, Macarena, Waltz, and Disco. Throughout the week, at random times during the day (especially when I noticed the group beginning to doze off), I would play one of the four songs and teachers would dance towards their partners ready for the learning conversation to begin!

It was a wonderful way to keep learning active, feet moving, and brains wide awake! Have fun giving it a whirl!

New Here? Want to never miss a post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get each post delivered right into browser or email. Thanks for visiting!