I am so excited about using Kagan Structures in the classroom! We all know if students are bored with a lesson, they will not get very much out it. Getting the kids to actively engage is the key. That's where Kagan comes in. Kagan Structures make learning fun and interactive. These structures promote cooperative learning by requiring students to work in pairs or in groups. The kids are up out of their seats and moving around the classroom.
One of my favorite Kagan Structures is Numbered Heads where the kids work in groups of four to six. They are given a problem to solve or a question to answer and a short amount of time to formulate an answer. The kids are numbered off ahead of time. They don't know which one of the members will be called on to represent the group so they all must be ready to answer. When given the signal, they stand up, put their heads together, and discuss the possibilities. It's amazing to hear the answers they come up with.Whether we are working on math or discussing a story, the kids enjoy the process of working in teams.
Here is a YouTube video demonstrating how a second grade class used Numbered Heads to discuss some important elements in a story the class was reading. YouTube is full of videos showing how Kagan works.
Along with the structures, Kagan also encourages the use of cheers. Whether it's a cowboy cheer like a group "YeeHaw!" or an interactive roller coaster cheer where the kids pretend to plunge down a steep hill, Kagan has lots of cheers the kids will enjoy. I've watched second graders and fourth graders do these cheers and they all loved to do them. The promise of a group cheer at the end of an activity is a great incentive!
So if you're looking to generate some enthusiasm in your classroom, I highly recommend Kagan Structures. For more information and ideas about how to use Kagan, visit their website. http://www.kaganonline.com/about_us.php
