Inspiring Active Learning: A Complete Handbook for Today's Teachers

Merrill Harmin, Melanie Toth

ASCD, 2006 - Education - 475 pages

How can we structure class time efficiently? How can we explain and lecture effectively? How can we help students master content? How can we make learning more real and lasting?In this revised and greatly expanded 2nd edition of Inspiring Active Learning, educators Merrill Harmin and Melanie Toth provide answers to our fundamental teaching questions and show us how to transform our classrooms into communities of active, responsible learners. The authors present an array of research-based, teacher-tested strategies for managing our everyday responsibilities--from beginning a class to grading homework, from instructing large groups to promoting diligent seatwork, from motivating slackers to handling disrupters. These strategies focus on mutual respect, not bossiness; collaboration, not isolation; commitment to learning, not fear of failure; and the dignity of all, not praise or rewards for a few.Regardless of our level of experience or the grade or subject we teach, the active-learning approach helps us* Perform routine teaching tasks more easily.* Discover a higher level of teaching success and personal satisfaction.* Establish a class climate of full participation and cooperation.* Prepare engaging lessons that keep students productively involved.* Encourage students to work energetically, willingly, and intelligently each day.* Inspire all students, even the most challenging, to strive for excellence.With its detailed classroom examples and more than 250 practical strategies, Inspiring Active Learning is a comprehensive reference for solving almost any teaching problem.

Contents

• 1Clarity About What Makes a Classroom Inspiring to Students: 3
• 2A FourStep Process to Make a Classroom More Inspiring: 16
• Part II: 27
• 3Creating Lessons That Inspire Active Learning: 29
• 4Establishing a Climate That Inspires Full Participation: 50
• 5Establishing a Climate That Inspires High Cooperation: 71
• 6Structuring Class Time Efficiently: 86
• 7Using Small Groups Efficiently: 94
• 8Preventing Discipline Problems from Arising: 107
• Part III: 129
• 9Gathering the Attention of Students: 131
• 10Handling Completed Homework: 137
• 11Providing for a Quick Review of Completed Content: 145
• Part IV: 155
• 12Motivating Interest in New Content: 157
• 13Explaining and Lecturing Effectively: 166
• 14Providing DiscoveryType Experiences: 180
• 15Using Written Material to Present New Content: 189
• Part V: 203
• 16Helping Students Master Content in a WholeClass Format: 205
• 17Helping Students Master Content in Individual and SmallGroup Formats: 221
• 18Using Projects to Help Students Master Content: 249
• 19Stimulating HigherLevel Thinking: 256
• 20Responding to Student Comments and Using Praise Appropriately: 265
• Part VI: 281
• 21Helping Students Review and Summarize a Class: 283
• 22Providing Effective Homework Assignments: 292
• Part VII: 301
• 23Advancing Students Learning Skills: 303
• 24Making Learning More Real and Lasting for Students: 309
• 25Inspiring Students to Strive for Excellence: 318
• 26Advancing Students SelfResponsibility: 332
• 27Advancing Students SelfConfidence: 336
• 28Advancing Students Maturity: 346
• 29Advancing Our Own Personal Balance: 359
• Part VIII: 367
• 30Handling Students Written Work: 369
• 31Handling Testing and Grading: 374
• 32Reporting Students Progress: 389
• Part IX: 395
• 33Handling Routine Misbehavior: 397
• 34Handling Serious and Chronic Misbehavior: 418
• Glossary: 439
• Bibliography: 450
• Index: 467
• About the Authors: 475

Bibliographic information

• Title: Inspiring Active Learning: A Complete Handbook for Today's Teachers; Gale virtual reference library
• Authors: Merrill Harmin, Melanie Toth
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: ASCD, 2006
• ISBN: 1416601554, 9781416601555
• Length: 475 pages
• Subjects: Education / Educational Psychology; Education / Learning Styles; Education / Professional Development; Education / Teaching / General