EDMOND —
On Friday one moment second-graders were blogging about snow with their counterparts in Australia. Later they were twisting colorful pipe cleaners into shapes and watching their teacher attach them to the large, colorful brain hanging from the ceiling at the front of the room.
The classroom belongs to Clegern Elementary School second-grade teacher Diane Dahl, and the students are using the pipe cleaners to represent brain cells.
“We label and connect these pipe cleaners to show how the brain connects related ideas students are learning in class,” Dahl said.
This is a visual representation of what new things they have discovered for the week connected to what they already know. They plan to continue adding to the display throughout the year to represent the “neural pathways” of what they are learning.
“Thinking skills are a huge part of our week,” she added. “Whatever we do we try to include and talk about our thinking processes. I don’t want students who can regurgitate information; I want students who can think about and discuss what they know.”
The students seem to like the learning process also.
“It helps us learn better and make connections in our brains,” said Sophia Berges, “and it makes it fun.”
Simon Nardia agreed.
“It is fun. It makes things easier to learn, and we can learn quicker and learn more,” Simon said.
Dahl said they try to start each day with Track Time where the students run and jog around the school’s track in the morning and in the afternoon.
“It makes the students more alert and better learners,” Dahl said.
Clegern principal Bill Powell encourages brain-based teaching, which combines information about how the brain works with how to apply that research to increase student motivation and achievement.
“I think every teacher at this school as well as teachers throughout the district use every strategy possible to help their students succeed,” Powell said. “ Ms. Dahl has found a strategy that works well for her and her students.”
Dahl believes teachers have to introduce different methods to help students learn and retain the knowledge they come into contact with each day.
“Standard teaching methods aren’t good enough anymore,” Dahl said. “For instance, did you know that after 24 hours, students only retain 5 percent of a lecture? Having students read only brings retention up to 10 percent.”
Dahl said her journey in understanding these issues came together when she began studying for her master’s degree in Brain-Based Teaching with a concentration in Reading and Literacy through BrainSMART, an online master’s degree program offered by Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Previously she taught each subject to her second-graders mostly independently of each other.
“Math had its hour, Language Arts had its time, and so on,” Dahl said. “What I’ve discovered is that students learn better when subjects are connected, integrated, and therefore more meaningful.”
When it’s time to teach polygons and adjectives at the same time as the War of 1812, she blends the lessons.
“We read a story about a family quilt from the era,” Dahl said. “We talk about the families’ experiences and how adjectives help describe them.”
She said she has students look for polygons in the quilts.
“We describe the polygons using adjectives,” Dahl said. “They identify polygons in the flag that flew over Fort McHenry and inspired Francis Scott Key to write a poem that would become ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’ The subjects ebb and flow together throughout the day.”
Dahl said it takes time and creativity to blend lessons instead of just sticking to the usual teachers’ manual, and she appreciates having a principal who supports this concept and is also very helpful and inspiring.
“Some of my approaches might seem unconventional,” Dahl said. “We practice back-spelling (spelling out words on the back of the student in front of them) so they feel how the word is written as they spell it out loud.
“We spell out words in shaving cream on desks so students have another physical and visual connection to the words. Using color pencils gives them yet another mental picture with the added definition of color.
“Previously, we had about four students or so who had trouble with spelling tests. Now I have none.”
At a time when one hears a lot about the need for education reform Dahl said her answer is simple.
“When principals and teachers create an environment of working together to understand how the brain thinks, students are the real winners,” Dahl said.
Diane Dahl blogs about her experiences at www.fortheloveofteaching.net.
She and the co-developer of BrainSMART, Dr. Donna Wilson, will hold an information session on March 1 in Oklahoma City. More details are available at www.brainsmart.com.
pmiller@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 171
Education
Related Photos
-
PATTY MILLER | THE EDMOND SUN Clegern Elementary School second-grader Sarah Black winds colorful pipe cleaners together showing how the students studied about weather in Australia and the lack of snow. The giant brain mass above her represents the "neural pathways" of what the children have learned this year.
-
PATTY MILLER | THE EDMOND SUN Clegern Elementary second-grade teacher Diane Dahl helps her class blog with students in Australia to find out the land down under has no snow.
Discussion
Students give thumbs up for Brain-Based teaching
- Education
-
-
Edmond schools receive Healthy Schools Incentive Grant
Edmond is one of 26 school districts to be awarded a Healthy Schools Incentive Grant from the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust.
-
Edmond Memorial alumni provide scholarships
The Edmond Memorial Alumni Association offers two scholarship each year to two graduating seniors from Edmond Memorial High School who plan to attend the University of Central Oklahoma.
-
Parents Helping Parents schedules meeting
The Edmond Chapter of Parents Helping Parents will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Oklahoma Blood Institute’s private meeting room at 33rd and Broadway. Scott Van Krevelen, CADC and director of “The Van’s House” (www.vanshouse.com), will speak on the topic of “Enabling vs. Helping.”
-
John Ross psychologist named School Psychologist of the Year
John Ross Elementary School Psychologist Nicole Marler has been named the School Psychologist of the Year by the Oklahoma School Psychological Association. She received her award at the OSPA spring conference last month in Tulsa.
-
2 Edmond schools achieve Great Expectations status
Two Edmond elementary schools achieved Great Expectations Model School status this week.
-
41-year administrator retiring but has no plans to quit educating
As Lynne Rowley, executive director of elementary education, reminisced over the past 41 years she has worked in education, she shared what it was like when she first started teaching in the Edmond School District, how things have changed and her plans for retirement.
-
UCO looking for nominations for Distinguished Alumni, Family of the Year
For more than 50 years, UCO has honored its most outstanding alumni with the Distinguished Alumni Award and the Family of the Year Award. These are the highest honors alumni can receive. These individuals truly are Central’s brightest shining stars. The award recognizes their outstanding accomplishments in education, arts and sciences,
-
UCO School of Music opens new center for historical performance
The University of Central Oklahoma School of Music recently announced the opening of the UCO Center for Historical Performance, a new endeavor focused specifically on understanding and presenting music from the past utilizing historical instruments like the recorder, harp, natural horn and harpsichord.
-
UCO’s AAUP chapter honors faculty for service
The University of Central Oklahoma’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors recently recognized five award recipients at a recognition ceremony in the Robert S. Kerr Room located in the Nigh University Center.
-
Kindergartners say they are ‘Ready for first grade’
As more than 1,600 Edmond Public School kindergartners await their graduation to first grade they have mixed feelings, much like their senior counterparts graduating this month.
“My graduating kindergartners told me they were scared, proud, happy and nervous,” said Karen McBride, one of six Centennial kindergarten teachers. “After we looked at our slide show yesterday, two of my boys came up to me and said the slide show made them want to cry.” - More Education Headlines
-
Edmond schools receive Healthy Schools Incentive Grant
