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Two Tips: Parent Meetings & Class Goals

Laurie Kagan

At workshops, our trainers receive a lot of questions about successfully implementing Kagan in the classroom. At a Kagan workshop led by Rob Jutras, teacher Rhonda Kerr asked for advice about two different topics: 1) how to inform parents about Kagan, and 2) how to handle team points and competition. Rob shared his suggestions with Rhonda at the workshop. Rob was pleasantly surprised to receive a kind letter from Rhonda informing him about the success she had with his tips. In the letter, she asked that we pass on these tips, so here you go!

Parent Meetings

How do you inform parents about your use of Kagan strategies in the classroom? Parents may have questions and concerns about this new way of learning and I want to inform them about the benefits of Kagan Cooperative Learning.

You can do a nice presentation about the research of cooperative learning. You can share how students achieve more academically, develop socially, and how cooperative learning closes the achievement gap. Or, you can have parents experience a few Kagan activities and see the power for themselves! One great activity that takes zero prep is using the Teambuilding Chips. Just put parents in teams and let them use RoundRobin with a set of getting acquainted questions. Not only do they learn about Kagan, but it's a great icebreaker too! To show that Kagan isn't just for fun and games and works with serious academics, try RallyCoach with a worksheet from your class. After they experience Kagan, you can derive the benefits of teamwork and cooperation.

Class Goals

How do you handle team points? Team points often lead to competition and winners and losers in the class. How can I motivate my students without team points?

Intergroup competition can be a great motivator. Students work really hard to beat each other. But there's a down side to competition too. Competition often creates more losers than winners. And when you have a team that consistently wins, the other teams withdraw from a game they don't think they can win. Another approach is to set up class goals. For example, set up a class thermometer with a class celebration when students reach a certain level. Team points feed into the class goal and everyone celebrates each other's successes rather than hoping for the failure of others.

Rhondas’s Letter to Kagan Trainer, Rob Jutras Hi Rob, You were at our school for training in August and I really enjoyed it. It was not my first or last Kagan training, but it was great!! You gave me 2 great ideas on questions that I specifically asked. I wanted to thank you and give you some feedback in case you wanted to pass the tips on again. First, I had a parent meeting about a month into the school year. I opened the meeting with a teambuilding structure using the chips. I couldn't get the parents to stop playing! I agreed that if they let me go through the meeting I would stay late and introduce them to a few more structures. You also suggested I do RoundRobin with a worksheet. They loved it! I ended up staying an extra hour and a half than planned doing structures with them. I only showed them a few but it was amazing how much they enjoyed it. What I've seen since then is that not only are my students a team, but my parents have also come together as a team. As a teacher, I am getting so much more support from them than ever before. Second, I used to use team points system and was never very keen on the idea because one team seemed to always win. At your suggestion this year, I give class points in the form of a compliment jar. You can use anything, but I have a large gallon jar that they fill with cotton balls, a cotton ball for every compliment. They can earn compliments as a class from any adult including me. What a change! They all work together to fill the jar. When it gets close to the top they get so excited, not because of the reward but because they are proud of themselves for doing such a good job. One of my pet peeves is to leave a workshop with unanswered questions, especially ones I've specifically asked. Thanks so much for your suggestions and for answering my questions with specific ideas and strategies. I now have two more effective strategies in my bag of tricks. The more Kagan I learn and implement the more success my students have and the easier and more enjoyable my job is. Thanks again for you help! Rhonda Kerr, 2nd Grade Teacher Orangewood Elementary

Teambuilding Chips Give each team a set of chips. Teams lead themselves through fun interview questions to get to know and respect their teammates. Class Set of 8 CMDTB • $29 Save $11! Single Teambuilding Chips Set MDTB • $5