Teacher & Training Tips
How Can Kagan Be Used during Assessment Season?
Rachel Treaster
To cite this article: Treaster, R. How Can Kagan Be Used during Assessment Season? Kagan Online Magazine, Issue #64. San Clemente, CA: Kagan Publishing. www.KaganOnline.com
Teachers often ask, "If we're giving high-stakes assessments, how can we use Kagan Cooperative Learning?" Since assessment season can be one of the most stressful times of the year for both students and teachers, several of the key concepts of cooperative learning can be used to relieve the stress.
One key concept I suggest is the use of classbuilders in the classroom. Classbuilders allow students to get up, move around, and interact with their classmates. Utilizing classbuilders before starting and/or after finishing a round of tests is very beneficial. These classbuilding structures can be used to review academic content prior to taking the test, or they can also be used without any content, purely for fun. The movement and interaction will get students' brains and bodies ready to perform and demonstrate their knowledge.
Another key concept of cooperative learning I recommend using during this time is teambuilding. After students have been concentrating on performing their best on the assessments, teambuilding structures allow students to interact with their teammates, creating more energy in the classroom.
Finally, I advocate the use of Silly Sports and Goofy Games in the classroom, both before and after assessments. When students are engaged in these games, even for a few moments, their brains become more nourished with oxygen and glucose, which means students are more alert for their tests.
These are just a few ways to utilize Kagan Cooperative Learning in the classroom during assessment time. When teachers use these suggestions, their students become more refreshed and alert, which in turn aids in students performing at their highest potential.