Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction Brain Research and the Classroom Using This Book How and When to Use These Activities 1. Energize the Environment The Right Stuff Lighting The Sense of Smell The Effect of Ions Musical Moments Varying Your Instruction Novelty and Surprise Theme Days To Get Volunteers Visual Context 2. Get Your Students' Attention State of the Class Feedback Breathing Hands and Arms Voice Cross Laterals Heavy Jobs Novel Movements 3. Energize Your Students Getting Into Groups Random Groupings Get Students Up and Moving Circle Games Circadian Rhythm Silence Pre-Writing Activities A Leg Up Gross Motor Eyes Props 4. Build Teams and Community Getting To Know You Contemporary Variations Group Challenges Just for Fun References
"Chock full of great ideas and easy to use! Whether you are a novice teacher or an established pro, there is a great deal of worthwhile information in this book. It's obvious that the author has spent most of his life in the classroom. The strategies he offers meet the needs of any teacher." -Al Diver, Principal Grosse Pointe South High School, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI Proven ideas to keep all students attentive and motivated while learning! This handy guide is a fun, creative collection of practical strategies that teachers of all grade levels can use to stimulate, invigorate, and re-energize learners whenever they need a "brain break." Each section presents specific activities and engaging techniques to capture and maintain students' attention. These state-changing activities use movement, games, groups, and adjustments to the classroom environment to help students refocus, be creative, and learn more effectively. The author provides techniques based on brain research to: Keep the learning environment fresh Help students focus on the task at hand Stimulate students' brains in the middle of a lesson Build a sense of community, teamwork, and rapport in the classroom Classroom Activators illustrates how simple changes can transform the energy level in your classroom, keep students engaged, and improve learning outcomes.
Jerry Evanski has been a teacher and school administrator at all levels K-12. He has written several books and has taught at the university level for many years. He has been conducting workshops for Discipline Associations and for The Teacher Learning Center for the past two decades. He created and teaches the Brain Research in Education certification program at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. The video he created about the program won two Telly Awards in 2005. He is also a trained facilitator for Super Camp, which is an internationally known accelerated learning program. His current research is focused on identifying and correcting potential visual, auditory, and kinesthetic blocks to learning. Evanski received his master's degree in music education, his educational specialist and his doctorate degree in general administration and supervision from Wayne State University.