"While the original Small Teaching fills the gap in higher education literature between the primary research in cognitive theory and the classroom environment, this book applies the same foundational research to K-8 classrooms. Small Teaching is characterized by evocative storytelling, designed to convey compelling anecdotes across popular culture and individual schools in order to illustrate the issues, challenges, and opportunities presented in educators' classrooms every day. It offers simple interventions that can be integrated into pre-existing techniques as well as clear descriptions of how to do so. The book provides action items for energizing students that intentionally require minimal preparation and grading. The term "small teaching" refers toan approach that seeks to spark positive change in the classroom through small but powerful modifications to course design and teaching practices. A small teaching approach or activity may take one of three forms: brief classroom or online learning activities, one-time interventions in a course, or small modifications in course design or communication with students. Each chapter introduces a basic concept in cognitive research that has implications for classroom teaching, explains the rationale for offering it within a specific time period in a typical class, and then provides concrete examples of how this intervention has been used or could be used by faculty in a variety of disciplines"--
Cognitive science research-based teaching techniques any educator can implement in their K-8 classroom
In Small Teaching K-8, a team of veteran educators bridges the gap between cognitive theory and the K-8 classroom environment, applying the same foundational research found in author James Lang’s bestselling Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning to the elementary and middle school setting. Via clear descriptions and step-by-step methods, the book demonstrates how to integrate simple interventions into pre-existing pedagogical techniques to dramatically improve student outcomes.
The interventions consist of classroom or online learning activities, one-time additions, or small modifications in course design or communication. Regardless of their form, they all deliver powerful, positive consequences.
In this book, readers will also find:
- Foundational concepts from up-to-date cognitive research that has implications for classroom teaching and the rationales for using them in a K-8 classroom
- Concrete examples of how interventions have been used by faculty in various disciplines
- Directions on the specific timing of each intervention, backed by evidence-based reasons
An essential resource for K-8 educators seeking ways to improve their efficacy in the classroom, Small Teaching K-8 offers teachers intuitive and actionable advice on helping students absorb and retain knowledge for the long-term.
