Jordan Cox

If they can't learn the way we teach, we teach the way they learn (O. Ivar
Lovaas) My biggest goal as a teacher is to make sure every student is learning and

understanding the material. I will use many different techniques in my lessons in

order to make sure every student is learning the content. I will use cooperative
learning to address with Kagans four crises that our nation is facing. (Kagan2009) I
will focus on the seven critical factors in the learning process to provide my
students with the knowledge they need to succeed. (Jensen2005) I will use
movement in my classroom to strengthen learning, improve memory and retrieval,
and enhance learner motivation and morale. (Jensen) I will use reading workshop in
my classroom with hope of creating a love for books in my students. (Miller) Most
importantly, I will encourage equity in excellence for all leaners in my classroom.
(publication, 1997)
Cooperative learning is an amazingly effective classroom technique because
it can fit into every lesson plan! (Kagan) In cooperative learning, students will learn
together and work together, but receive individual grades. (Kagan) Our nation is
facing four main crises: achievement crisis, achievement gap crisis, race relation
crisis, and social skills crisis. (Kagan) Cooperative learning can help decrease the
majority of these crises by creating a classroom with no tolerance for discrimination.
By breaking my students up into heterogeneous groups, they will not have the
option of excluding a classmate based on race, sex, ethnicity, social skills, etc. By
doing this, students will be able to work with students whom they would not
normally group with. Cooperative learning will help decrease racial tension and
discrimination. Cooperative learning provides students with a way of learning from
one another. Some students will benefit from learning the material in a way only
their peers can provide.

Jordan Cox
The seven critical factors, according to Jensen, in the learning process are:
engagement, repetition, input quantity, coherence, timing, error correction, and
emotional states. (Jensen) Each of the seven critical factors in the learning process
more often are a function of the brain design than what the environmental factors.
(Jensen) I will make my lesson plans in a way that causes all of my students to
become engaged. I will incorporate repetition throughout my lesson plans to provide
multiple opportunities for my students to comprehend the information. I will use
input quantity to plan my lessons in a way that will not bombard them with
information. I will use coherence by providing past information they already know to
help learn the new material. I will incorporate timing by providing my class with at
least three activity shift per hour. Error correction is the most important critical
factor because getting enough good quality, accurate feedback is the greatest
variable for improved learning. I will use emotional states in my classroom by
making sure my students feel safe, and comfortable with making mistakes. Also, I
will use websites like Go Noodle in my classroom for movement to help give my
students a brain break. I will use movement as a way of getting blood and oxygen
moving throughout their brain, to help get their brain stimulated and ready for the
lesson. (Jensen)
I will have a readers workshop in my classroom. (Miller) Reader workshop
will incorporate the element of choice into my students life. We will have daily
reading time, because reading is ultimately one of the best ways for students to
learn good vocabulary. Students will be able to choose the books that they get to
read. Having the choice of reading what they want will help student think of reading
as less of a chore and more as a reward. Most importantly, creating a theme of
equity in excellence in all learners in my classroom will make every student feel

Jordan Cox
important. (TCP) I will be respectful and sensitive to all learners, but I will also
encourage the use of all their skills and talents.
Using many different techniques in my teaching strategies is how I will
become a successful teacher. By incorporating cooperative learning into the
classroom, my students will work together and help with the four crisiss that our
nation is facing. By using all seven critical factors into my teaching, my students will
have a well-rounded educational experience. By using movement, my students will
receive an increase of blood flow and oxygen to their brain. By using readers
workshop in my classroom, I will bring out each students love for reading and books.
By building my classrooms theme around equity in excellence for all learners, I will
be able to respond to all of the diverse groups of learners. These techniques
together will help built a positive learning environment for all of my students.

References
Jensen, E. (2005). Teaching with the brain in mind. Alexandria: ASCD.
Kagan, S., & Kagan, M. (2009). Cooperative Learning. San Clemente: Kagan
Publishing.
Miller, D. (2009). The Book Whisperer. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass: A Wiley Imprint.
publication, S. (1997). LEARNER-CENTERED SCHOOLS FOR TEXAS. Retrieved from
LEARNER-CENTERED SCHOOLS FOR TEXAS:
https://www4.esc13.net/uploads/pdas/docs/LearnerCenteredSchools.pdf