When you are ready for your class to teach each other, explain that you want the ones to teach the twos. When you call out "Switch", they should respond "Switch!" Then the twos will teach the ones. Thus, you are guaranteed that every student in class is equally involved in speaking and listening.
A key feature of this interaction is that both the talkers and the listeners should be using gestures. The talkers illustrate what they are saying with gestures and the listeners, so that they stay focused, sillently mirror the talker's gestures.
As students teach each other, walk around the room and either praise or prompt each group. When both partners are gesturing, praise them. If one or both partners are not gesturing, prompt them by saying, "Please use gestures."
If you’ve read through all the articles in this menu, “First Steps,” then you’ve learned about Whole Brain Teachings “Big Seven,” our core instructional techniques.
- Class-Yes
- Five Classroom Rules
- Teach-Okay
- The Scoreboard
- Hands and Eyes
- Mirror
- Switch!
Now, go on to the “Levels” menu and discover how we’ve structured our classroom management system like a video game!
