Pick and Plan: 100 Brain-Compatible Strategies for Lesson Design

"If you want to energize your teaching, this is the book for you! The research-based content is full of ideas presented in a practical and user-friendly format." -Joanne Cearbaugh, ESL Methods Instructor Taylor University "A wealth of knowledge and practical strategies are packed into this lesson planning book. Teachers will use this informative resource to design quality lessons to reach all learners. This one won't gather dust-it will be that dog-eared, coffee-stained, often-used volume!" -Sandra Hess, Assistant Superintendent Warsaw Community Schools, IN Build your lesson planning collection with this easy-to-use resource! Are you looking for a practical way to infuse your teaching with engaging strategies that are quickly accessible and effective? Wouldn't it be great to have a brain-based reference to help you make informed choices about lesson planning and instruction? In Pick and Plan, Brenda Utter presents a top-notch collection of ready-to-use strategies to help novice and veteran teachers not only energize their lesson planning but also tailor classroom activities to students' individual learning styles. The author reviews the building blocks of the brain, four memory pathways, and current research, and provides brain-compatible approaches that make teaching and learning fun. This all-in-one resource allows you to literally "pick and plan" brain-friendly instruction using: A lesson planning model with five parts: engager, frame, activity, debrief, and story or metaphor 100 classroom-ready, mix-and-match strategies for using mnemonic devices, graphic organizers, manipulatives, and more, based upon how the brain learns and remembers new information Sample lessons that demonstrate each part of the model Featuring research sidebars and a detailed table of contents, this indispensable text will help transform your teaching experience with its easy-to-implement daily lesson planning strategies.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments About the Author Part I. At the Beginning 1. The Building Blocks of the Brain: How We Learn Brain Functions Memory Pathways Part II. The Lesson Plan 2. Engager Strategy 1. Interview: Man on the Street Strategy 2. Who am I? Strategy 3. Reporter Relay Strategy 4. Do You Know Your Neighbor Strategy 5. Corners Strategy 6. Fishbowl Discussion Strategy 7. Fill ′er Up Strategy 8. Word Play Strategy 9. Scavenger Hunt Strategy 10. Dialogue Circles Strategy 11. What′s Missing Strategy 12. Mystery Box Strategy 13. Crossed Wires: Telephone With a Twist Strategy 14. Collaborative Stories Strategy 15. To Tell the Truth Strategy 16. Quick Draw Strategy 17. Categories Strategy 18. Life Boat Strategy 19. Hot Potato With a Twist Strategy 20. Two Truths and a Lie 3. Frame 4. Activity Strategy 21. Writing Strategy 22. Mnemonic Devices Strategy 23. Peer Discussion/Peer Teaching Strategy 24. Graphic Organizers Strategy 25. Storytelling Strategy 26. Guest Speaker Strategy 27. Movement Strategy 28. Role Play Strategy 29. Celebrations Strategy 30. Debate Strategy 31. Music Strategy 32. Reading Strategies Strategy 33. Field Trips Strategy 34. Discovery Learning Strategy 35. Cooperative Learning Strategy 36. Rituals Strategy 37. Novelty Strategy 38. Art and Creativity Strategy 39. Scaffolding Strategy 40. Manipulatives/Models 5. Debrief Strategy 41. Up! Strategy 42. Board Races Strategy 43. Hot Potato With a Twist Strategy 44. Seven Up With a Splash Strategy 45. Jeopardy Strategy 46. Bingo Strategy 47. Cartoons Strategy 48. Each One, Teach Three Strategy 49. Schema Mapping Strategy 50. Turn to Your Neighbor Strategy 51. Interview the Expert Strategy 52. Alphabet Summaries Strategy 53. Bumper Stickers Strategy 54. Newsbreak! Strategy 55. Top Ten Strategy 56. Hot Dog Strategy 57. Give Them the Finger Strategy 58. Circle Stories Strategy 59. Concentration Strategy 60. Flyswatter 6. Metaphor and Story 7. How to Mix a Group Strategy 61. Playing Cards: Color (Two Groups) Strategy 62. Playing Cards: Suit (Four Groups) Strategy 63. Playing Cards: Number Strategy 64. Playing Cards: Number and Color Strategy 65. Birthday Line-up Strategy 66. Birthday Week Strategy 67. Numbered Craft Sticks Strategy 68. Color of Clothing Strategy 69. Volunteers Strategy 70. Physical Attributes Strategy 71. Hobbies Strategy 72. Collections Strategy 73. Last Number of Phone Number Strategy 74. Last Letter of Name Strategy 75. Four Corners Strategy 76. Picture Match Strategy 77. Proverbs Strategy 78. Opposites Strategy 79. Synonyms Strategy 80. Categories 8. Breaks/Energizers Strategy 81. Foot/Arm Spin Strategy 82. Same/Different Pictures Strategy 83. Indoor Volleyball Strategy 84. Name Game Strategy 85. Isometrics Strategy 86. Simon Says Strategy 87. Hand Slap Strategy 88. Jumping Jacks Strategy 89. Criss-Cross Strategy 90. Follow the Leader Strategy 91. Line Dancing Strategy 92. Stretching Strategy 93. Toss Across Strategy 94. Juggling Strategy 95. Jacks Strategy 96. Gotcha! Strategy 97. Rhythm Strategy 98. Kick the Can: Desk Style Strategy 99. Silent Ball Strategy 100. Have a Ball! Appendix A. Lesson Plan Samples Appendix B. Elements of Activities References Index

Review :
"A wealth of knowledge and practical strategies are packed into this lesson planning book. Teachers will use this informative book to design quality lessons to reach all learners. This one won′t gather dust; it will be that dog-eared, coffee-stained, often-used volume!" "Using a four-part model and field-tested teaching strategies, Utter has developed a mix-and-match format for creating an endless variety of dynamic, brain-friendly lesson plans." "If you really want to energize your teaching, this is the book for you. The research-based content is full of ideas presented in a practical and user-friendly format." "it is refreshing to have ideas that will help me tap into new strategies for organizing my lesson plans to help my students learn." "Presents an activities-based workbook to teachers, offering strategies to tailor classroom activities to students′ individual learning styles and needs. Sample lessons and sidebars of information accompany classroom-specific routines and suggestions gleaned from real-world applications that work."