The Active Classroom: Practical Strategies for Involving Students in the Learning Process

About the Book

Promote learning that is purposeful, engaging, brain-compatible, spontaneous, reflective, and fun for everyone! This resource shows teachers how to turn passive students into enthusiastic participants in their own learning. Emphasizing that students must be actively involved in the learning process if their classroom experience is to lead to deeper understanding and the building of lasting new knowledge, the author illustrates how teachers can be facilitators who:

- Establish a safe climate for learning -Create an interactive environment that nurtures discussion and interdependent learning

-Manage movement in the classroom

-Teach to all learning modalities

-Incorporate visuals, storytelling, and technology

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Rich Allen Preface Acknowledgments About the Author 1. Creating the Right Environment 2. Incorporating Structured Conversations 3. Managing Movement in the Classroom 4. Using Music to Facilitate Process 5. Presenting With Confidence 6. Teaching to All Modalities 7. Using Visuals and Technology 8. Unlocking Doors With Storytelling 9. Considering the New Reality and Practical Applications 10. Planning for the Active Classroom Appendix A: The Active Classroom at a Glance Appendix B: Elementary/Middle School Language Arts Lesson Plan References Index

About the Author :
Consulting Description See Ron's Presenter Profile Here! Ron Nash is the author of the Corwin bestseller The Active Classroom (2008), along with The Active Teacher (2009), and The Active Mentor (2010). Nash's professional career in education has included teaching social studies at the middle and high school levels. He also served as an instructional coordinator and organizational development specialist for the Virginia Beach City Public Schools for 13 years. In that capacity, Nash conducted workshops and seminars for thousands of teachers, administrators, substitute teachers, and teacher assistants. In 2007, he founded Ron Nash and Associates, Inc., a company dedicated to helping teachers shift students from passive observers to active participants. Download Ron Nash's product brochure "I was blown away at the conference and can't wait for the new school year to start so I can try all of the new ideas I received!" -Audra Bounds, Teacher Frederick County, VA "This was the best workshop I have EVER attended!" -Dawn Carter, Teacher Augusta County, VA "After teaching for 16 years, I was looking for inspiration and I found it. I'm excited to incorporate the innovative strategies Ron shared with me. The best part is the strategies are completely practical and doable." -Joanne Jimney, Teacher Chesapeake, VA "Your three-hour presentation was fabulous! When teachers give a standing ovation, this is the kind of program that will impact their daily teaching repertoire. Yours is an in-service that impacts how teachers engage students." -Patsy Slaughter, Elementary Principal Virginia Beach "This day reminded me why I became and love being a teacher." -Juli Weatherby, Teacher Chesapeake, VA "Attending Ron Nash's workshop changed my whole style of teaching. The tools I gained have rekindled my love for teaching and my students' love of learning." -Amber O'Malley, Second-Grade Teacher Austin, TX "As one of my colleagues stated about your professional development offering to us, "Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!" - Linda Emerick, High School English Teacher Wilmington, DE

Review :
"Filled with a number of great examples, reader-friendly explanations and guidance, and valuable strategies. The author shares the key ingredients for creating active, interactive classrooms and powerful, engaging presentations." "Any teacher or presenter in a group setting would find the clearly organized information immediately useful. I am anxious to try some of these ideas in my own classroom, and I believe that teachers would respond very positively to professional development on the topic of presentation skills." "Provides a plethora of valuable strategies, activities, and presentation techniques that will enhance teaching and learning. If teachers really desire classroom improvement, they will want to read this book!" "Incorporates relevant ideas with simple solutions. The ideas are easy to implement, simply requiring an awareness of what one is doing to shift to a more interactive environment." "Teachers will find what they need to know all in one place. I teach middle school and have taught adults as well, and I found wonderful tidbits of information that I could immediately put into practice in both situations, which is rare." "An accessible, inclusive, short, and to-the-point rendering of recent research and practice that promotes the sort of classroom that I appreciate. This book is a reader-friendly compilation of teaching strategies that are brain-based and that promote active learning, interactive learning environments, and the inclusion of all learning modalities." "Nash's passion for teaching is on every page. This is a handbook for both beginning and veteran teachers who want to invigorate their teaching, motivate their students, and have fun along the way." "Picture confident learners in joyful classrooms, and you'll have a sense of what this book offers. Based on a sound foundation of current research, Nash illuminates a rich variety of methods for energizing learners and learning. His approach to creating student-centered classrooms is practical and accessible for both new and experienced teachers."