Power Teaching

[hjh]

Three questions:

1. Is anyone out there doing Power Teaching?

If yes, please keep reading. If no, sorry for wasting your time.

2. Are you within speaking distance to your Korean teacher?

If yes, please keep reading. If no, carry on with facebook.

3. Can you ask your Korean co-teacher if they know of a Korean site that explains Power Teaching, has reviews, and maybe even video? My co-teacher and I want to do it but she's needing either slower explanations in English (the YouTube videos are too fast for her) or a Korean site with more information.

Any info is MUCH appreciated. Thanks!

[RufusW]

Do you power-teach effectively in class?

I looked into it once, seems like an interesting method, but I was never sure of how it translates to TEFL teaching.

[hjh]

Yeah, I've been in a few open classes and the whole T: clap-clap-"Teach", S: clap-clap-"Okay thing is brilliant. It's a great behavioral tool, and is perfect for listen/repeat and having the students teaching each other. I think it's best for kinesthetic learners, and with co-teachers who are adamant on teaching from the book, it's a good way to keep the kids alert.

[RufusW]

I would have thought power teaching would be very rare here.  Usually the 'Japanese' traditional style is favoured.  But hopefully someone can chime in.

I'm jumping on your thread a little, but any chance you could give an extended example?

[isanghan]

http://www.cbcje.go.kr/flow/?ref=board/board.emt&bbs_table=m5_01_03&menu_table=m5_00&page=1&eb_idx=753 (It's a .HWP file).

[ucla_all_the_way]

I just googled "Power Teaching" and read some interesting stuff.

Anyone have any experience using this method in south korea?

[Irishcailin]

I've been power teaching in an elementary school, and while it does take a little longer for students (and my co-teacher) to grasp it, its finally working for me. I just hope they haven't forgotten it all over winter break! 

I use the following in disruptive situations.
Teacher: "class", Students: "Yes" To get their attention and if they are still disruptive I choose one (disruptive) student to come to the top of the class and they lead the class in reciting the class rules.
Leader "Lets review the rules so we don't forget" (some leaders put on funny or deep voices and students answering have to mimic it)
All students "Here we go" (clap clap)
Leader "Rule 1"
All students "Listen when Teacher is talking"

Etc.etc listing off whatever the rules are in your classroom.

It does work to stop them talking, and they have no excuse if they break a rule in class.

We also use the 'hands and eyes' attention grabber, (hands clasped together and eyes on the teacher) especially when they are about to play a game and can't sit still to hear the instructions!

Good luck with it, its worth it if you put the effort in.

[Scooter]

I'm watching the instructional videos on youtube.  I plan to use it starting in March.  I think it will be great.

[glb0b]

I too have just started researching this and I am seriously thinking of using some of it next year for Elementary. I will have to convince my new co-teacher first(!) but I think the Teach Okay would be great for listen and repeat and will also engage the kinesthetic learners more (and these are the ones I personally have the most trouble engaging - not being one myself).

I was reading about it and thought it sounded very much like clowning around but watching the youtube videos I realise that it totally isn't and if it works half as well as those videos show then I think it will be useful.

I am definitely going to use Class yes as my attention grabber next year. I have never been a fan of the one I currently use (given to me by a previous co-teacher).

I will let you know how I get on with it!

[epinephrine9]

It's weird. I've sort of naturally used similar approaches throughout teaching last year without knowing quite what this was. Now that I see a formalized method for it, though, it makes a lot more sense as a teaching strategy.

The things that I've already used have been a lot of getting students to clap when I clap, mimic the way I say certain phrases, and talk to each other in mimic (funny) voices. I'll try putting this into practice in this state and see if I can't make those ...dry... listen and repeat sections more interesting.

[teacherjenni]

Do you power-teach effectively in class?

I looked into it once, seems like an interesting method, but I was never sure of how it translates to TEFL teaching.

instead of searching 'power teaching' try 'power teaching esl' and you get some great examples of it working in the esl classroom.
example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYc-ti6KSlU&feature=related

[atlantic81]

Looks like a great way to learn English... for the younger ones. I don't see this working for 6th graders. Or if there is some adaptation how would you go about it? Are there any examples for teaching this method to older students.

I think it's possible but would demand a lot of extra work and voice power. I like how it's engaging for a long period of time.

Any solutions for 6th graders in this method?

[eggplant_tyrant]

If you're deskwarming and have plenty of spare time, the main power teaching website is wholebrainteaching.com. They have plenty of videos and downloadable ebooks that talk about the method. (Power Teaching is also called Whole Brain Teaching, so looking for that as well might help your google searches.)

[JC49]

This is great. Firts time I've heard of it!!!

[suzettec]

This is really good.  I get to deskwarm all next week and I am looking forward to researching this teaching method more.  I think it can really help my younger... don't want to sit still... students.

[jille86]

Love it! Thanks to OP for bringing up this topic!! I've been using a few things unknowingly that are similar to this; it's super useful!

Yes, if anyone has ideas about how to apply this to Gr. 6.... holla! Actually, with the new school year coming, I wonder if you started this with the new gr. 6's you could get them used to it, and Lord knows they won't enjoy repeating rules so maybe they'll behave better to avoid having to do it? haha, maybe...?!

[michellebond06]

i used...power teaching in my class.

[RufusW]

instead of searching 'power teaching' try 'power teaching esl' and you get some great examples of it working in the esl classroom.

Thanks for the clip.  I understand these techniques are great for reinforcement, but I'd love to see - and will try and find - examples where new language is being introduced.

Grade 6 - I believe a fundamental aspect of power-teaching is that by teaching each other things, students learn quicker and 'deeper'.  But in ESL you aren't explaining things unless it's very high-level students. 

Using power-teaching for classroom control and memorization is one thing, but I'd love to see how it works with new language.

[negacoca]

I tried power teaching for the first time today.  I used it with three fourth grade classes and one sixth grade.  It worked pretty well.  The biggest problem I had was with the "teach-okay."  Many of my new fourth graders are not comfortable talking.  So, even when I told them exactly what to say, which had been repeated several times, about half of the class just sat there.  If I came and talked to them, they could generally answer my questions, but they just weren't ready to make their own sentences.  Perhaps they will get more comfortable as the year goes on. 

With my sixth graders, a bigger problem was that some students treated the "teach-okay" time as a minute where they could get away with talking.  I was unsure about using power teaching for sixth graders, like others on this thread, but I think it will be good.  I didn't have the sixth graders do things like "rolling woo!" or have them repeat, "English is cool!"  I just stuck with "Class-Yes" "Teach-Okay" and "Hands and Eyes."  You can clap more sophisticated rhythms for sixth graders to repeat, which will hopefully keep them more engaged.

[ucla_all_the_way]

i used...power teaching in my class.

I am interested as to why you say "used".  Did not work out?  What happened?  With what grades did you try it with?  What were the problems?

I tried power teaching for the first time today.  I used it with three fourth grade classes and one sixth grade.  It worked pretty well.  The biggest problem I had was with the "teach-okay."  Many of my new fourth graders are not comfortable talking.  So, even when I told them exactly what to say, which had been repeated several times, about half of the class just sat there.  If I came and talked to them, they could generally answer my questions, but they just weren't ready to make their own sentences.  Perhaps they will get more comfortable as the year goes on. 

With my sixth graders, a bigger problem was that some students treated the "teach-okay" time as a minute where they could get away with talking.  I was unsure about using power teaching for sixth graders, like others on this thread, but I think it will be good.  I didn't have the sixth graders do things like "rolling woo!" or have them repeat, "English is cool!"  I just stuck with "Class-Yes" "Teach-Okay" and "Hands and Eyes."  You can clap more sophisticated rhythms for sixth graders to repeat, which will hopefully keep them more engaged.

How much did your co-teacher help in explaining this?  Especially to your 6th grade students?  I think 3rd and 4th would be the easiest to power teach with but I have my reservations for 6th grade.

Has anyone tried to teach the point system?  1 second party, mighty groan, etc.