Kagan & Structured Literacy
Many schools are currently involved with MOE interventions such as Structured Literacy (SL) and now Structured Maths (SM). While these approaches seem like they stand on their own, when combined with Kagan, there is the potential to elevate them to a whole new level. Given the knowledge-based approach of SL and SM, Kagan’s knowledge building structures are perfect for accessing and improving memorisation, and recall to speed up processing and application. The other powerful aspect of our knowledge-building structures is that students aren’t expected to work in isolation like days of old, where we took home our times tables for the week, to learn them for the Friday test. Rather they are learning with their classmates, teammates or a partner thus fulfilling other needs of the brain - social learning, stimulation, novelty, and verbalisation instead of internalisation.
Adopting Kagan Cooperative Learning and Structured Literacy within your educational practice not only leads to improved academic performance but also cultivates a strong sense of community and belonging within the classroom. Together, they can nurture confident, capable learners who can thrive in today’s ever-evolving educational landscape. By embracing these methodologies, educators can create inclusive and engaging learning environments that prepare students for success in all areas of their lives.
Kagan strategies focus on engagement, safety, and inclusion, encouraging active student participation and positive interactions. By using Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures, teachers can build a lively learning environment that promotes collaboration and boosts student success. These techniques help students work well together, share different ideas, and support each other in their unique learning paths, accommodating various learning styles and needs.
So when you combine Kagan Cooperative Learning and Structured Literacy you can significantly transform the educational experience for every student in your classroom. In short, it’s a win-win.
In the picture below, we have from the left:
RallyCoach (Procedural Learning), Inside-Outside Circle (Knowledge-Building), Quiz-Quiz-Trade (Knowledge-Building)
