Joyful Learning: Active and Collaborative Learning in Inclusive Classrooms by Alice Udvari-Solner

by Alice Udvari-Solner

"Finally, a book that describes practical strategies for differentiated, multilevel instruction that includes the full range of children who exist in today's classrooms. A very important and practical text that creates inclusive, democratic communities of learners where students with wide ranges of abilities may learn together at their own level."—J. Michael Peterson, ProfessorWayne State University

"Immediately accessible and usable in any classroom, this incredible compendium of teaching strategies is proof that good teaching benefits all students and that we don't need to isolate students with different learning styles or challenges."—Mara Sapon-Shevin, Professor of Inclusive Education Syracuse University

Create a classroom that is truly responsive to all diverse learners!

This accessible resource for K–12 inclusive classrooms helps teachers create an environment for active and collaborative learning that encourages and supports all students, including those who may have marked differences in ability, need, language, culture, and/or learning profile. Promoting the concept that learners with differing abilities can learn side by side, this book illustrates how to use a practical, differentiated approach to help develop every student's abilities.

Joyful Learning presents a range of strategies that can be used at both the elementary and secondary levels to engage students in discussion, debate, creative thinking, questioning, and teamwork. Providing classroom-tested examples, specific guidelines, and reproducibles, the book provides tools for teachers

Promote relationship building and interdependence Help students teach one another as they make discoveries about course content Support learners in preparing for assessments Engage in whole-class learning while assisting students who need personalized instruction Assess learner understanding and celebrate growth This versatile book can also be used as a co-planning tool by general and special education professionals working with occupational therapists, speech clinicians, and physical therapists to effectively support all students, including English Language Learners and learners with disabilities.

(20070215)

Genres: Teaching

Paperback

First published December 4, 2007

Reviews

[Samuel Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the first books assigned to me to read as part of my graduate studies in teaching and I am beyond empresses by the authors use of research to develop inclusive activities from student comprehension to community building. The way these activities were incorporated with wonderful differentiation tips and worksheet templates makes me so excited to one day have my own classroom!

[Caroline Head · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to have Alice as a professor at UW-Madison. Her course on collaborative teams was one of the best classes I have ever taken. Her teaching style and joy for building teams and understanding our students shines through this book. I highly recommend it!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joyful learning is an awesome book for many uses in the classroom. It is divided into sections, like community building, lectures, collaboration, and assessment. It provides clear and easy to use ways to incorporate more collaboration and movement into lessons you are already teaching. What is so great about this book is the real classroom examples you are given. There are also realistic tools for differentiation with each new teaching method.

I would recommend choosing three or four of your favorite activities and preteaching them to your class. You can then add them in when you feel the kids need a change of pace throughout the year. Some of my favorites are fishbowl tag, walk it to learn it, what is it?, and the paper toss. Definitely recommend checking out this book!

[Jen Brandes · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many ideas. I love this book. Paula is a dynamic speaker and she documents the ideas she modeled in this book.