High-Five Teaching, K–5: Using Green Light Strategies to Create Dynamic, Student-Focused Classrooms

by Rich Allen (Editor)

Transform your classroom into a dynamic learning environment for all students! Focusing on engaging students through brain-based teaching practices, this resource provides practical ideas and implementation strategies for putting the principles of Green Light classrooms into practice. Tuned to the way today’s students learn best, this book

208 pages, Paperback

First published August 23, 2010

Reviews

[I Contain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rich Allen's theory about teaching kids is interesting and at least mostly true in my opinion. Allen believes that a classroom should be fun. He believes that we spent a lot of time and energy trying to get kids to sit down and get quiet when in fact we should be harnessing and using that energy. Instead of "building up dams" we should be "riding the wave". Allen offers several sample lessons that help to illustrate his philosophy. The lessons are fun and engaging, offering students a chance to play, talk, and move around.

I am a huge Rich Allen fan having seen him speak this year. He has great ideas and does really make a great case for making the learning environment a "freeing" place. On the other hand, Mr. Allen's plans often require a great deal of preparation as well as materials that I know MY campus would not purchase for me (Such as "doctor's coats" for a lesson about "sick sentences"). Even though I loved the book and plan to try a lot of these things in my classroom next year, the lack of realism kind of dampened my enjoyment of the book. Perhaps I will revise my review after a year of trying these strategies.

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loses a point for the amount of sample lessons involving food. It's a motivating book.