Special Article

A Teacher and Principal's Perspective of Kagan Structures

Linda Glass – First Grade Teacher, Fairfield West Elementary, Fairfield, OH
Kim Wotring – Principal, Fairfield West Elementary, Fairfield, OH

To cite this article: Glass, L., Wotring, K. A Teacher and Principal's Perspective of Kagan Structures San Clemente, CA: Kagan Publishing. Kagan Online Magazine, Winter 2014. www.KaganOnline.com

A Teacher's Perspective

I have been teaching for 18 years and nothing has excited me the way teaching with Kagan Cooperative Structures has! Everyday as my students interact and work together I wonder….”Why didn’t I learn about this in my college classes…bachelors or masters?” I can’t imagine going back to traditional teaching!”

I love seeing my students working together and praising each other! Recently, I had my class RallyRobin reading with their shoulder partner the story we had just listened to and choral read. As I walked through the class listening to them read I came to one set of partners where one little guy was having a hard time with a lot of the words. As I got closer I could hear his partner very patiently giving him hints (tips) as to how to figure out the word. When he finally read the word she patted him on the back and said “Good job!” I wanted to cry with joy! This is was what I have been hoping for! A class that is invested in each other succeeding…..not complaining that “He/she is too slow!”

This is was what I have been hoping for! A class that is invested in each other succeeding…..not complaining that
"He/she is too slow!"

Since I began implementing Kagan Structures into my lessons, I have seen the behavior in my class improve. The first year (3 years ago) that I started using the structures I had a class with several “difficult clients.” I went to my first Kagan Workshop in the early spring and went back to my class and immediately started implementing the structures. When two of my most difficult students kept interrupting and hindering the teamwork I took the advice of the workshop presenter and moved them to an “island” of their own. They quickly learned that being in a team is much more fun and their behavior improved! By the end of the year, they were seated with a team and working together with the members. I was more than pleased! These students improved their own self-concept and helped others learn all because of Kagan Structures.

My school is now the “Pilot” school for Kagan Cooperative Learning in our district. I am so excited to share this excellent way of learning and teaching with my peers and staff throughout our district.

A Principal's Perspective

As the principal of Fairfield West Elementary School I have the opportunity to see many different teachers on a daily basis helping children succeed. Our school’s student population is 40% economically disadvantaged and 20% minority. When I walk into a classroom and the teacher is implementing a Kagan Structure into his/her lesson, the learning climate feels different, in a really amazing way. I just want to scream, “Yes! This is exactly what I want to see! I could stay in here and watch this learning take place all day long!” The children, regardless of their differences, are positively interacting with each other. They are learning from one another, cheering and praising one another, and actively engaged and excited about what they’re learning. This gets me very excited because I strongly believe that the more the students are interacting with their peers and with the curriculum at the same time, the more they will learn.

The day after a Kagan training, teachers were immediately implementing what they learned into their classrooms with their students and were having fun doing it!

It is important to note that Kagan Structures are just simple teaching techniques that can be implemented into any grade level, any curriculum, and are scientifically researched. Our school is a preschool through grade 4 building and all six grade levels have experienced success using Kagan Structures. What the teachers and I like the most is that it can be immediately implemented into almost any lesson. The day after a Kagan training, teachers were immediately implementing what they learned into their classrooms with their students and were having fun doing it!

Kagan Cooperative Learning is not a program that tells you what to teach, but gives teachers structures to help with how to teach and reach all students. So regardless of what curriculum changes come our way (because we know those changes happen, especially as we move towards new standards), Kagan can still be used. No matter what changes come our way, great teachers will still be needed and when teachers use Kagan Structures they are instantly improving the learning that is happening. When Kagan Structures are used, I have seen it turn a mediocre teacher into a good teacher, a good teacher into a great teacher, and the really great teachers… they get the gratification that they have been doing it right all along. The money that we spent on Kagan training and coaching is hands down the best budget decision that I have made as an administrator in regards to teacher professional development. Kagan cooperative learning has transformed how our teachers teach and how our students learn in a very powerful and positive way! I recommend it to any school that wants ALL of their students to achieve at high levels academically and socially. It is absolutely amazing!