Kagan Structures for K-12

Facilitator: Dr. Bruce Ellis (@DrBruceEllis) |https://ly.tcea.org/kagan

Kagan has identified many engaging (and research-based) ways to make learning stick. We'll share a few of our favorites that you can try with your students.

Who is Kagan?

Dr. Spencer Kagan is an author and keynote speaker in the field of education and psychology. He was a clinical psychologist and full-time professor of psychology and education at various universities prior to starting his publishing company. His research focuses on establishing harmonious classrooms, promoting responsible behavior, improving students' social skills, character qualities, and academic achievement.

What is a structure?

According to Kagan's website, a 'structure' is an instructional strategy designed to promote cooperation and communication in the classroom, boost students' confidence, and retain their interest in classroom interaction. Typically the strategy is placed inside a protocol that gives 'structure' to help ensure focus and on-task behavior. Besides having a large book of structures, he has also grouped content-specific structures together based on which are more appropriate for specific content areas.

Articles & Resources

🥇 Leadership Library

"This collection of articles is for administrators and other instructional leaders interested in boosting student engagement and learning with Kagan's approach to teaching. You will find administrator tips, informative articles connecting Kagan to other educational initiatives, and articles by fellow administrators celebrated for their achievements by implementing Kagan at their school or district."

📑 Kagan's Online Magazine

Read the most current issue of Kagan's Online Magazine. Learn about Administrator and Teacher Tips. One structure is featured and discussed in depth to help you implement it with fidelity; you'll find the benefits outlined and the steps of the structure clearly laid out with ideas to implement it across the curriculum!

💬 From Kagan Himself...

Besides reading articles by Dr. Kagan about his structures, you'll also learn his thoughts on cooperative learning, the brain, character development, and more!

Kagan Cooperative Learning

Though the date of this book is 2009, you'll find LOTS of strategies to get your students engaged. This 484-page book will be useful to refer to and share with your colleagues.

You can purchase this online at Kagan's main website or find a used copy online.

Chapter 6 focuses on structures. Though only 25 structures are addressed in this book, Kagan has more than 200 structures that have been designed to help teachers/students.

Here is just one video giving a thumbnail sketch of some of the Kagan strategies.

Click the YouTube icon below to view more video tips and tutorials.

Kagan structures for thinking skills

Based on the thinking skill that you are wanting your students to practice (or what skill might be involved in learning a particular concept), here is a chart that shares possible structures to consider. You can find this chart as part of the article Kagan Structures for Thinking Skills.

A few hightlighted structures

Carousel Feedback

Teams Stand By Projects
Teams Rotate and Observe
Teams Share and Discuss
Team Rep Writes Feedback
Teacher Calls Time
Teams Rotate
Continue Rotating with New Team Rep Each Time
Teams Review Feedback They Received

Inside/Outside Circle

Students stand in anticipation, waiting for the teacher to call a number. They begin to rotate, wondering which classmate will be their next partner for sharing or problem solving.

1. Students Form Circles - Students stand in two concentric circles around the classroom. Students in the inside circle face out, facing a partner standing in the outside circle.

2. Student Shares with Partner - Have students from the inside circle share something with their partners. "Inside circle students discuss what you did this Saturday afternoon with your partner. You have one minute."

3. Reverse Roles - Students switch roles. The outside circle students now share while their partners listen. "Outside circle students, it is your turn to share for one minute."

4. Students Rotate - Have students rotate to work with new partners. "Everyone in the class face your partner. Now, make a right face and count out loud as you all rotate four people ahead to a new partner."

Repeat: Students discuss different topics each time they rotate to different partners.

Numbered Heads Together

After writing their own answer to a question, teammates put their "heads together" to ensure all members can answer.

The teacher then calls a number and students with that number share their answers.

Quiz-Quiz-Trade

Using question cards, students quiz a partner, get quizzed by a partner, and then trade cards to repeat the process with a new partner.

Rally Coach

First problem: Partner A works it out while Partner B checks and coaches.

A- Say it
B- Okay it
A- Write it
B- Praise it

Switch roles for next problem. Repeat.

Showdown

One teammate reads a question aloud. Students work independently to solve the problem, then show their answers when a teammate calls, "Showdown!" They then celebrate or coach.

What can you find?

Now it is your turn to search for a structure and share what you find. Search for one of the structures in the lists below and use it in your search query as:

[ Kagan structure name-of-structure ]

Share the name of the structure and a link or description of it on the chat.

4S Brainstorming
Agree-Disagree Line-ups
Carousel Review
Choral Practice
Choral Response
Circle-the-Sage
Consensus Seeking
Corners
Create A Window
Fan-N-Pick
Find-the-Fiction
Find-The Fib
Guess-the-Fib
Find Someone Who
People Hunt
First to Five
Flashcard Game
Gambits
Draw-a-Gambit
Drop-a-Gambit
Give-One, Get-One
Guided Discussion
Inside-Outside Circles

Instant Star
Jigsaw
Journal Reflections
Journey Wall
Logic Lineups
Mix-Pair-Share
Number Group Presentation
Numbered Heads Together
One Stray
Pairs Check
Pairs Compare
Partners
Placemat Consensus
Poems for Two Voices
Quiet Signal
Quiz-Quiz-Trade
RallyRobin
Rally Table
Response Mode Discussion

Round Robin
Sage & Scribe
Send-A-Problem
Showdown
Show Me!
Simultaneous Round Table
Spin-N-Think
Stir-the-Class
Sum-the-Ranks
TakeOff-TouchDown
Team-Pair-Solo
Team Presentations
Team Projects
Teams Post
Team Stand-N-Share
Team Word Webbing / Mind Mapping
Think-Pair-Share
Three Stray
Timed-Pair-Share
Turn Toss
Whip

Additional Resources Shared by Webinar Attendees