Learning at AHMS
At Aurora Hills, we use Kagan Structures, which are simple, yet powerful cooperative learning instructional strategies to increase engagement. When students are engaged, they pay attention, they're motivated, they learn more, and the learning sticks. The biggest difference between the Kagan approach and teaching using traditional methods is the ability to engage every student.
Traditional classroom teaching captures the minds and attention of some students, but not all. Good teachers engage more students. But even the best teachers who use traditional instruction don't require every student to participate. With traditional instruction, there is always a subset of students who fall through the cracks. We're all too familiar with the results: a widening gap between high achievers and low achievers. It is an arduous task to create high levels of student engagement for every single student daily, until you have these research based instructional strategies in your repertoire.
The more students interact with their peers and with the curriculum, the more they'll learn. Kagan Structures require every student to participate frequently and equally. Kagan Structures close the achievement gap by creating dramatic gains for struggling students. But the gains are not bought at the expense of high achievers; they too are engaged in a richer, more interactive learning environment. As brain-research is proving, meaningful engagement is just a better way to reach and teach all students.
The power of Kagan Structures is that they distill the best of educational theory and research into very specific, easy-to-use teaching strategies. Supported by a large body of scientific research, and proven effective in countless classrooms, schools, and districts, this revolutionary way to teach is transforming teaching and learning and we are proud to bring it to Aurora Hills.