Be GLAD Hip Pocket Tools
We've found considerable success supporting all students with our trademarked Hip-Pocket Tools. These are 7 key practices that can be used with any instruction with little to no prep and with almost no materials needed. They are very teacher friendly. Almost all of our award-winning strategies employ some if not all of the tools.
The 7 Hip Pocket tools will increase engagement and interaction with any activity (GLAD or otherwise). If used often enough, you'll create a classroom full of productive energy with a very low affective filter.
Hip Pocket Tool | Explanation |
|---|---|
10/2 Discussions | These are times for students to discuss, negotiate, or relate to any newly presented material. By making sure we as teachers only provide direct instruction for less than 10 minutes, our students will be able to attend to the lesson with more focus. Short and sweet then time for students to process. |
Color Coding & Shape coding | Connect ideas by color coding them to show categories and relationships. Shapes can be used in the same way. It'll help your students build better connections. And as cognitive psychologists have found connections create intelligence. |
Citing Source | We focus on process so with any student response we'll ask them to talk through their thought process on how they arrived at their response. It moves away from recall, restate responses to responses that focus on their metacognition. |
"Say it with me." & "Read it with me." | With any new language, vocabulary, or challenging concept, we'll have students repeat the language with us. This facilitated oral practice increases their engagement and provides critical opportunities to learn pronunciation and encourages taking a risk using new academic language. |
Visuals & Sketches | When we present new academic language, vocabulary, and challenging concepts, we'll add a quick sketch or visual to represent the idea. It targets another form of intelligence, improves memory, and increases comprehension. Sketches should be quick and easy (e.g. stick figures are great). |
Hand Gestures | ASL (American Sign Language), TPR (Total Physical Response), Hand gesture - As with Tool 2, we will add a gesture to visually represent key vocabulary and academic language. It helps with memory and helps get the fidgets out in a productive way. |
Co-Construct | By co-constructing or co-creating an input chart or direct instruction with and in front of students, you are taking advantage of Neurological Imprinting. This will help keep the new information being presented in long-term memory. |
By using these simple 7 Hip-Pocket Tools, your students will learn more efficiently and enthusiastically.
Author
Be GLAD
Share this post
Related Articles
Nurturing Empathy through the Suzy Strategy (Social Emotional Learning)
The Suzy strategy is a wonderful time time to discuss social issues, opinions, or subjects as a whole class, in small groups, or with a partner. It is designed for student-student bonding, respect, & understanding.
Cultivate a Growth Mindset- The Power of "Yet"
A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. It's the idea that with effort, learning, and perseverance, we can improve and grow. In contrast, a fixed mindset sees abilities as innate traits – you either have them or you don't.
Increasing Language Production in the Classroom
Take a moment to think about your own classroom. How often are your students using high academic language in their reading, writing and speaking? Research shows that the first step to reading and writing academic language is producing it orally.
