5 Ingredients for Active Learning

Imagination: I believe people of all ages feel alive when they can explore new ideas and places. It is so important to welcome creativity from the very beginning, and allow children to enjoy learning as an adventure. It is so much fun to introduce different authors and show the children how your imagination can go crazy as you get lost in a great book. By letting your imagination run free you can approach subjects in many different ways, which is beneficial for a diverse array of learning styles.
Communication: Open communication is essential in an active learning environment. Children need to know their voices matter and to feel encouraged to be active in their own learning experiences. It is important for children to communicate with one another, and be in touch with their own feelings and the emotions of others. Communication is important in all forms and needs to be open and clear for an active learning environment. Children need to be able to ask questions and discuss their ideas.
Art and Music: Art and music can be integrated into any subject, and allows children to explore subjects from their own personal perspective. I know from experience that it is much easier to memorize through music, and that can be very helpful when learning letters, states, and math. Allowing children to be hands-on and to get messy, makes every experience much more personal and meaningful.
Security: I believe that creating a safe environment, where everyone feels respected is one of the most important ingredients for an active learning environment. Everyone needs to feel welcome and encouraged, so that they feel comfortable participating and exploring in school activities. School should always be a safe zone, that is there to support children.
Organization: Teachers always need to be prepared and have ideas ready to support the energy levels of the children. Teaching is an active profession and it is important to show the children you respect them, by actively engaging their minds with new ideas and activities. In a classroom setting, learning is a group effort. Teachers need to be organized and have back-up plans ready in case things go differently than planned.
I believe children need to feel significant and respected. When one feels empowered, they are much more likely to participate and care.
I believe teachers should value their profession and hold themselves to high expectations. You can never stop learning as a teacher, and need to be aware of the impact you have on students. It is a very important profession that should be highly valued and taken seriously.
I believe schools should create a strong sense of community. Everyone should feel proud of their school, and know that they are supported by everyone they share the space with. It should be a safe place, that brings children, parents, and teachers together in a proactive way.