I have used the Bystander activity to encourage conversation with deeper understanding in science. The students like to use microphones I made out of a tennis ball and toilet paper tube. In math, I do something similar to Slide Show when I have students act out a story problem. I use Vocabulary Art Show in science. Students remember content words better when they create a visual of them. Classmates ooh and aah during the gallery walk because the girls who love to use colored markers get very elaborate with their vocabulary art work. Or I let students put their work under the camera to explain the illustration to the class. Part 2 has other activities that seem like they would make learning really fun while encouraging thinking and speaking.
After reading over several of the activities I am looking forward to using the Letter/Response activity in my social studies lessons. This reminds me of when we do journal entries about a certain topic. For example, after reading and learning about the Texas explorer Cabeza de Vaca I will have them write a journal entry as a crew member part of his expedition. I can use this activity and have them write a letter to the explorer and then have another student respond. I think the kids will enjoy receiving a letter back and critiquing how their letters were then responded back. I think it will help students to be more thoughtful in their writing because they know they will be receiving feedback about their letter.
I also love the "letter/response" activity! Sometimes the best way to get students to take ownership and responsibility for their work/writing is to make it known that it will be "published" or seen by others. Particularly when they know a classmate will see their work, they take ownership of it in a new way because they want to show what they know! When I have students write and respond to each other, I see a better execution of work than when they know it will just be me reading and grading.
I have used the Bystander activity to encourage conversation with deeper understanding in science. The students like to use microphones I made out of a tennis ball and toilet paper tube. In math, I do something similar to Slide Show when I have students act out a story problem. I use Vocabulary Art Show in science. Students remember content words better when they create a visual of them. Classmates ooh and aah during the gallery walk because the girls who love to use colored markers get very elaborate with their vocabulary art work. Or I let students put their work under the camera to explain the illustration to the class. Part 2 has other activities that seem like they would make learning really fun while encouraging thinking and speaking.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading over several of the activities I am looking forward to using the Letter/Response activity in my social studies lessons. This reminds me of when we do journal entries about a certain topic. For example, after reading and learning about the Texas explorer Cabeza de Vaca I will have them write a journal entry as a crew member part of his expedition. I can use this activity and have them write a letter to the explorer and then have another student respond. I think the kids will enjoy receiving a letter back and critiquing how their letters were then responded back. I think it will help students to be more thoughtful in their writing because they know they will be receiving feedback about their letter.
ReplyDeleteI also love the "letter/response" activity! Sometimes the best way to get students to take ownership and responsibility for their work/writing is to make it known that it will be "published" or seen by others. Particularly when they know a classmate will see their work, they take ownership of it in a new way because they want to show what they know! When I have students write and respond to each other, I see a better execution of work than when they know it will just be me reading and grading.
ReplyDelete