Step 6-Have students participate in structured conversations
QSSSA!
QSSSA!
Question:
How has this strategy worked for your students?
Signal:
Tell your teammate you have tried it!
Stem:
I tried the QSSSA. What I liked was , but I have questions about .
Share:
Share with your team.
Assess:
If you are a Valley Oaks Teacher, make sure to post on this page!
I am using the QSSSA in class to make sure all students are participating and are able to share information with their neighbor. I will ask a question and have students hold up a finger when they have an answer. This way I can check to see if all students have an answer. I will then have them turn and share with their neighbor, using the sentence stem, giving all students the opportunity to hear ideas and information from others . Also, I will be using wipe boards, so that students can write responses and when markers are down, I know that they have an answer. Once students have turned and talked with neighbors, I will call on a student to share their answer, possibly sparking new thoughts in others.
ReplyDeleteI am using QSSSA throughout my social studies lesson. I will pose a question and usually have them hold up their pencil once they have completed their sentence stem. I will have them turn to a partner and read their response or share in their table groups of 6 one at a time. I will then roll a dice from 1-6 and whatever number it lands on those students from each table group will stand up and share their response. One question i have that has happened numerous times during activities like this is what if more students want to share?
ReplyDeleteI like using the QSSSA in my lessons because it gives the students guidance in how to answer the questions. Many times, in 2nd grade the students need more processing time and as they use the structured sentences, they are able to think about the question that was asked. When we were discussing story elements, the students were able to share and think with partners using structured sentences in identifying the rising action, climax and resolution in the story Officer Buckle and Gloria. I liked how it helped guide the students as they are expected to respond using complete sentences and it also gives them time to process their thinking.
ReplyDeleteI'm seeing how the structure of QSSSA assists me in making questions purposeful, and it also helps ensure that they continue to communicate in complete sentences using a stem as needed. I love how it combines previous steps with these five steps. I am currently using this strategy in math and science, and it really lends itself well to group-work time with white boards and experiments. I feel like we ask questions, discuss in small-groups and assess through oral and/or written participation. However, by using QSSSA, I am seeing how every student participates and engages with more self-confidence due to the sentence stems and time to share with peers.
ReplyDeleteI used this strategy in science when reviewing for out upcoming science test. It was really great to see the kids discussing in their group and making sure everyone was on the same page, so that when I called on a random number, everyone felt comfortable answering.
ReplyDeleteFor most children, pre-k is their first school experience. So I teach what sharing means and different ways we can share information. We talk about different ways we could pick a partner and how to sharing information. At the beginning of school we practice a lot. After they get the idea of what sharing information with a partner look like, them I start using this strategy. Right now we are using elbow partners and are practicing one person telling the other what they think then the other person responding. In time,I hope to be using this strategy more and more with the children feeling comfortable about responding with their peers.
ReplyDeleteI like using this strategy. One time, I asked students a question about a science investigation. I wanted to lead their thinking to drawing a conclusion. I gave them a sentence stem for starters, and they wrote a short response in their science journal. Each raised a hand when the writing was done. Then I had them share with each other at the desk group. After that, they had to walk to the other side of the room and share with an individual over there. When that sharing was done, I asked students to raise their hands and share interesting comments they heard in their discussions. I observed stimulated discussions and enthusiasm for finding someone new to talk to. Even the quiet ELL students were talking because they chose other students who didn't make them feel threatened.
ReplyDelete