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Questioning Exploring Writing in the Middle School. ‘ Welcome!
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Questioning Exploring Writing in the Middle School
‘Welcome! Middle school is when students become engaged readers or slip behind. Shared Inquiry empowers all students to become better readers and thinkers -- starting with their questions and ideas and using collaboration to build defendable interpretations of what they've read. Participate in a Great Books Shared Inquiry discussion about “Wolf” and find out how. Introduction
Program Overview Great Books Roundtable preserves the featuresthat have made Great Books programs uniqueand exciting for more than forty years—a focuson the Shared Inquiry™ method of learning supported by high-quality literature.
We are going to use “Wolf”, with the video that depicts a middle school classroom working on pre-discussion activities, discussing the selection, and completing post-discussion activities including writing. Sample Unit –“Wolf”
Engaging Reluctant and Struggling Readers in the Middle Grades PREREADING QUESTIONS Please tell us who you are and what concerns do you have for struggling /reluctant readers? ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________
Engaging Reluctant and Struggling Readers in the Middle Grades Students who struggle or get bored who: Don’t understand the words Don’t want to speak up in class Are afraid they have the wrong answer Are embarrassed to read aloud _________________________________________ _________________________________________ (what other painful example can you give)
Real Comments from Students Can we do this again tomorrow (a boy) Some times I don’t agree with the class, sometimes I don’t even agree with myself I didn’t like the story at first, but now I see it differently….more differently than everyone else
Roundtable provides a superb framework for teaching the skills of Reading Comprehension Critical Thinking Speaking Vocabulary Writing Skills
The Teacher’s Role As a Shared Inquiry leader, you donot impartinformation or present your own opinions, but guide participants in reaching their own interpretations. You do this by asking thought-provoking questions and by being an active listener.
Questioning TEACHERS -The key to a great discussion is learning how to ask questions. STUDENTS – It is more important to question answers than to answer questions.
Why Interpretive Questions? Allows for different opinions to be accepted or rejected without judgments Builds critical thinking skills by leading students to: develop ideas offer evidence from the text respond to the opinions of others Allows for a student centered discussion sharing ideas from quality literature addressing ideas and issues effecting middle schoolers
Great Books Shared Inquiry An active and collaborative search for answers to questions of meaning presented by a text
Sequence of Questions OPENING QUESTION(1 question) Introduces and explores ideas, topics, and themes FOCUS QUESTION (1 question) Examines a central point of the text CLUSTER QUESTIONS Establishes relevance revolving around the focus question Interprets a passage, explore a quotations, etc. FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS (asked of students to probe and clarify) “Are you saying that...” “Where in the text did you find support for that?” “What do you mean by...” “Tell us more about...” “Do you agree with Sally when she says……”
Materials Roundtable leader Materials include: • Leader's Edition • Audio CDs • CD-ROM • Activity Instruction Cards • Roundtable Road Map • Posters and Bookmarks (The materials also include a student anthology)
Leader’s Steps in Preparing a Selection Read twice and take notes Turn notes & reactions into questions Test for answers and evidence Revise your questions, if needed Select questions for SI Discussion Plan ways to differentiate for your class Always use a seating chart
Teacher’s Preparation STUDY THE STORY FORMULATE QUESTONS REVIEW RULES USE A SEATING CHART Focus Question: ______________________ Answer: _____________________________ What do you mean by______? What do you think of ___’s_idea? DISAGREE AGREE NEW IDEAS QUESTIONS Have you heard an idea you disagree with? Where do you find that in the text?
Discussion of Wolf Discussion of “Wolf” with Teachers Discussion of “Wolf” from Students from Disk
Writing Writing is thinking on paper. Knowing what you think and how to back it up is the first step – the next is the paperwork. SI Discussion prepares students to explore ideas and conclude an evidenced point of view Writing assignments can be differentiated or scored according to abilities (rubrics included on disk & TE) Roundtable included a full featured writing component on CD ROM with tools to differentiate and use across curriculums.
High-quality literature In-depth reading, critical thinking, and writing activities Teaching and learning in stages Differentiated instruction Common Core and 21 Century Alignments Assessment options Standards-and research-based learning Renowned professional development Roundtable Features
DIFFERENCIATION What do all students like to do? TALK IN CLASS What keeps students from feeling uncomfortable? No wrong answers in SI discussions Students talk openly and teaches only ask questions Rules that allow all to participate equally Rules of civility that require acceptance of the opinions of others with the right to respectfully disagree Pace that allows for thinking
What About my Struggling Readers? Reading becomes less lonely and difficult, and more exciting, as they experience the joy of shared discovery. SI discussions work best with a mix class of abilities and opinions Quite (and second language students) become valued for their different and often thoughtful opinions Gifted students learn to see there can be more than their one right answer All students see that the teacher’s answer is not the question Gives struggling students tools and shows the importance of multiple readings, as well as reading aloud Students learn to collaborate to solve problems of meaning and develop their understanding of a text
Shared Solutions What do you see as ideas to share with the group as they struggle with struggling students ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ Double circles, pairing students, ball toss, vocab physical exercises, theater time, tokens to limit # of answers, saving seating charts, etc.
For Teachers . . . Paradigm shift in the way you teach Integration of 21st century skills into curriculum Integration of the reading and writing processes Meeting of New Core and other state standards Assessment of students in order to meet AYP Flexibility to differentiate Roundtable Benefits
For Students . . . Improvement of reading comprehension, critical thinking, speaking and writing skills Growth as independent learners and thinkers Participation in a collaborative classroom Development of cognitive, emotional and social intelligences Opportunity to learn and practice 21st century skills Benefits
For more information contact Marg Mortimer Marg.Mortimer@greatbooks.org 800-222-5870 x7123 or visit our web site at www.greatbooks.org/roundtable For More Information
