Getting students to read and interact with their textbook is like trying to nail jello to the wall. However, there are times when this is a necessary evil.
I am fortunate enough to be able to teach in a co-taught class during one of my class periods. The co-teacher and I developed a lesson that we hoped would get students engaged with what they were reading and hopefully get the students to help each other become engaged with the text.
We introduced a ven diagram to the class (an oldie but goodie) and explained to them that half of the class would stay with me and use their text to write down the most important details about the Articles of Confederation. The other half of the class went with the co-teacher to summarize the most important details of the US Constitution. You see, the students are arranged in clusters of four; two would do the Articles and two would do the Constitution.
After ten minutes we reconvened. I collected the ven diagrams from the half that summarized the Articles and said, "Explain to the people across from you the most important parts of the Articles." Then this amazing thing happened; without me telling them they grabbed their textbooks and were telling the people across from them their information and then having the other students read it in the text. There were truly interacting with what they had read. Many times I heard the verbal explanation and then because their partners didn't completely understand they grabbed their book and said, "look here, read this." We waited a few minutes, switched, and had the Constitution students explain their part (without their diagrams).
The class concluded by comparing and contrasting the two documents as a whole. I was shocked by the level of participation and understanding that was demonstrated by virtually every class. It was a joy for me to see how they taught each other and interacted with the text in a much more meaningful way than if they had simply done a work sheet.
To quote Hannibal Smith from the "A-Team", "I love it when a plan comes together!"
There is no way I can top an A-Team quote but I'll try to match it with one by Lou Holtz, "Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it."
ReplyDeleteKudos on a job well done. You were questioning after your stab a week or so ago and I know it was your attitude that brought this activity home. We often forget that even as high school students they are still kids and need both time and direction, as well as an explained and clear level of expectations. You set the stage with all of those in this activity and hit a home run.
And, what I may like even more than your activity, is that you have demonstrated to another adult/teacher/colleague teh value of this activity and hopefully we will see your co-teacher spread it elsewhere.