This blog is to share collaborative classroom ideas...hence the address :) I am sure with all of us sharing on here we will each take back some great ideas to our own classrooms.
Am I the first to post a comment or am I just not seeing everyone else's? One collaborative project we do is a Historical Fiction Unit. It hits on research and writing and collaboration. We put the students into small groups of 3-4. Together they research historical events and decide which they'll research and write a story based on the event. They do the research, compile the information, and brainstorm a storyline for a fictional tale. Then the students write the story together. After turning in their story, they create a presentation and present the similarities and differences between the historical facts and the fictional details. It's interesting because the students start to get sick of one another, so we get to add the life lesson of cooperation and working closely with a group for an extended amount of time.
I have a few ideas for both students and teachers. First, I use Literature Circles in both my 7th and 8th grade classrooms. Students are split into groups of 3-4 (based on genre interest/reading levels). Over the past three years I have began a personal library of books, and student choose from that. It takes some time to build this library because I need 3-5 copies of each book and not just one. Once students choose their book for the group, they then set some target goals for finishing the entire book. Once they have set up their goals, we are then ready for weekly assignments. Each group meets on Mondays and assigns their desired reading. Finally, they must choose their "jobs" for each week. There are four jobs to choose from: Passage Picker, Character Captain, Super Summarizer, and Discussion Director. It is the individuals duty to complete their job by Friday or the end of the week. Fridays are geared towards sharing the assigned reading and going through each students job. We try to take five minutes on Mondays and twenty of Fridays. Hopefully this group work allows everyone to see the book from a different perspective.
Collaborative work does not just have to be for the students. The American History teacher and I work together teaching the Revolutionary War. We barely scratched the surface this year (more time in PLCs will help us), but he taught his RW unit the same time I taught "Woods Runner" by Gary Paulsen. "Woods Runner" is a fictional novel that depicts the violence and details of the RW through a young boy's eyes. After each chapter is some brief information about the different aspects or people that were involved during that time or war (weapons, spies, Hessians, Native Americans, etc.). Hopefully this will become even bigger and we can incorporate some project ideas or more common assessments.
Jordan it is fun to read about junior high students reading circles. We do this in first grade, but it is much different!
Every week we have 4 mini stories. 3 of them are their own book, and one is a phonics story in a phonics book. We too break down into groups of about 4. In groups they read the story and then answer the questions at the back of the book. I always find it interesting to walk around and hear them read. There is always someone in a group who likes to help or correct mispronounced words.
When we have time, not always on the same day, we get back together as a big group, and go over the questions again. This allows me the opportunity to make sure everyone hears the "right" answer and allows the students to share those answers about their own experiences with the entire class. ~In first grade we love to talk about ourselves!
I also agree with you that collaborative work doesn't just refer to students. 2 years ago a group of us got together and read the book What great teachers do differently. We met a few times and blogged a few times. This past year, I met with another first grade teacher via the computer and we went over some teaching ideas and strategies together. We brainstormed how to meet the new core standards. Great post Jordan.
In health education, I give my students plenty of opportunities to work collaboratively. They usually like working together and produce good work too. The main things they do together are role-plays, recorded skits, PowerPoint presentations, posters, group discussion and activities. Usually with anything they do as a group, they have to present their findings or summarize/reflect in front of the rest of the class. I do this as it is a way that they can show me that they've mastered the learning target(s) of the activity and also to improve their public speaking.
Am I the first to post a comment or am I just not seeing everyone else's? One collaborative project we do is a Historical Fiction Unit. It hits on research and writing and collaboration. We put the students into small groups of 3-4. Together they research historical events and decide which they'll research and write a story based on the event. They do the research, compile the information, and brainstorm a storyline for a fictional tale. Then the students write the story together. After turning in their story, they create a presentation and present the similarities and differences between the historical facts and the fictional details.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting because the students start to get sick of one another, so we get to add the life lesson of cooperation and working closely with a group for an extended amount of time.
I have a few ideas for both students and teachers. First, I use Literature Circles in both my 7th and 8th grade classrooms. Students are split into groups of 3-4 (based on genre interest/reading levels). Over the past three years I have began a personal library of books, and student choose from that. It takes some time to build this library because I need 3-5 copies of each book and not just one. Once students choose their book for the group, they then set some target goals for finishing the entire book. Once they have set up their goals, we are then ready for weekly assignments. Each group meets on Mondays and assigns their desired reading. Finally, they must choose their "jobs" for each week. There are four jobs to choose from: Passage Picker, Character Captain, Super Summarizer, and Discussion Director. It is the individuals duty to complete their job by Friday or the end of the week. Fridays are geared towards sharing the assigned reading and going through each students job. We try to take five minutes on Mondays and twenty of Fridays. Hopefully this group work allows everyone to see the book from a different perspective.
ReplyDeleteCollaborative work does not just have to be for the students. The American History teacher and I work together teaching the Revolutionary War. We barely scratched the surface this year (more time in PLCs will help us), but he taught his RW unit the same time I taught "Woods Runner" by Gary Paulsen. "Woods Runner" is a fictional novel that depicts the violence and details of the RW through a young boy's eyes. After each chapter is some brief information about the different aspects or people that were involved during that time or war (weapons, spies, Hessians, Native Americans, etc.). Hopefully this will become even bigger and we can incorporate some project ideas or more common assessments.
Jordan it is fun to read about junior high students reading circles. We do this in first grade, but it is much different!
ReplyDeleteEvery week we have 4 mini stories. 3 of them are their own book, and one is a phonics story in a phonics book. We too break down into groups of about 4. In groups they read the story and then answer the questions at the back of the book. I always find it interesting to walk around and hear them read. There is always someone in a group who likes to help or correct mispronounced words.
When we have time, not always on the same day, we get back together as a big group, and go over the questions again. This allows me the opportunity to make sure everyone hears the "right" answer and allows the students to share those answers about their own experiences with the entire class. ~In first grade we love to talk about ourselves!
I also agree with you that collaborative work doesn't just refer to students. 2 years ago a group of us got together and read the book What great teachers do differently. We met a few times and blogged a few times. This past year, I met with another first grade teacher via the computer and we went over some teaching ideas and strategies together. We brainstormed how to meet the new core standards.
Great post Jordan.
In health education, I give my students plenty of opportunities to work collaboratively. They usually like working together and produce good work too. The main things they do together are role-plays, recorded skits, PowerPoint presentations, posters, group discussion and activities. Usually with anything they do as a group, they have to present their findings or summarize/reflect in front of the rest of the class. I do this as it is a way that they can show me that they've mastered the learning target(s) of the activity and also to improve their public speaking.
ReplyDelete