Comments on: Quads, Pairs, Then Solo http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/10/quads-pairs-then-solo/ Challenge The Status Quo Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:57:06 -0800 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Todd http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/10/quads-pairs-then-solo/comment-page-1/#comment-3733 Todd Sat, 04 Nov 2006 17:33:20 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/10/quads-pairs-then-solo/#comment-3733 I'm reminded of <a href="http://www.branford.k12.ct.us/user/site/staff/cmiller/LitCircles.htm" rel="nofollow">literature circles</a> for this kind of thing. There are at least 4 different roles and those roles could constantly rotate through the group so everyone has a different thing to do each night. I do something similar with a novel my juniors read later in the year. I ended up changing our group reading just slightly. For the last few chapters, they wrote down predictions instead of summaries. My thinking is that they need to summarize in their heads a bit before they are able to predict anything. And now we're to the point where those summaries and predictions can come in handy. They are writing about the book and having those things already written should help them keep a handle on what went on in the story. I want to see what I can do to make these summariez/predicitons useful during and after reading. That's something I didn't do this time around and I have no way of knowing whether or not they even helped students out (test scores went up on the final quiz, but I don't think this stuff helped as much as I want to believe). I’m reminded of literature circles for this kind of thing. There are at least 4 different roles and those roles could constantly rotate through the group so everyone has a different thing to do each night. I do something similar with a novel my juniors read later in the year.

I ended up changing our group reading just slightly. For the last few chapters, they wrote down predictions instead of summaries. My thinking is that they need to summarize in their heads a bit before they are able to predict anything.

And now we’re to the point where those summaries and predictions can come in handy. They are writing about the book and having those things already written should help them keep a handle on what went on in the story. I want to see what I can do to make these summariez/predicitons useful during and after reading. That’s something I didn’t do this time around and I have no way of knowing whether or not they even helped students out (test scores went up on the final quiz, but I don’t think this stuff helped as much as I want to believe).

]]> By: Ben http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/10/quads-pairs-then-solo/comment-page-1/#comment-2634 Ben Sat, 28 Oct 2006 00:18:13 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/10/quads-pairs-then-solo/#comment-2634 Now that you mention it, the variety would be key. I really didn't enjoy small group reading until I got to college and my literature courses required us to meet outside of class. Each time we met, another person was in charge of leading the group, so we had lots of different takes on how the discussion was led. Now that you mention it, the variety would be key. I really didn’t enjoy small group reading until I got to college and my literature courses required us to meet outside of class. Each time we met, another person was in charge of leading the group, so we had lots of different takes on how the discussion was led.

]]> By: Todd http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/10/quads-pairs-then-solo/comment-page-1/#comment-2340 Todd Wed, 25 Oct 2006 17:07:24 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/10/quads-pairs-then-solo/#comment-2340 Tomorrow is another day to read in class, so I'll think about it over the next 24. If anyone has any ideas, let me know here. It's tedious to get through a novel like this, though. We only read 20 pages all last week. I like the idea, even if I am too busy. 2:00 or 3:00 would probably work well and it sounds like Saturdays are the more commonly available day. I can't do it this weekend, but maybe I can next weekend. We should be reading the last few chapters next weekend. I wonder how many would show up... Small group size is certainly a key component. I just need to build a variety of ways those small groups can interact and still complete the reading, otherwise it's repetitive. Tomorrow is another day to read in class, so I’ll think about it over the next 24. If anyone has any ideas, let me know here. It’s tedious to get through a novel like this, though. We only read 20 pages all last week.

I like the idea, even if I am too busy. 2:00 or 3:00 would probably work well and it sounds like Saturdays are the more commonly available day. I can’t do it this weekend, but maybe I can next weekend. We should be reading the last few chapters next weekend. I wonder how many would show up…

Small group size is certainly a key component. I just need to build a variety of ways those small groups can interact and still complete the reading, otherwise it’s repetitive.

]]> By: Ben http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/10/quads-pairs-then-solo/comment-page-1/#comment-2274 Ben Wed, 25 Oct 2006 12:04:20 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/10/quads-pairs-then-solo/#comment-2274 That's a tall order (trying to get kids to read on their own at home that is), but it sounds like you've done an excellent job of getting them to model ffor each other and read in class. I even struggled with that myself while reading The Scarlet Letter; I found myself spacing out from time to time during large group readings. I think the small groups is the key, putting a lot more responsibility on the students. I know you're probably too busy for this, but what about setting up a reading party at a local coffee shop or hangout over the weekend? You could meet the students at the library too, modelling a bookclub. Not sure if that sounds like too much, but it might be interesting to see how many were up for the idea. That’s a tall order (trying to get kids to read on their own at home that is), but it sounds like you’ve done an excellent job of getting them to model ffor each other and read in class. I even struggled with that myself while reading The Scarlet Letter; I found myself spacing out from time to time during large group readings. I think the small groups is the key, putting a lot more responsibility on the students.

I know you’re probably too busy for this, but what about setting up a reading party at a local coffee shop or hangout over the weekend? You could meet the students at the library too, modelling a bookclub. Not sure if that sounds like too much, but it might be interesting to see how many were up for the idea.

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