STUDENT-LED DISCUSSIONS

Susan Nygaard, Marshall School

snygaard@marshallschool.org

http://goo.gl/z35wyc

Stanford Resilience Project

 Alexis Wiggins

What do you need to start?

  • Time (lots!)
  • Sustained practice
  • Discussion-worthy texts
  • Active readers
  • Nuts & Bolts on my blog

 

But teacher-led sessions are more efficient!

  • Are they, really?
  • For whom?
  • Teacher ego = obstacle to student-centered learning!

 

Sequence of Discussion Types

  1. Simple Circle Discussions
  2. Simple Fishbowl Discussions
  3. Complex Fishbowl Discussions

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How I get from #1 to #3

   Over the course of an entire novel, I

  • Create fishbowl groups
  • Add shared "prepdoc"
  • Start timing
  • Introduce backchannel
  • Add group grade/rubric
  • Add outer circle Q&A 

 

  • More intimate, less intimidating
  • Many ways to structure them

 

Fishbowls

Shared PrepDoc  

  • Provide templates/quotas, at first
  • More intense than individual prep
    • Must avoid duplication
    • Need to read & organize info 
    • Lets shy kids script their participation

 

More         Below

One team leader giving his "crew" a pep talk...

getting organized

Chat 

  • Real-time evidence of learning
  • Safe space to test ideas
  • Meta-discussion

 

More Below 

Group Grade (Rubric)

  • Students invested in quality of conversation
  • Assertive kids must care what shy kids think
  • Rubric:  start small, add criteria gradually 

 

More            Below

ClassDojo Dashboard

More       Below

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My Role

  • Monitor tech use, at first
  • Coach, advise, encourage
  • Assess, plan indirect direct instruction
  • Provide structure for their freedom
  • I listen, I lurk, & I let learning happen!

 

More          Below 

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My Laptop Screen

Links to other resources