Monday, March 21, 2016

Day 22: #SOL16- Asking students to ask questions during read-aloud


The Slice of Life Challenge is hosted by the inspirational writers of Two Writing Teachers. Each March, they invite people to join them in a commitment to write every day. Here's to another year of daily slicing!


Last week, I wrote about nudging students to ask more questions by putting them in charge of asking the questions during a read aloud. Students were grouped and different groups were responsible for questions that had to do with characters, settings, figurative language, repetition, and theme development. I've been doing a lot of work around social studies, so today I tried a similar process, but instead of directing students toward reading lenses, I had them think about the text through social studies lenses. I made a chart before I read The Stranded Whale by Jane Yolen so that this class of fourth-graders were reminded of what we meant by geography, history, government, and economy. 



To be perfectly honest, I wasn't sure how the lesson would go. At one point, I apologized to the students because I was worried they'd just want to hear the story. They all reassured me that they didn't mind at all. I was extra convinced whenever I paused and gave them a chance to share the questions they were jotting down together and individually. The level of thinking was really high! Here are some of the questions these students generated, and this is only a small sampling:





Some of the students wanted to write reflections of the experience for me. I can't wait to see what they have to say. Sometimes students overwhelm and exceed even my highest expectations. 

Happy Slicing,





8 comments:

  1. It is so great that your students not only met your expectations, but it seems like they truly exceeded them. It's such a great feeling when you have a lesson that not only goes well, but from what this sounded like, went great!

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  2. This line is so powerful:To be perfectly honest, I wasn't sure how the lesson would go. At one point, I apologized to the students because I was worried they'd just want to hear the story. They all reassured me that they didn't mind at all. You are modeling more than literacy in your lesson and your teaching - you are modeling how to be a lifelong learner; how to take risks; how to use feedback and how to revise a plan towards a goal.
    I also love the thinking you are sharing around students engaging through questioning. Thank you for sharing Clare

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  3. Teaching with authenticity leads students to discovery and ownership of their learning. Sounds like a great lesson for all of you.

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  4. Inquiry is the perfect mindset before reading....motivation during reading and it ...ignites children's natural curiosity.

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  5. I love the fact that you just went for it - and your students rose to the occasion. Great teaching!

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  6. I love the fact that you just went for it - and your students rose to the occasion. Great teaching!

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  7. Wow,this is some pretty amazing teaching and interactive read aloud! Love!

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  8. Great post much appreciate the time you took to write this.

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