The Jigsaw: A Teaching Strategy

The jigsaw strategy helps students with  informational reading comprehension 

How good are you at solving jigsaw puzzles? Not 500 or 1000 piece puzzles, but 5 or 6 piece puzzles?  Easy, peazy, lemon squeezy! Well, this strategy is called the jigsaw because it uses a jigsaw method to help students understand informational text.

What is the jigsaw strategy?

The jigsaw is a strategy that divides the responsibility of reading text between a select number of student groups. This strategy enhances student focus, strengthens summarization skills and helps with comprehension of informational text.

How does it work?

1. Select a reading passage on the mid-range level of the class's comprehension.
2. Divide the passage into 5-6 sections.
3. Divide your class into the same number of groups (making sure that the groups contain a mixture of reading levels)
4. Have all student groups read the introductory paragraph of the selection. Then select one section for each group to read. 
5. After reading their selection, have each group internally discuss what they read.
6. Have each group summarize the reading selection and present that summary in chart form (using text or pictures.)
7. The teacher briefly discusses the introduction, with assistance from the entire class.
8. Then, in the order of the text, each group  presents what they learned from the reading. 

Why should we use this strategy?

This strategy is good because it encourages students to work cooperatively - strong readers assist struggling students  as they discuss the reading. The jigsaw strategy also helps students practice summarizing skills. Students are more engaged, because they are reading chunks of text instead of the entire text. And when they present their summaries to the whole class, they hone presentation skills.

Could you use this strategy in your classroom?

  Queen Bee

What Should I Keep?

Why do we keep so much stuff?

Do you ask yourself what I ask myself several times a year?

I'm always saving books and supplies because - well what will happen if I discard something that I need next year?  Or, I can't throw this away - if I teach this subject in the future, I might need this. What resources and materials should be kept and which ones should be donated or trashed?

Well, I took the plunge and began opening up my stockpile of educational supplies...

What have I found so far in my stockpile:

1. Mimeograph books : Our district no longer uses them, and they are 20 yrs obsolete - trash
2. Incomplete bingo sets: Missing too many dice -  trash
3. Set of geography books saved from the dumpster - review for currency then either donate or trash
4. Class copies of old worksheets: Why did I save these? Trash
5. Teacher resources for subjects that I won't teach again: Collated and donated to private schools

I'm not finished, but I'm well on my way. What are you keeping, and what are you trashing this summer?

Dear friends - 

Beginning this week, I will be focusing on completing the Ramadan fast. Therefore, I will be posting articles only once per week until mid-August. Please check in each Monday for a new posting!

  

Remembering My Favorite Teachers

     Teachers often become part of our mental "scrapbook" and can flavor our perceptions of education and learning.

A favorite teacher also stands out from the rest!

     How were the teachers you had during your school experience? Once in a while, I reflect on my teachers. I had mostly good teachers, but I really appreciate two teachers that I had in high school. Why? Because they helped me value myself as a learner and helped me see school as a place of nurture and support.


      These high school teachers taught the two hardest subjects that I had in school, and somehow they were able to present them to me in a way that helped me learn. 

Teacher #1: Mr Guggenheim taught chemistry. He was really kind and he presented information by scaffolding learned skills into every lesson and assessment. He made chemistry easy to learn. He also took a personal interest in me and took the time to get to know my specific learning style. 

Teacher #2: Mr Geiger was my geometry teacher. What a character he was - every day was an adventure to see what he would do in class! One day he jumped onto the desk and used an air guitar to recite a theorem - a visual that I can still see in my mind almost 45 years later! He interjected novelty to stimulate our learning.

     Mr Guggenheim and Mr. Geiger - thank you for what you taught me about math, science and the power of self-esteem. I'm sure that you would never guess that I would follow in your footsteps.

  

Foldables: A Tool for All Ages

Here is a great foldable activity that you can use for any grade level and any subject. 

• Use construction paper or index cards (my favorite) 
• Nest each new sheet or card so that at least 1" peeks below the previous sheet/card.
• Connect the individual sheets with tape or staples.

This  is one way to use this foldable:
The front sheet lists each title. When you flip the sheet, you see  notes listed on the back:

Foldables can be used for vocabulary, skills review and informational notes

Source: Uploaded by user via Bayyinah on Pinterest

I found this foldable example on Pinterest. I am planning to use this foldable with adults using 3x5" neon index cards and connecting the foldable inside a folder.  I've used it for the past several years, and its a winner because it's a great resource that condenses lots of information in one  folder.

How can you use this type of foldable in your classroom?

  

The Carousel: A Teaching Strategy

The carousel is just as much fun in the classroom as it is at a carnival!

Summertime reminds me of carnivals, cotton candy and carousel rides - and carousel rides remind me of a great teaching toolkit strategy. It's called "the carousel," because it involves moving around the classroom.

What is the Carousel strategy?

The carousel is a strategy that engages student interest by using cooperative skills and allowing movement. It also encourages students to practice HOTS (higher order thinking skills)

How does it work?

*It's important that students are given clear instructions about how to complete this strategy before it begins. They should also be aware of how to transition quietly.

1)Arrange 4-5 large sheets of paper around the room (with enough space for a small group of students to work at each station.) On each sheet of paper post an open-ended question that relates to a central topic. Number each sheet ( #1, #2, etc.) I usually print off the question on a piece of paper and attach that paper to the sheet in order to save space.

2)Have students count off from 1-4 (or 1-5) and then have  the #1 students congregate at the sheet labeled #1, the #2 students congregate at the #2 labeled sheet, etc. Each group should be given a different colored marker and have one student from each group picked as a recorder.

3)Have each student-group read their question and discuss answers. The recorder uses the marker to write 2-3 answers on the sheet. Tell the groups that the other groups will be adding info to their sheet, so they shouldn't fill up their sheet with writing.  

4)After 2-3 minutes, refocus student attention back to you, and have them rotate clockwise to the next sheet (taking their marker with them). Repeat steps 3 and 4 until all groups have traveled to all sheets. 

I usually have the groups put a check next to answers that are similar to a previous group's ideas, so that unique answers are written down and answer trends become apparent. (The students won't need as much time after the first rotation because students will be checking more and more answers. Tweak the time downward to fit students' needs.)

5)When students reach "home base," each recorder  selects  another group member to report out, and everyone else sits down.

6)Each reporter will read the answers on the sheet. The answers are color coded, so if there are questions about any of the comments/answers, they can be directed to the specific group.

Why use this strategy?

This is a great activity to get students practicing these skills:

• collaborating 
• summarizing 
• evaluating  
• reflecting on text
• moving around the room with a purpose  

Try this strategy and see how it works for your students. (It also works great with adult groups!)

  Queen Bee

Happy Independence Day, everyone!

Let's celebrate our country's independence in style!

Source: andrewrachelashmore.blogspot.com via Rachel on Pinterest

  

One Lovely Blog Award

Hey, everybody!

I just received my very first award, the "One Lovely Blog Award,"  and I'm so excited! I'll work hard to deserve this!

Thanks, Nicki, from the great blog Motivating Minds. 

               

   It's so great to be recognized, especially in the educational blogging universe!

This is an interactive award, meaning that I also get a chance to share this award with other deserving bloggers. Here's my list of lovely bloggers:


Roll the drums, please, for the following bloggers:

1. Be the Difference
2. Kids Cog Works
3. Lessons from the Middle
4. Making it as a Middle School Teacher
5. Blogging about the Web 2.0 Connected Classroom
6. Corkboard Connections
7. Getting to the Core
8. Reach then Teach
9. The Diary of a Not so Wimpy Teacher
10. Special Education Strategies and More
11. Teachers at Risk
12. SCAN-We're Critical to Teaching
13. Innovative Connections
14. Free Technology for Teachers
15. Beg, Borrow and Teach!

Congratulations on your award! 
Grab the award image and show it off on your blog!


Please share the love with other bloggers by following these rules. The rules to this award are as follows: 

1. Follow the person who gave you the award 

2. Link back to the person who gave you the award

3. Pass the award on to 15 bloggers 

4. Highlight your favorite awarder’s blog post to share with others!


Motivating Minds:

I am choosing to highlight this most recent posting from Nicki, because it shows her dedication and true generosity. She could have kept her award, or shared it with veteran bloggers who have been awarded time after time. However, she chose me, and that says that she's willing to give young bloggers a chance to be recognized. This recent posting shares the names of the other bloggers that she's recognized. Please take a moment to check out her blog, Motivating Minds.

  

Read this before You Quit Teaching

This is a very brief statement that summarizes my thoughts for all beginner teachers. This is a posting that I found on Pinterest. It's written for creative artists, and I believe that education is one of the greatest arts around:

                      Source: i.imgur.com via Bayyinah on Pinterest

Many teachers will agree that they became better with practice - so will you. As long as you want to teach, persevere. Read, practice, and get professional development. Those are the keys to success.

Veteran teachers, what do you think about this?